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Website launch checklist: 12 must-do steps before launching your website

-by
Akil Natchimuthu
,
May 13, 2022
Website launch checklist: 12 must-do steps before launching your website

Whether you're planning a website launch or just updating your existing website, it's important to have a checklist of tasks to complete. This will help ensure that everything goes as planned, and that your website looks and performs the way you want it to.


Here are some tips to help you launch your website with ease:

1. Plan Ahead

Before you even start designing your website, make a plan for its layout and content. This will help you determine the necessary elements, such as title tags and navigation menus. It's also important to think about how users will access your site – is it static or interactive? Once you have an idea of what needs to be included, begin drafting preliminary layouts and content using a word processing program or online tool.


2. Choose a Domain and Hosting Provider

Once you have a basic idea of your website's layout, it's time to choose the domain name and hosting provider. The domain name is the address at which your website will be found on the internet. You can register a new domain or use an existing one (provided that it's not already in use). Once you've chosen the domain, find a reputable host provider who will provide all the necessary resources for your website, including a server and web hosting.


3. Design Your Website's Layout

Now that you have the domain name and host provider selected, it's time to begin designing your website. You'll need a word processing program or online tool to create preliminary layouts and content using basic HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). Make sure all elements are properly nested within each other – this will help keep your layout organized and visually appealing.


4. Add Images and Videos

Images and videos are essential components of any website, so it's important to add them early on in the design process. Use appropriate tags to ensure that your images and videos show up properly on search engines, as well as across different devices (including desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets).


5. Test Your Website's Design & Functionality

Once your website is complete, it 's time to test it out. Make sure all the elements work correctly (including images, videos, and web page content) on a basic computer or smartphone. If there are any issues, fix them before finalizing your website design.


6. Prepare for 404s

One common issue with website design is that certain elements, like images or videos, can't be displayed due to technical limitations. In these cases, you'll likely receive a "404 Not Found" error message when visitors attempt to access your website. Be sure to include instructions on how users can find the information they're looking for if this happens.


7. Put a backup solution in place

A website is a valuable asset, so it's important to have a backup plan in place in case of problems. Store your preliminary layouts and content on an external hard drive or online storage service, and make sure you have access to this information should something go wrong with your website.


8. Make Sure You Have Relevant CTAs

Your website's main purpose is to sell products or services, so it's important that you include relevant CTA (customer retention action) buttons. These buttons will help encourage users to stay on your website and make a purchase, sign up for your email list, or whatever else may be compelling them to do so.


9. Optimize Your Website for Search Engine Ranking

Once you've finalized your website design, it's time to optimize it for search engine ranking. This involves tweaking the layout and content of your website to make it easy to find and rank high in Google, Yahoo!, and other popular search engines.


10. Perform UAT

User experience (UX) is one of the most important aspects of a website, and it's essential that you test your site to make sure it works well for both users and search engine ranking. Use web analytics software to measure how users are interacting with your site, and consider performing user testing to get feedback on specific areas such as navigation or design.


11. Promote Your New Website

Once your website is live, you need to promote it in a variety of ways. Send out email newsletters and social media posts to attract new visitors, and make sure you've set up effective landing pages that encourage users to take action.


12. Monitor Your Website's Performance Regularly

It's important to keep an eye on how your website is performing both qualitatively (e.g., traffic levels) and quantitatively (e.g ., bounce rates and click-through rates). This information can help you optimize your website for better user experience and search engine ranking.


Closing thoughts

Website design is an important step in ensuring your business succeeds. By following these 12 tips, you can create a website that both looks and works well – promoting it effectively is just a matter of taking the necessary steps.