In this day and age, it’s almost impossible to run a successful business without an equally successful website. However, if you have limited knowledge of web design and what constitutes a successful launch, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, we’re going to give you a step by step guide on how to launch a website the right way.
Start with the Right Team
The first thing you have to consider is if you have the talent in-house to create a professional looking and functional website or if you’re going to work with a third-party developer. Ask yourself whether your in-house team has enough time to build a website that will draw people in and turn them into potential customers. You also have to check if they actually have time to dedicate to the project and maintain the site after it’s done.
If the answer is a resounding no, then you should consider outsourcing the project. Building your website on a platform like WordPress will allow you to maintain it even if you have limited web design knowledge. However, you have to find good WordPress website designers who will build a stable site that won’t require that you constantly have to tweak it for bugs. You also have to ask how much support you’ll be getting once it’s launched in case you need assistance.
Have a Clear Content Strategy
Content is eventually what will draw a lot of your customers in and it’s essential that you have a solid content strategy before you launch. You should have a clear idea of what you’re trying to accomplish with your content. Are you simply trying to build awareness for your brand? Or do you want to be a valuable resource? Are you trying to establish yourself as an authority? Once you have identified these goals, try to create enough content to populate your site for a few weeks and try to use as many formats as possible for greater impact.
It’s important as well to ensure that any landing pages on your website are professionally written in order to convert customers who land on them. This matters no matter whether you are selling a service to other businesses, or running an e-commerce store. You need content that is properly laid out, informative and sales ready in order to see success. Ignore this part of your store, and you will be disappointed by the sales, no matter how beautiful your theme is.
Make Sure You’re Ready to Go Live
At this point, you have to double check to see if your site is actually ready for the launch. Make sure that your SEO is on point and that your title tags and meta description are accurate. You should also take the time to double check your internal link structure. Also, check if all the content is in the right places and that your website meets accessibility standards. If you are selling anything via your website, you will also want to ensure that the checkout function is clear and user friendly, and that your site is security protected. Not only do you need to ensure your site has an HTTPS tag at the top of it, but you also need methods in place that will protect your user’s data. This is especially important if you are selling anything to people within the EU, although it should be done even if you aren’t.
Once everything has been double checked, you can go for a soft launch and see if there are any kinks to be straightened before the official launch.
Prepare for the Big Launch
Once everything is set, it’s time to take the site live. But before you do, you have to promote it with some content first. A great way to do that would be to launch a viral piece that will attract people and links to your page. A great original study can be a way to do that. You could then release it as a post guest on a prominent blog related to your niche or somewhere like LinkedIn for instance. Once you’ve double checked everything and are ready to publish, you can officially take the site live.
Launching a website successfully doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does require significant planning and a clear strategy. By following the tips in this article, you’ll be able to set the grounds for a successful launch and slowly, but surely, start building an audience over time.