Ultimate Website Launch Checklist | InMotion Hosting
Launching a website isn’t just about putting your business online; it’s about building digital footprints and experiences that convince your customers you are the best for the job. Companies using websites to engage with customers experience revenue growth, as websites influence 97% of customers’ purchases. Having a website is a must if you want to stay competitive in the ever-growing digital ecosystem. And since you only have one chance to make a first impression, you want to get it right.
The first step to launching a website is to create a pre-launch checklist that covers all areas, from design to functionality. For instance, 94% of first impressions are design-related. This means a flawed design can detract potential audiences. However, a website pre-launch template helps you streamline important tasks and track progress, ensuring you don’t miss any critical part.
At InMotion Hosting, we know launching a website can be overwhelming, so we have compiled this comprehensive website launch checklist. We are here to guide you step-by-step on how to launch a website so you don’t waste time and resources. Remember, your website is your number-one digital ambassador, so make it stand out.
Pre-launch Essentials: Setting Your Site Up for Success
Launching a website doesn’t start with waking up one morning and deciding to buy a domain name and make it live. Pre-launch essentials need to be in place before you hit the “publish” button. Without them, you’ll make a mess of the process. Below is the website pre-launch checklist you need.
Choose a Memorable Domain Name That Reflects Your Brand
Your domain name is the first component of your brand identity. Ensure it reflects your brand to avoid confusion. Try as much as possible to also make it unique and memorable. If possible, use keywords related to your business. For instance, you can use “sweetpastriesbakery.com” if you run a bakery. This isn’t only memorable but also boosts your SEO performance.
Select a Reliable, Feature-Rich Hosting Plan
Research shows that 53% of visits are abandoned if a website takes more than three seconds to load, which is usually a result of poor hosting. This indicates that hosting is the foundation of a website. You need a reliable hosting plan to ensure your website performs smoothly. And there’s no better place to get that than InMotion Hosting. Choose between various plans with benefits such as a secure server, standby customer support, and ultrafast speed that cater to different needs. We can also provide recommendations based on your needs and website goals.
Design Your Site with User Experience (UX) in Mind
Website design is more than just aesthetics; it’s about blending design and user experience. Users must be able to easily and intuitively navigate your website on their desktop and mobile. Essential buttons and icons must be strategically positioned. Statistics show a well-designed user experience can boost website conversions by 400%.
Prioritize Intuitive Navigation and Mobile Responsiveness
Mobile traffic accounts for nearly 60% of global web views. Adapt your website to different screens and emphasize mobile friendliness to avoid losing traffic. Use the Google Mobile-Friendly Test to check your website performance. Integrating intuitive navigation into your website will ensure users engage more with your website.
Optimize Page Load Speeds
More than 50% of visits are abandoned if a mobile site takes more than three seconds to load. That’s a considerable loss of traffic, visibility, and potential revenue. Our hosting plans integrate tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights to help you identify areas for improvement.
Ensure Branding Is Consistent
Consistent branding establishes trust among your target audience, making them comfortable enough to spend more time on your site and purchase your products/services. Ensure your message is the same: Your colors, brand voice, and fonts should reflect this.
Implement On-Page SEO Best Practices
SEO is necessary for higher website rankings, which leads to greater visibility and increased chances of conversions. Implement on-page SEO practices to boost your website’s performance. Use relevant keywords in your content, meta titles and descriptions, alt texts, and headings.
Research and Integrate Relevant Keywords Naturally
Research high-ranking but low-competition keywords related to your business. Ensure they match the intent of your target audience. Then, integrate these keywords naturally into your content. Avoid keyword stuffing, as it makes your content unnatural and illogical.
Craft Compelling Meta Titles and Descriptions
Use relevant keywords in your meta titles and descriptions, and ensure they are compelling. Meta titles and descriptions are content snippets that appear in search results, and they should drive people to click on them. For instance, instead of “Learn how to launch your website,” write “The Stress-Free Guide to Launching a Top-Ranking Website.” The latter is more compelling.
Use Header Tags to Structure Your Content
Header tags, such as H1s and H2s, help improve content readability. It also makes it easy for readers to reference. It additionally signals the information hierarchy on your website to search engines, boosting SEO performance.
