Launching your website is a really exciting time—it’s a big deal! What’s also a big deal, though, is what happens after launch day. While you probably wish people would magically flock to your site—and we get that—we’ve come up with a list of 8 crucial post-launch tips that will help make the magic happen.
1. Announcement
Unfortunately, your beautiful new site won’t fall into people’s laps, so you’ve got to broadcast it! There are many ways to advertise your launch, and you can try them all. For instance, you can announce your site (don’t forget the link!) in a quick line in your email signature to catch the eye of past, current, and potential clients. You can also capitalize on word-of-mouth by letting your friends and family know and encouraging them to pass it on to others. What we like to do is create a custom graphic for our clients to announce their new site on their social media platforms. We’re always sure to get the point across with “Just Launched!” or “New Site!” and always aim to display the uniqueness of the client and showcase their personality.
2. Social Media/Blog
Chances are your business already has social media accounts of its own—perhaps even a blog. These accounts—Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.—help make your website easy to find. What’s key, though, is consistency. The social media accounts that’ll be the biggest help for you may depend on your type of business, so channel your energy wisely so you can remain engaged and active on these platforms. This consistent presence will help you steer clear of that “out of sight, out of mind” pitfall.
3. Analytics/Webmaster Tools
Getting traffic to your website is a good thing—but knowing how that traffic works is an even better thing. You may—or should—be wondering: who is visiting it? What kind of search terms bring them to my site? Having these stats will not only help you understand the amount of people landing on your page, but also to figure out what they’re searching for—i.e. what they want! Consistently learning about the interests and aims of potential clients and customers can then inform your website copy and marketing, which can benefit and sustain your traffic. Google Analytics is a good place to start for a free, easy to use tool. Also, don’t forget about Google Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools)! Like Google Analytics, it is aimed to get you the information you need about keywords, search terms, security info, and more.
4. Claim your Business Listing
Making your key info visible on your site and setting up your business listings may seem like a basic step, but it’s a foundational one in making sure you’re legit, and that Google thinks so, too. Your name, phone number, address, and/or hours of operation should be consistent and accurate not only on your own site, but every time you submit a business listing AKA“citation” in your industry. Keep track of these listings so if you move offices, or get a new number, you can cover all your bases when you need to update it.
5. Reviews
You’ve probably read reviews of businesses you’ve thought about checking out, so you know how these reviews can sway your decision. Reviews should come from your favorite and best clients who will sing your praises on sites like Yelp, Facebook, and Google+. While rankings and business listings help your cred, real life testimonials especially help people connect with you and your business.
6. Don’t Ignore Your Site
Go with us on this: like a car, your website has a lot of working parts that need to work together, and periodic maintenance is one of the best things you can do for it. For example, make sure the shopping cart works, or that your contact form is still getting messages to you. Keeping WordPress and your plugins updated will save you from the headache of unexpected down time.
7. Backlinks
Backlinks is a term that basically means “get your website seen widely yet strategically.” There are many options here, and we’ll touch on a few: make sure your link is visible on social media posts so users will always have your site within their reach. Even everything you get out on paper—whether it’s a print ad or other collateral—should feature your URL. Another great way to get people to your website are blog posts—both your own, and guest blogging for others, where you’ll include your link. Not only do these posts produce original content, but they’ll showcase your savvy to readers on other websites and likely generate visitors.
8. Domain/Hosting/SSL Certificate Documentation
Here’s one of the best tips we can offer after your site launches: keep track of renewal dates of your hosting, domain name, and SSLCertificate Documentation. It’s also important to keep track of who you’ve registered your domain name, hosting, etc. to so you’ll have the access you need or know who to ask when checking renewal dates. It’ll be a lifesaver! Plus, if you’ve got a website/IT person, it’s not a bad idea to work with them to plan password backups and manage this key info.
