80 Things to Check Before, During, and After Launching a Website

Admit it: Launching a brand new web site is demanding — even for probably the most seasoned digital entrepreneurs.

Web sites are advanced. There are such a lot of issues which can be simply neglected, like a damaged hyperlink or a misspelled phrase.

And naturally, a handful of issues might go very, very unsuitable. Like what if you happen to neglect to check an necessary knowledge seize kind after which lose out on producing a bunch of latest leads? Or worse, what if you happen to neglect to correctly arrange web site redirects, and people useful search engine guests get a web page not discovered message?

As a substitute of worrying concerning the what ifs, would not it’s a lot simpler to have a complete web site guidelines to run down earlier than each web site launch? One which you can use for enterprise web sites, microsites, touchdown pages, and every thing in between?

Fortuitously, we have created simply that. Maintain studying to study every thing you should do earlier than, throughout, and after launching a web site.

What You Ought to Do Earlier than Starting Your Website Design

Whether or not that is your first web site that’s being constructed from scratch or you’re doing a web site redesign, there are just a few steps that you must take earlier than hiring an internet designer or diving in your self.

1. Analyze your earlier web site (if relevant).

To be able to make good choices, you will need to first perceive the place you’ve got been. That begins along with your current web site when you have one. Ask your self:

• What’s the objective of a brand new design or overhaul?
• What have not hasn’t been achieved with this current web site?
• How will a brand new design serve the brand new group?

The solutions to those questions can assist you determine your gaps, which might then inform purpose setting for the brand new web site.

2. Crawl your previous web site (if relevant) and doc its construction.

You will get an concept of your web site’s current construction, pages, and belongings by utilizing a crawling software equivalent to Screaming Frog. This can be a obligatory step in creating your web site growth plan since you’ll have a extra concrete view of what pages existed earlier than, what redirects are in place, and what the meta knowledge at the moment seems like.

3. Receive benchmark knowledge out of your earlier web site (if relevant), and make sure testing procedures.

Not solely will you wish to evaluate how your new web site performs in comparison with the previous, however you may additionally wish to proceed figuring out gaps that can present data-driven insights to help your new technique.

Moreover, you may wish to verify testing procedures. Quickly, you may start testing your web site to ensure all of the completely different elements are working, every thing flows, and there is a system for monitoring bugs and enhancements.

Use a kind (like Google Types) as an alternative of asking individuals to e-mail their ideas so the feedback-gathering course of is extra streamlined. Then, put one particular person accountable for selecting which bugs to prioritize, and filtering all of the inventive suggestions you obtain via the shape.

4. Determine your targets for the brand new design, how you may obtain them, and the way you may measure success.

As soon as the gaps are absolutely fleshed out, you may start crafting your targets for the design. You might come to conclusions equivalent to:

• The present web site is unwieldy, and we want ease of use.
• The present web site not seems stylish, so we want a visible refresh.
• The present web site does not carry out, so we want a extra Website positioning-friendly construction with a greater UX.

No matter your targets, you may wish to perceive precisely how a brand new web site will provide help to obtain them so to craft its implementation accordingly.

5. Listing out motion objects, roles, and tasks.

Make a venture administration guidelines for the web site. What content material must be written? What calls-to-action should be created?

Make a grasp record of the stuff you want in your web site and deadlines for when they need to be accomplished.

Then, assign every motion merchandise to a person or group. It often takes lots of people to launch a web site: You have got entrepreneurs writing the content material; designers selecting pictures and laying out the general feel and appear; a technical group doing all of the back-end growth. To make sure everybody’s on the identical web page and there isn’t any position confusion, you may wish to lay out a complete plan for what every group or particular person is chargeable for.

One wonderful means to do that is by utilizing the DARCI mannequin, which stands for Determination Maker(s), Accountable, Accountable, Consulted, Knowledgeable. It is a highly effective software that’ll assist everybody perceive which particular person is chargeable for finishing which motion objects, which particular person(s) or group(s) should be consulted earlier than any remaining choices are made, and who must be consulted as soon as a remaining choice has been made or an motion has been taken.

6. Put together for worst-case situations.

Ballot everybody concerned in your web site launch on their considerations about what might go unsuitable, after which devise just a few backup plans for what to do when — not if — a few of these issues go unsuitable.