Optimize Your Images With Alt Text
While images attract visitors, they can also serve SEO purposes. Since search engines can’t read images, alt text describes the images for them. Alt text is also helpful for the visually impaired and those who rely on screen readers. That is why you should optimize alt texts by integrating relevant keywords.
Set Up Analytics Tracking to Measure Your Site’s Performance From Day One
One of your greatest treasures as a website owner is data. You need accurate data to make informed decisions and take actions that grow your website. This is why you must set up analytics tracking to measure site performance. You’ll learn about traffic sources, bounce rates, user behavior, and other factors and identify improvement areas necessary for website growth post-launch.
Double-Check These Technical Details Before Going Live
Neglecting technical details before hitting the “publish” button can ruin pre-launch preparations. While design and content are important, your website’s technical architecture determines whether it will be accessible.
Here are the technical details to double-check before going live.
Thoroughly Test Your Site’s Functionality Across Devices and Browsers
Test your website on different devices, such as smartphones, laptops, desktops, iPads, and multiple major browsers — for example, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Ensure it functions across all platforms and that all buttons and icons work perfectly. Use tools like CrossBrowserTesting or BrowserStack to make testing more efficient.
Check For Broken Links and 404 Errors
Broken links frustrate users and detract potential customers. It’s like walking into a store and finding empty shelves; you won’t return. Use Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to track and fix any broken links. Redirect any 404 errors to the new URLs.
Ensure All Forms Are Working Correctly
If your website prioritizes lead generation, your forms must function correctly. Test each form before launching, whether it’s a newsletter sign-up, eCommerce checkout, or event contact form. Implement validation measures to prevent data inaccuracy.
Optimize Your Site’s Security
Hackers are always looking for website vulnerabilities. Invest in secure hosting to safeguard your website. Update your software regularly and use two-factor authentication. Use a web application to block malicious traffic and limit access to your website.
Install an SSL Certificate for Secure Data Transfer
An SSL certificate, “https,” is a digital certificate that enables encryption and authenticates your website. It facilitates trust among website users and boosts SEO performance, as Google considers it a crucial ranking factor. It encrypts data transmission from your website to your users’ devices, protecting sensitive information.
Implement Regular Backups
The frequency of your website’s backup depends on how often data changes. For instance, eCommerce sites with transactions can be backed up hourly almost every time, while blogs with one or two weekly articles can be backed up weekly. Backup also depends on your server’s strength and storage capacity.
Use Security Plugins to Protect Against Malware and Hackers
Security plugins protect your website from malware and hackers. Choose plugins that are easy to use and offer real-time monitoring, login security, malware scanning, and compatibility with other plugins. Update your plugins regularly to safeguard against vulnerabilities.
Check out our favorite security plugins for WordPress.
Make Sure Your Site is Optimized for Lead Generation
Optimizing for lead generation is non-negotiable if you want to maximize your website traffic. First, decide what you want visitors to do on your website. Then, add the forms to the pages that get the most traffic. Include a compelling call-to-action (CTA) to grab attention.
Include Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
CTAs tell users what to do on your website, helping you convert visitors into prospects and customers. However, your CTAs should be tailored and compelling. Research shows that tailored CTAs convert 202% more than basic CTAs. Be creative and use action words for best results.
Create Landing Pages to Capture Visitor Information
Landing pages are designed to capture vital information from users. To be effective, they must have one goal. According to Mailchimp, having multiple offers can confuse viewers and reduce conversions by up to 266%. If you have multiple goals, create multiple landing pages. Statistics show that companies experience a 55% increase in leads when they increase their landing pages from 10 to 15.
Integrate With An Email Marketing Platform
Maximizing website traffic doesn’t stop at capturing leads. Nurture a relationship with leads through email marketing. Research shows that email marketing delivers a 4200% ROI; for every $1 spent, companies make $42. Integrate your website with email marketing platforms like Mailchimp and Mailerlite to automate lead generation and send targeted emails.
