What to do Prior to Launch
So you’re in the midst of building your website. You’ve got some content posted, maybe a widget here and there, you scored a deal with a $4.50 unlimited host and overall your site is starting to come together and you just can’t wait to launch. Well hold your horses because there are some things you may want to consider doing before launch that will not only make your launch more successful but also help you further down the line.
The first thing is Launchrock which is a free service that lets you create a launch page and create buzz for your site prior to launch. People can sign up for your mailing list and then refer their friends with a unique code. In exchange for referrals you could offer early access to the site, a discount, or maybe even a promotional prize such as a gift card. Though it is free, Launchrock has an indirect cost in that you need to own the domain, it can’t be a free subdomain. However, if you are a business or are serious about your site then it is vital to purchase a domain name as it looks more professional and is easier to spread the word about.
Next thing to be sure of is to have social media pages ready before your site is launched. You don’t want your site tied up in too many social networks which will make it harder to manage. Pick a few that you feel are the best, create the accounts, and start promoting them. A little extra buzz prior to launch never hurt anybody.
One of the other important things to do is to work out a content stream. If you’re a blogger or site that needs to consistently pump out content, be sure you have worked out a schedule that works for you and any other writers on the site. If you say you can write a piece of content a day and then later on find out you can’t, you will have problems. Make sure you, and any other writers on your site, find a minimum weekly or monthly queue that they can deliver on and are comfortable with. Never sacrifice quality for quantity.
And the last major thing to do prior to launch is a test run; both by you and maybe some friends. Ensure that there are no broken links, that spelling and grammar mistakes are few and far between, and that any widgets you’ve put on the site work properly. Also though you know where everything on your site is, see if your friends have trouble finding anything that would be desirable to a visitor. Clear navigation is key and can make or break whether someone will come back to your site.
These are all things you should put on your checklist to be done before launch. Just because you’ve finished building your site, doesn’t mean that it is ready for launch. Following these tips will likely make your launch go smoother and be more successful thanks to the extra buzz.
It would be best if you have enough content pre-made for several weeks following the launch. That way you deal more easily with writers block or sudden problems with content creation.