7. Select a Strong CMS.

Should you’ve by no means launched a web site earlier than, the lengthy record beneath may intimidate you. Nevertheless, it really should not take too lengthy to run via a lot of the facets on this record — particularly if you happen to constructed your web site with a stable CMS.

A CMS, or content material administration system, typically permits you to design a web site from a pre-created template, optimize your content material for Website positioning, and edit content material after it is printed. Should you’ve already constructed your web site, you might need already gained expertise with utilizing a CMS.

However, if you happen to’re nonetheless constructing a web site, one solution to make going via this guidelines much less time consuming is by constructing your pages on a CMS that already does loads of the be just right for you.

For instance, HubSpot’s CMS that permits you to create and edit content material together with touchdown pages and weblog posts. It is options additionally mean you can arrange your content material, schedule it, monitor analytics, and optimize it for Website positioning.

Alternatively, you can even take a look at out CMS platforms like WordPress, Wix, and even Drupal.

8. Develop a constant model.

Determine on a constant model message and tone, one that you simply’re dedicated to presenting constantly throughout. It will make you look extra reputable, credible, and memorable.

1. Perceive your worth proposition.
2. Select a mission assertion, imaginative and prescient assertion, and tagline that represents that worth in addition to your model id.
3. Select colours and fonts that convey that id effectively.
4. Determine on the kind of imagery that you’re going to use to additional convey your messaging.

9. Create your technical Website positioning technique.

Take a while to make sure that your web site has been given a stable basis for Website positioning success. From web site structure and content material hierarchy to metadata and XML sitemaps, don’t depart any stone unturned.

1. Carry out key phrase analysis and resolve what you wish to rank for.
2. Create a content material technique that satisfies these key phrases.
3. Perceive how your current pages (if relevant) might be adjusted and which pages will should be created new.
4. Work out which pages are not obligatory.
5. Map out the place pointless pages might be redirected to (utilizing a 301 redirect).

10. Strategize your conversion paths.

After getting an understanding of the first pages that can exist in your web site, you may want to determine precisely what actions you need customers to take and the way you may seize their data. This contains pondering via:

• What premium top-of-the-funnel provides are wanted
• What bottom-of-the-funnel motion will probably be introduced on primary pages
• What types should be created
• What touchdown pages and thanks pages should be created
• How conversions will probably be tracked
• What actions will occur after a web site customer converts (e-mail responder, and so forth.)

11. Arrange analytics software program.

1. Select which analytics platforms you may be utilizing on the brand new web site.
2. Determine if any earlier Analytics monitoring scripts will probably be used or if new accounts/scripts are wanted.
3. Arrange new accounts (if relevant).

12. Set a launch date.

After getting an concept of what must get accomplished earlier than the launch, choose a launch date. Give your self no less than a month. Most businesses plan for two-to-three months of analysis, design, and growth.

What to Examine As soon as You’ve got Constructed Your Website

As soon as you’ve got chosen a CMS and constructed a web site that you simply’re able to launch, here is a listing of 80 issues to test earlier than, throughout, and after going dwell. Be at liberty to repeat, edit, and make your individual based mostly on the software program you are utilizing to launch and host your web site.

Haven’t got time to test all 80? Here is a listing of crucial highlights from every part:

We have grouped objects based mostly on pre-launch and post-launch, ensuring to the touch on web page content material, design, performance, Website positioning, branding, analytics, safety, and compliance. Carry on studying to ensure you remember a factor earlier than your subsequent launch.

Web site Pre-Launch Guidelines

Earlier than you launch, it is necessary to overview the entire content material in your web site with a fine-tooth comb. In fact, meaning web page content material, however remember about your premium content material, too. From data-driven content material and downloadable paperwork to wealthy media equivalent to movies and pictures, you wish to be sure every thing is in place, working correctly, and searching lovely.

It is necessary to notice — you may wish to arrange a staging web site to arrange your new web site earlier than going dwell. Staging websites are actual copies of your web site on a non-public server which can be used to arrange and proof content material and code modifications earlier than they go dwell. The staging web site is a spot to edit and mess around with updates in an atmosphere that is virtually equivalent to the one which will probably be dwell. That is so you do not have to fret about crashing your web site or screwing one thing up whenever you make a change.

Later, you may sync content material and templates between the staging atmosphere and your dwell web site through your content material administration system (CMS). Should you’re a HubSpot buyer with the web site platform, you may discover there’s a staging atmosphere constructed proper into the software program. It permits you to generate a preview URL of the complete web site, so you may click on round and take a look at issues in context.

