Why do a launch?
Many people may wonder if it's worth doing a launch to announce their new website. Our answer is simple. If you think you should, why not? Launches can be a great way to show what you've done to those around you, but also to future customers. There are different ways to do it, but many opt to do it all online. You can also take advantage of this event to offer a discount or a small gift to those who attend. In short, a launch can equally be a promotional tool.
If you want to showcase your new website, give yourself a goal. Why do you want to do it? Is it to promote your work? Is it to get your first sale via your online store? Is it to build a community on social media? The goal you set for yourself will affect how you promote your launch.
Carefully Review Your Website Before You Launch
Before you start preparing for your launch event, you need to make sure your site is ready to be seen. So, here's a list of things to check out. Our advice is this, don't wait until the last minute to finish your site.
All Sections are Complete
It would be a shame if you found out that a section was not finish or that it hadn't been properly edited. This is a fairly common error. Take the time to reread each page of your site and remove any mistakes.
Your Website has been Checked and Tested
If you are launching an online store, it is worth making sure the sales process works. Among other things, you need to link your store to a payment system and manage delivery methods. Our suggestion here is to place an order to verify that the transaction goes through. If something is missing, then you will have time to make the corrections.
The Mobile Version has been Tested
It is important to mention that sites are increasingly visited via mobile devices. So, you need to make sure your website looks good on a phone. To test this, go to the editor and click on the mobile icon at the top right. This will allow you to edit the mobile version of your site.
You Have Thought about SEO
Before you click the Publish button, we strongly recommend that you complete the section for referencing each page. This will allow Google to index your site as soon as possible and show it in relevant searches results. Start by going to the editor and click on the Pages tab on the left, then click on a page and SEO. Then, fill in the title tag, meta description and keywords.
Google Analytics
There are few tools as useful as Google Analytics if you want to know more about visits on your website. You can find out things like which pages are most visited, when these visits take place and from where the visitor came from. At the launch, you will probably have several visitors and you may like to have some statistics on them. Please note that your site must be published for Google Analytics to collect this data.
Promote Your Launch
Despite what some people may believe, just because you create a website doesn't mean it will automatically be popular with thousands of visitors a day. Don't forget that you are competing with millions of websites available on the Internet. So, you have things to do to stand out. It's the same for your launch. If you don't talk about it, chances are no one will show up. Here are some ideas to promote the launch of your new website.
Send Invitations
Do you know any potential customers? Invite them to your launch. They will appreciate you thinking of them. Also consider inviting friends or family. A launch can certainly be an event to celebrate your new project.
Advertise it on Social Media
Take the opportunity to promote your launch on your social media pages. If you have a small budget, you could also advertise for the event by targeting people who might be interested in what you offer.
Promote with a Contest or Special Offer
Get the interest of potential visitors by announcing a contest or special offer at your launch. People won't want to miss this opportunity. For example, if you have an online store, you could offer free shipping to the first 10 customers or a great discount.
Work with Partners or Influencers
As we proposed in our article Promote Your Online Store, partners and influencers can be very helpful ways to promote your project. Look for people who offer products or have complementary interests to yours. Then, approach them and come to an agreement. This will give you access to their networks. For example, you could send some of your best products to an Instagram influencer who could then promote them during your launch.
In conclusion, it is true that a launch requires a little preparation, but you will no doubt be happy to celebrate this new project. Start by completing and testing your site to make sure it's perfect, then be sure to promote your event. Then, get dressed up and go live! All the best success!