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Introduction
This post is dedicated to all newbies, bloggers and entrepreneurs who are all cheered up to for their very first new website launch. In this post, we have covered all the website launch checklist and how to make the process simpler yet interesting.
So your website is designed, it is ready for launch, you have added the content, all seems to be working fine for now. You are excited, client is happy; all is well in the world. Well not quite, whether you are building a website from scratch, rebuilding an existing website or modifying your current one, launching a website is a challenging yet exciting process.There are many things that can be overlooked in the midst of all the eagerness and excitement to make your site live. As they say “Devil is in the details” so attention to every little detail is very important and many people fail to identify these things and ignore them so don’t lose customers by ignoring these small little things.
The Go Live Website Checklist
We have figured out a way for you to never forget these details again. We have taken the liberty of making a checklist for you so before you launch your website the next time, run through this new website launch checklist to ensure that all is ready before you go live.
1. Functionality across Multiple Browsers
It often happens that you think your design is just perfect then you open it in a different browser and see that everything appears broken. For your website to be successful, it is important that it is functional across all web browsers. Ensure that your website’s layout, typography, images etc. all are displaying properly. The popular browsers that you must check your website on are Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
2. Mobile Friendliness
Almost 90% of the people use their mobile devices to go online which is why it is vital that your website is mobile friendly. It will not only help provide your visitors a smooth user experience but it will also help in your overall Google ranking as Google’s new algorithm rewards the sites that are mobile responsive and penalizes the ones that are not. Statistics also show that businesses that have mobile responsive sites generate better leads and revenue than the businesses that don’t. Not just mobiles though, make sure that your website is functional across all devices i.e. IPads, Tablets or any other web capable device.
3. Links
Link testing is a vital step; you need to make sure all your links lead where they are meant to before you go live. Click on all the links, your logo should link back to the homepage and if there are any broken links or links that lead nowhere, make sure that you have an Error (404) page designed. It’s highly recommended that you use a link crawler tool rather than manually checking the links as it’s more efficient and accurate.
4. Images
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You need to make sure that all the images that are uploaded on the site are of same quality and size with proper alt tags and text. You also need to ensure that they are compressed properly as it will affect the overall page loading time (Heavier the image, slower the page will load).
5. Site Speed
website-launch-checklist-for-load-time
Site speed is a major factor as it greatly influences user experience as well as website’s ranking. Google’s algorithm now recognizes site speed as web search ranking factor. You can use a speed tester to see how much time it takes to load each webpage; ideally it shouldn’t take any more than 3 to 5 seconds.
6. Check Your Forms
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Double check all the forms on your website. Are they all properly working? Are they receiving an automated response email when they submit the form? Is the website leading them to a Thank You page when the user submits a lead form? You need to ensure that all the above is happening before you go live, also ensure that your software is picking up on all the leads being submitted on the website.
7. Proofreading Your Website
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You will be surprised at how many mistakes you’ll come across when you go through your website with a fine toothed comb. There are always typos, grammatical errors or sometimes dummy text that hasn’t been replaced with original content. I’ve personally come across so many websites sporting a Lorem Ipsum paragraph within the website somewhere so proofread your website carefully. Do it yourself, then get someone else to do it, it is always the best that proofreading is done by more than just one person.
8. Meta Tags and Descriptions
Meta title is the text that search engine result pages display when you show up in searches. It is important that every page has its unique Meta title that is relevant to that page’s content. With Meta title, there is also a description that search engines will show in their result description; it is a short line (about 160 characters specifying what your website has to offer). Similar to Meta title, Meta description also changes from page to page and it is relevant to that specific page’s content.
9. Analytics
Make sure that you have an analytics tools installed and its functioning properly. It is vital to track your website’s performance, user engagement and website visitors. You will receive all the statistics you require to know how your website is doing. Google Analytics is the most popular Analytics tool there is; other hot favorites are Kissmetrics and Clicky.
10. Sitemap
Your XML sitemap is a file that allows search engines to index your webpage. This XML file directs the web crawlers to different pages on your website. You can use many of the online XML sitemap creators and upload the file on your root directory.
11. RSS Feed Link
If your website has a blog, you require an RSS feed that your readers will subscribe to. Include a small RSS icon in the address bar to show that you have an RSS feed.
12. Your Web host
And lastly, testing if your web host has all the right checks to lift up your website. Why? Because there are many cases reported where web hosting failed to compel with the changes you made on local server. It is very crucial to have a reliable hosting for your website. Check before you opt-in if they offer all you need for your business.
13. Check it One Last Time
Check your website one last time before you go live, upload it on a staging site and have someone else use it in front of you. If all is perfect… Launch!
Final thoughts…
Go Live, your website is now out in this digital wonderland called Internet. Your work doesn’t end here though, keep tracking and monitoring your website to ensure that it is performing its best.
That's all for now:
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Hi there, my name is Stuart, founder of stuartkerrs.com and an experienced Digital Marketing Consultant in London. I hold a degree in Computer Science from The Open University and started my career in the City, working in Financial Technology. There, I developed and supported financial software, banking intranets, and websites.
Driven by my passion for digital marketing, I seized the opportunity to leverage my experience and founded my own company. With over 20 years in the industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, helping clients create and grow their online presence successfully.
As a dedicated Digital Marketing Consultant in London, I stay up-to-date with the latest trends and strategies in the ever-evolving digital landscape, ensuring that my clients receive cutting-edge solutions tailored to their unique needs.
Feel free to explore my blog to gain insights, tips, and valuable information on how to excel in the world of digital marketing.
