10 Common Vercel Mistakes Beginners Make and How to Avoid Them

When you’re diving into Vercel for the first time, it can feel like stepping into a new world of web deployment. The promise of seamless integrations and rapid deployments is enticing, but it’s easy to trip over some common pitfalls. As founders and indie hackers ourselves, we’ve seen these mistakes firsthand. Here’s a rundown of the most common Vercel missteps and how to navigate around them.

1. Not Understanding Build Settings

What It Is

Many beginners overlook the importance of configuring build settings properly. This can lead to failed deployments and wasted time.

How to Avoid It

Spend a few minutes understanding the build command and output directory fields. Make sure they match your project setup. For example, if you’re using Next.js, your build command should be next build and the output directory should be set to .next.

2. Ignoring Environment Variables

What It Is

Environment variables are crucial for managing configurations between development and production. Beginners often forget to set these up, leading to broken features.

How to Avoid It

Always check your environment variables in the Vercel dashboard. For sensitive information, use the "Environment Variables" section to keep your keys safe. Remember to set them for both Preview and Production environments.

3. Not Leveraging Serverless Functions

What It Is

Vercel supports serverless functions, but many new users skip this feature, opting instead for traditional backend setups.

How to Avoid It

If you need backend functionality, use serverless functions to handle API requests. This keeps your architecture simple and leverages Vercel’s strengths. Each function can be deployed independently, which is a game changer for scaling.

4. Overlooking Caching Strategies

What It Is

Caching is essential for performance, but beginners often forget to set cache headers correctly, leading to slower load times.

How to Avoid It

Learn about Vercel’s caching capabilities. Set appropriate cache headers in your API responses and static files. For example, use Cache-Control: max-age=3600 for assets that don’t change often.

5. Not Using Custom Domains Wisely

What It Is

Many users stick to Vercel’s default domain instead of setting up custom domains, which can hurt branding.

How to Avoid It

Take the time to configure a custom domain in your Vercel settings. This not only enhances your brand but also improves SEO. Vercel makes it easy to connect your domain, and you can even set up SSL for free.

6. Forgetting to Monitor Performance

What It Is

After deployment, it’s easy to forget about performance monitoring. Many beginners assume everything is fine until users report issues.

How to Avoid It

Regularly check your Vercel analytics. Look out for response times and error rates. If you notice spikes, dive into the logs to pinpoint the issue.

7. Mismanaging Project Structure

What It Is

A poorly organized project can lead to confusion and deployment errors, especially as your app grows.

How to Avoid It

Establish a clear project structure from the start. Use folders like /pages, /components, and /api to keep things organized. This will make your code easier to manage and deploy.

8. Not Testing Locally Before Deployment

What It Is

Jumping straight to deployment without local testing can lead to unexpected issues.

How to Avoid It

Always test your application locally using vercel dev. This simulates the Vercel environment, allowing you to catch issues before they reach production.

9. Underestimating the Importance of Documentation

What It Is

Lack of documentation can lead to confusion for both you and your collaborators.

How to Avoid It

Document your setup, configurations, and any specific steps needed to run the project. This will save you time in the long run and help onboard new team members smoothly.

10. Not Taking Advantage of Vercel's Preview Deployments

What It Is

Preview deployments are a powerful feature, but many beginners don’t utilize them for testing changes before they go live.

How to Avoid It

Use Vercel’s preview deployments to test every pull request. This allows you to see how changes affect your site in a live environment without impacting production.

Conclusion

To get started on the right foot with Vercel, focus on understanding your build settings, environment variables, and the power of serverless functions. Take the time to structure your project well, monitor performance, and leverage Vercel’s preview deployments. If you keep these common mistakes in mind, your deployment process will be much smoother.

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we rely heavily on Vercel’s serverless functions and custom domains for our projects. We also prioritize local testing with vercel dev before any deployment.