Ready, Set, Launch: Final Steps for a Smooth Rollout
You’ve ticked off every item on your website pre-launch checklist and double-checked every technical detail. Now, you are ready to launch. For a smooth rollout, check these final steps below.
Choose a Strategic Launch Day and Time
The day and time you launch your website can make all the difference. Launch your website when as many of your target audience as possible can show up. Avoid major holidays and weekends, as people spend more time with family or on travel. Look at launching instead on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays, when most consumers shop.
Consider Your Audience’s Time Zone
If your target audience is in a different time zone, target when they will be online. If you target multiple regions, develop a strategic plan to maximize your visibility.
Spread the Word With Pre-Launch Teasers on Social Media
A successful website launch starts before the website goes live. Create excitement around your launch by sharing pre-launch teasers. Share behind-the-scenes, start a countdown, make one-minute videos of the value your website will offer. These help prepare your audience for the big launch.
Notify Your Email List About the Upcoming Launch
If you have an email list, notify your subscribers about your upcoming launch. Get them involved in the process. Offer an incentive, such as a discount or free webinar, to drive them to your website immediately. Personalize all emails, as personalized emails increase transaction and revenue rates sixfold.
Double-Check Everything on Your Website Launch Checklist
Do one last check on your website before launch. Test it across multiple devices and browsers. Send the link to your family and friends so they can check for you. Proofread all content. Ensure all security measures are put in place. Use a website launch SEO checklist to perform an SEO audit. Ensure everything on your website pre-launch checklist has been done.
Press “Publish” and Celebrate Your New Site!
Finally, it’s time to press “publish” and watch your website go live. Remember to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. However, don’t stop there. Announce on social media and to your email subscribers. Tell everyone to visit your website. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor performance and user behavior.
Post Launch Priorities to Keep the Momentum Going
Congratulations! You’ve followed the due process on how to launch a website. Now, your website is live. But this isn’t the time to stop working. Keep the momentum going to maintain your website and maximize the visibility you get.
Monitor Your Site’s Performance and Address Any Issues Promptly
The first step post launch is to monitor your website’s performance. Use tools like Google Analytics to track bounce rates, traffic, conversions, user behavior, etc. Check for technical issues such as broken links, slow load time, and server downtime, and fix them. Ask for feedback from those who have tested the site to identify areas of improvement.
Promote Your Launch on Social Media and to Your Email List
Don’t let the excitement around your launch die. Sustain it by sharing updates, testimonials, sneak peeks, etc., on social media. Also, send your subscribers personalized emails to get them involved. If you can, offer incentives for specific actions that increase your traffic, leads, and conversions.
Consider Issuing a Press Release to Generate Buzz
Issue a press release to reach more people beyond your immediate environment. Contact the media, industry blogs, and thought leadership publications, for example. Besides getting media attention, which helps with credibility, generating buzz is also a good way to get multiple backlinks, which boosts SEO performance. Include targeted keywords and add a personal touch to connect with readers.
Continue Creating Valuable Content to Drive Traffic
Valuable content is key to website maintenance. It means creating content that answers your audience’s biggest questions. This helps establish you as a thought leader in your industry, attract traffic, nurture and convert leads, build a strong brand, among other things. Integrate relevant keywords in your content naturally. Optimize your meta titles and descriptions, alt texts, and title tags. Research shows that 77% of internet users still read blogs, and bloggers who publish the most are more likely to get better results.
Analyze Your Website Data and Optimize Based on User Behavior
Check your analytics report to track your website progress. Track the time users spend on your site, the bounce rates, and which pages attract the most and least traffic. Keep a close eye on your conversion rates. Consider how intuitive your website navigation is for users. Use this data to optimize your website. For instance, you can run A/B testing for low-ranking pages. Test different headlines, CTAs, layouts, etc., to see which works.
Conclusion
Launching a website involves many moving pieces, but you don’t have to go through the process alone. This comprehensive website launch plan template covers everything you need for a successful launch.
However, remember that your website is an ongoing project. The more time, resources, and effort you invest, the more it grows. Continue monitoring, optimizing, and promoting it to achieve your business goals. Contact us for the best hosting solution and personalized technical support to launch and maintain your website.