7 Tips for Getting the Most from Your New Website Launch
Written by: Eric Brantner on June 14, 2010 – 7:03 am
Right now, I’m in the middle of launching a new website for a design and copywriting services company I’m starting with some family and friends. Of course, there is a lot that goes into launching a new website, and like all other new companies, we want to get it up fast and hit the ground running once it’s up. In other words, we want to start seeing results!
With my years of experience in the internet marketing industry, I’ve taken part in a lot of new site launches, and I’ve learned quite a bit about how best to do them. With that in mind, I’m going to share some of my favorite tips for launching a new website.
- Don’t rush it—If it was up to me, my new website would’ve been up the day we had the idea for it. But that’s just not realistic. Building a website takes time, and you want to make sure you do it right the first time. Otherwise, you won’t hit the ground running; you’ll just hit the ground period after you stumble out of the gates. So, give yourself time to create a strong design, write effective copy, edit and proofread your copy, and get everything set up just right.
- Optimize your site from the ground up—Now is the perfect time to start optimizing your website. It’s easier to optimize from the foundation than to try to optimize an existing website. Do your keyword research, find a strong domain, optimize your copy, and do everything else that goes into designing a search engine friendly website.
- Create a list of everything that needs to be on the site—Before you start writing any copy or designing your site, you need to figure out which pages you’re going to have. Make a list of everything you need on your website, and prioritize it so you can get the most important pages done first (like the home page).
- Set the tone by writing your home page copy first—As a copywriter, I see the home page as the foundation for the rest of the website. It should include the top benefits of your products and services, key differentiators, strong call to action, and easy navigation that keeps the visitor moving forward. Write this page first so that the rest of the pages will follow its tone and style.
- Know what you need to do after the site is up—Just getting the site up isn’t all there is to it. That’s only the beginning. You have to promote your website, update it regularly, tweak it to get more conversions, and so on. Make a list of all these website maintenance tasks, and keep on top of it.
- Double check to ensure everything is working correctly on your site—The last thing you want is a website that’s broken from the start. Double-check all the links, contact forms, images, etc. to make sure all aspects of your site are running correctly.
- Set a launch date and do your best to stick to it—Like I said, there is a lot that goes into building a new website, and there is always more work you can do. But eventually, you just have to get the thing up. Set a schedule for building your site, and stick to it.
What are some other tips you’d offer to someone looking to launch a new website?
June 18th, 2010 at 11:37 am
The first step alone is the most important and is ofter overlooked. Don't rush anything, take your time and get it right the first time.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Thanks for these great tips. Very succinct but helpful information.
August 14th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Hi buddy, your blog’s design is simple and clean and i like it. Your blog posts are superb. Please keep them coming. Greets!!!
August 14th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
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August 14th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
This really is really good info, thanks.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:36 am
What is the budget and head count of the press office?
September 9th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
mmm. Its really important to evaluate and have a deep thought of what's best on your site or you'll just end up building thousand of sites that doesn't really make you earn even for so many years.