1. Ensure textual content is correct and error-free.

• Website content material has been proofread for spelling and grammar.
• Firm contact particulars are correct all through the web site.
• Generic content material, equivalent to lorem ipsum, has been correctly eliminated and changed.
• All premium content material, equivalent to case research, ebooks, and whitepapers, have been proofread. Spelling and grammar are right.
• Copyright date (maybe within the footer) contains the present yr.

2. Substitute all placeholder pictures with remaining pictures and designs.

From time to time, a web site designer might use a placeholder picture in the event that they did not have the right asset on the time of the web page’s creation. It is as much as you to ensure every web page is picture-perfect.

3. Guarantee copy aligns with the brand new model.

• The textual content has been copy-edited to make sure constant model voice and elegance.
• All firm tag strains and mission statements are up-to-date.

4. Examine that every one styling preferences have been carried out.

• Paragraphs, headers, lists, and different formatting are right.
• Model colours have been carried out accurately, together with hyperlink and button colours.

5. Guarantee your design is aesthetically pleasing.

• Scripts are optimized throughout internet pages.
• Photographs are optimized throughout internet pages.
• CSS is optimized throughout internet pages.

6. Be certain that rights to pictures, fonts, and different content material have been correctly licensed or cited.

Even if you happen to outsourced the design to an internet designer/developer, the accountability falls on you to make sure there are not any copyright licensing points. In any other case, you can find yourself with a hefty infringement settlement in your palms.

7. Check the location for Person Expertise (UX).

• Web site pages are suitable throughout browsers.
• Web site pages are suitable throughout units.
• Photographs, movies, and audio recordsdata are within the right locations, formatted and dealing on all units.
• All premium content material, equivalent to case research, ebooks, and whitepapers, are saved of their correct libraries/databases and work correctly.
• Inside hyperlinks throughout internet pages are working correctly.
• Social media share icons are related to the right accounts.
• Firm emblem is linked to the homepage.

8. Examine that the conversion paths have been carried out correctly.

• All obligatory types are current.
• Touchdown pages and thanks pages have been carried out.
• The right buttons and calls-to-action (CTAs) are current within the correct areas.
• The whole lot is linked collectively appropriately.

9. Create your web site backup technique.

You may stop lack of knowledge and defend in opposition to malware and different damages by correctly organising web site safety and common backups. Examine that:

• Backup schedule has been created.
• Backup location has been recognized.
• A plan for implementation is ready to be put in movement after launch.

10. Retailer passwords and credentials in a safe place.

Many people have possible been concerned within the web site launch up till this level, so be sure that passwords are reset when the time comes and correct password etiquette is adopted.

11. Audit the technical Website positioning implementation for errors.

• Pages have distinctive web page titles.
• Pages have distinctive meta descriptions.
• Every web page has a particular objective, and pages meant to rank organically are optimized round a single key phrase or set of key phrases.

12. Conduct a stress take a look at.

In a typical web site redesign, it is probably not 100% essential to do a stress take a look at as a result of the visitors spike might not overrun your server’s capability. However a stress take a look at (additionally referred to as a load take a look at) is a should for any firm that plans for a big inflow of tourists throughout particular instances — equivalent to the vacations or after a significant press occasion. It’s going to assist you determine how a lot simultaneous visitors your web site can deal with by simulating as much as tens of 1000’s of simultaneous digital customers from completely different areas all over the world.

Whereas stress exams simulate digital customers, the take a look at will not be completely replicating a real-life situation — so you may wish to discover a take a look at that brings you as near actuality as potential. Ask a developer which load exams they suggest. Right here at HubSpot, lots of our builders use JMeter by Apache, however it is a fairly technical software that is not supreme for somebody who’s new to the idea.

You’ll want to notify your host or supplier that you simply wish to carry out a stress take a look at earlier than you really do one. In any other case, your take a look at may seem like a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) assault in your supplier. Many suppliers (together with HubSpot) think about an unauthorized load take a look at a violation of phrases of service.

Person expertise is a key facet of how they view your organization, so testing your web site earlier than it goes dwell will deliver extra confidence that guests is not going to be instantly displeased along with your choices.

Web site Publish-Launch Guidelines

As an example you’ve got accomplished it. The button has been pushed, the area is pointing to the brand new web site, and also you’re about prepared to inform the world…

However wait only one second since you nonetheless have issues to test for now that your web site is formally dwell.

