diff --git a/lib/pages/collection_page.dart b/lib/pages/collection_page.dart
index 5273efa..32a85bb 100644
--- a/lib/pages/collection_page.dart
+++ b/lib/pages/collection_page.dart
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ class _CollectionPageState extends State<CollectionPage> {
       selectedBookmark: selectedBookmark,
       onSavePressed: onBookmarkSaved,
       onDeletePressed: () {
-        Storage.deleteBookmarkById(selectedBookmark.id);
-        setState(() {});
+        Storage.deleteBookmarkById(
+          selectedBookmark.id,
+        ).whenComplete(() => setState(() {}));
       },
     ),
   );
@@ -60,7 +61,11 @@ class _CollectionPageState extends State<CollectionPage> {
   Widget bookmarksListItemBuilder(BuildContext context, Bookmark bookmark) {
     return ListTile(
       title: Text(bookmark.name),
-      onTap: () => launchUrlFromString(bookmark.link),
+      onTap: () => launchUrlFromString(bookmark.link).then((errorCode) {
+        if (context.mounted && errorCode != UrlLaunchErrorCode.none) {
+          return showUrlError(context, errorCode);
+        }
+      }),
       onLongPress: () => editBookmark(bookmark),
     );
   }
@@ -104,4 +109,16 @@ class _CollectionPageState extends State<CollectionPage> {
       ),
     );
   }
+
+  void showUrlError(BuildContext context, UrlLaunchErrorCode errorCode) {
+    String errorText = '';
+    if (errorCode == UrlLaunchErrorCode.couldNotLaunch) {
+      errorText = 'Could not launch Url';
+    } else {
+      errorText = 'Invalid Url';
+    }
+    ScaffoldMessenger.of(
+      context,
+    ).showSnackBar(SnackBar(content: Text(errorText)));
+  }
 }
diff --git a/lib/pages/collections_list_page.dart b/lib/pages/collections_list_page.dart
index e4a6782..39325f4 100644
--- a/lib/pages/collections_list_page.dart
+++ b/lib/pages/collections_list_page.dart
@@ -66,8 +66,9 @@ class _CollectionsListPageState extends State<CollectionsListPage> {
       selectedCollection: selectedCollection,
       onSavePressed: onCollectionSaved,
       onDeletePressed: () {
-        Storage.deleteCollection(selectedCollection);
-        setState(() {});
+        Storage.deleteCollection(
+          selectedCollection,
+        ).whenComplete(() => setState(() {}));
       },
     ),
   );
@@ -79,7 +80,9 @@ class _CollectionsListPageState extends State<CollectionsListPage> {
     addingNewBookmark = provider.currentMapsLinkMetadata != null;
     return Scaffold(
       appBar: AppBar(
-        title: addingNewBookmark ? Text('Choose Collection') : null,
+        title: addingNewBookmark
+            ? Text('Choose Collection')
+            : Text('Collections'),
         actions: [
           if (addingNewBookmark)
             TextButton(
@@ -92,11 +95,15 @@ class _CollectionsListPageState extends State<CollectionsListPage> {
         onPressed: onAddButtonPressed,
         child: Icon(Icons.add),
       ),
-      body: ListView.builder(
-        itemBuilder: (context, index) =>
-            collectionsListItemBuilder(context, collections.elementAt(index)),
-        itemCount: collections.length,
-      ),
+      body: collections.isNotEmpty
+          ? ListView.builder(
+              itemBuilder: (context, index) => collectionsListItemBuilder(
+                context,
+                collections.elementAt(index),
+              ),
+              itemCount: collections.length,
+            )
+          : Center(child: Text('Create your first Collection to get started!')),
     );
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/service/url_launcher.dart b/lib/service/url_launcher.dart
index 4d8e71a..dbd5ee7 100644
--- a/lib/service/url_launcher.dart
+++ b/lib/service/url_launcher.dart
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 import 'package:url_launcher/url_launcher.dart';
 
-Future<void> launchUrlFromString(String url) async {
-  final Uri uri = Uri.parse(url);
+Future<UrlLaunchErrorCode> launchUrlFromString(String url) async {
+  final Uri? uri = Uri.tryParse(url);
+  final isValid =
+      uri != null && uri.hasAbsolutePath && uri.scheme.startsWith('http');
+  if (!isValid) return UrlLaunchErrorCode.invalidUrl;
   if (!await launchUrl(uri, mode: LaunchMode.externalApplication)) {
-    throw Exception('Could not launch $url');
+    return UrlLaunchErrorCode.couldNotLaunch;
   }
+  return UrlLaunchErrorCode.none;
 }
+
+enum UrlLaunchErrorCode { none, couldNotLaunch, invalidUrl }