13. Check the location for person expertise once more.

Simply in case there was a problem with the implementation, you may wish to make sure the expertise is in keeping with what you reviewed earlier than it went dwell.

• Guarantee your design is rendering as you anticipated it to throughout browsers.
• Guarantee your design is rendering as you anticipated it to throughout units.
• Guarantee CSS/HTML is correctly validated.
• CSS styling is rendering correctly.
• Favicon is in place and rendering correctly.
• Inside hyperlinks throughout internet pages are working correctly.
• Exterior hyperlinks throughout internet pages are working correctly, and open in a brand new tab.
• Social media share icons are working correctly.
• Feeds are working correctly (RSS, information, social media).
• Firm emblem is linked to the homepage.
• 404 Redirect pages are in place (page-not-found.aspx).

14. Check your conversion path’s performance.

Take a while to check and validate the entire completely different options in your web site. Lead technology types, CRM integration, and every other know-how ought to work flawlessly throughout your web site.

• Types are submitting knowledge correctly.
• Thanks message or web page shows after kind is submitted.
• Type knowledge is being emailed to a recipient and/or saved in an organization database.
• Auto-responders are working correctly (if relevant).

15. Examine that integrations with third-party instruments are operating easily.

Integrations equivalent to your CRM, e-commerce software program, and/or advertising and marketing platform hyperlink to your web site and provide help to run your online business. If there’s a potential challenge that may trigger knowledge loss, you do not wish to discover out means after the actual fact.

16. Make a replica of the ultimate web site for backup functions.

Now that every thing is in place and finalized, you wish to have a pristine copy of it must you expertise knowledge corruption or loss.

17. Be certain that backups are operating correctly.

Now’s the time to test the implementation of your backup technique. Examine that ongoing copies of the web site are being created and saved regularly.

18. Ensure your web site is safe.

• 24/7 monitoring scripts are put in.
• There is a plan in place for updating plugins (if relevant).
• Be certain that all relevant events are conscious of your group’s password etiquette insurance policies.
• Buy an SSL certificates if need-be. An SSL certificates takes as much as two weeks to buy and arrange, so guarantee you have got it previous to launch. (An SSL certificates will guarantee your web site is encrypted so hackers cannot intercept any of your knowledge. Not solely will this put your web site guests comfy, nevertheless it’ll additionally increase your web site’s Website positioning since SSL is now a part of Google’s search rating algorithm.)

19. Adjust to all relevant legal guidelines.

Ensure your web site complies with any relevant legal guidelines and rules. Web legislation might be sticky, and every business has its personal algorithm to observe. So it is best to seek the advice of along with your authorized counsel to ensure you aren’t lacking something — this put up just isn’t authorized steerage. Listed below are just a few you may have to find out about:

• Internet pages provide accessibility for customers with disabilities (WAI-ARIA).
• Internet pages announce if the web site makes use of cookies (required in some international locations).
• Web site is compliant with utilization rights for bought or borrowed code, pictures, and fonts.
• Phrases and privateness insurance policies are seen to web site guests.
• Web site is PCI compliant (if you happen to’re storing and processing bank cards).

20. Crawl the location to make sure no errors occurred on launch.

Examine the crawl to the earlier crawl and see if you happen to discover any inconsistencies that weren’t intentional. You will additionally wish to be sure that all pages have the correct search engine indexing settings.

Moreover, you may wish to test for formatting consistency. Typically, font codes get dropped right into a web page by chance, so you may wish to scour your web site for any of those bizarre formatting errors. Ensure all of your formatting is constant and there are not any bizarre blips in your copy.

21. Examine the technical Website positioning elements for errors.

• Web page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs are all current and match the unique technical Website positioning technique.
• Load time for web site pages is optimized.
• A dynamic XML sitemap has been created.
• The XML sitemap has been submitted to serps.
• Web page URLs constantly replicate web site data structure.
• 301 redirects are in place for all previous URLs (redirecting previous to new pages).
• rel=”nofollow” tags are in place on relevant hyperlinks and pages.
• Photographs on the web site are correctly compressed (which helps with load time).

22. Optimize your metadata.

• Metadata is correctly in place for any content material in an RSS feed.
• Metadata is correctly in place for any social media sharing content material.
• Spelling and grammar are right in all metadata.
• Alt tags have been added to each picture.

23. Arrange analytics.

Ensure your web site is ready as much as seize internet knowledge and analytics. This useful data will mean you can frequently enhance your web site going ahead, so you do not wish to neglect these things.

• Your web site analytics codes and monitoring scripts have been inserted on web site.
• Related IP addresses have been excluded from analytics monitoring.
• Funnels and targets have been correctly created in your analytics software program (if relevant).
• Google Webmaster and Google Analytics accounts have been correctly synced.
• Google Advertisements accounts have been correctly synced (if relevant).

24. Begin a post-launch enhancement record.

The web site you launch must be practical, well-designed, and well-positioned. Nevertheless it most likely will not be every thing you hoped and dreamed on the primary go — and also you definitely do not wish to spend months of effort designing a web site that folks might not react effectively to. What in case your shopper does not prefer it? What if conversion charges plummet? That might add as much as misplaced cash and energy.

As a substitute, it is best to publish a stable web site, after which take a look at and construct on prime of it — a web site creation method often known as growth-driven design. Create a doc that lists out all the issues you may’t get accomplished for the launch itself however wish to add sooner or later, and add options and components to it as you uncover extra about how customers work together with the location. This you are able to do by utilizing one among these person testing instruments.

How Do You Announce a New Web site Launch?

This (hopefully) wasn’t an arrogance venture; you probably did all of this work thus far for the advantage of your web site guests, prospects, and current clients. The next step is to inform the world about your new web site design. Here is how:

25. Construct anticipation with teasers earlier than the location is dwell.

A launch of a brand new product, a launch of a brand new film, and — sure — a brand new web site launch all require advertising and marketing earlier than the precise launch. Consider the final film you watched within the theater. Did you see the trailer earlier than you determined to purchase these film tickets and popcorn?

Teasers in your web site launch can solely assist to construct anticipation and get customers questioning what the brand new expertise will probably be like. This will construct buzz and curiosity when you lastly break the information.

26. Create a social media technique for the announcement.

Determine what channels you wish to promote the information on, how you’ll make the announcement, and the way lengthy the promotion will final.

As you craft your messaging, bear in mind to concentrate on new options and the way they profit your viewers.

27. Determine thrilling methods to advertise engagement for the brand new web site.

For customers who aren’t as concerned in your model, a brand new web site launch may not seem to be an enormous deal. Your purpose, then, is to make it one. Present an unique provide for the primary customers who go to the location. Or, create a contest that promotes partaking with the location’s new options. No matter you select, ensure you make it enjoyable and attention-grabbing.

28. Ship an e-mail to your current database.

You might wish to give current leads and clients a head’s up concerning the new design, particularly if it would trigger any confusion once they subsequent go to. You may break the information as a matter of courtesy but additionally sneak in methods to underscore the worth you are offering.

You may also alert all stakeholders of the redesign and ask them to unfold the phrase of the brand new web site.

29. Proceed to advertise the launch for a month.

Simply since you put up about your new web site as soon as on social media doesn’t imply that your viewers will drop every thing to go to the location in droves. Make your launch an enormous deal, and maintain the brand new performance prime of thoughts in order that your viewers is prompted a number of instances to test it out.

(As soon as your web site is launched, bear in mind to resubmit your XML sitemap to all main serps when you’re accomplished, too.)

Assets for Launching Your First Web site

Launching a brand new web site could be a tedious process, however you may alleviate among the stress by utilizing this complete web site launch guidelines.

Should you’re simply getting began in your first web site, listed here are just a few instruments that may provide help to streamline your course of

• CMS: As talked about above, a CMS can assist you design your web site, optimize and publish content material, and monitor your analytics as soon as it is launched. Should you’re trying to take a look at out just a few CMS choices, begin by trying out our 14-day free CMS trial.
• Running a blog Guides: Should you’re focused on utilizing your web site to publish a weblog that might provide help to increase model consciousness, it may be useful to start out brainstorming subjects. Here is an excellent information to how you can be a greater blogger with ideas from our group.
• Touchdown Web page Templates: A touchdown web page is a good way to focus on a product or useful resource that your model is providing. It is necessary to know what components result in a touchdown web page that can convert. Here is a information with examples. Moreover, when utilizing a CMS like HubSpot’s, you may create touchdown pages from pre-designed templates.

Editor’s Observe: This weblog put up was initially printed in August 2014, however was up to date for comprehensiveness and freshness in June 2021.