Just unleashed your new website onto an unsuspecting public? This handy list will maximise your traffic and enquiries.
Congratulations! Most websites require a considerable investment of time and effort so it's important that you stop to admire the handiwork of you and your team.
But don't stop too long, because unlike times gone by, websites are no longer 'set and forget'. In fact, the launch of your website is the very start of your website journey, not the conclusion.
The arrival of your new website represents a great opportunity to gather some promotion for your business and get back in touch with clients and prospects.
So here's a handy checklist that will not only bring your website lots of traffic, but give it an early return on investment!
- Pre-launch to a small, friendly group to iron out the bugs
No matter how many times you've proofed, re-proofed and checked your website, chances are that it contains some minor errors that you and your team managed to overlook - or even an up-sell or cross-sell opportunity you've missed. Before you launch the site to the wider public, conduct a test launch to a handful of allies that will give you honest feedback on its pros and cons.
- List with free online directories
As any respectable search engine optimiser will tell you, relevant incoming links are the online equivalent of ongoing free advertising in the local press. Search online to get a complete list. The more relevant links to your website the search engine's can find, the higher it will rank you. You're likely to find that your local council operates a free business directory too.
- Add your domain name to all promotional surfaces
To maximise the chances of clients and prospects using the website, make sure you add your domain name to every promotional surface you can think of - from your business cards to your car signage and from your print advertisements to your email footer. In fact, give your email footer an extra boost by adding a launch announcement above your contact details, such as:
Our new website is live! Visit us today at www.yourdomain.com
- Email your client and prospect database or include it in your newsletter
Co-ordinate an email campaign to announce your new website. Give it extra life by conducting a contest with a prize for entries which give answers to questions relating to the website, for example, "What's the name of our new product range (see What's New)"?
- Hold an internal launch event
If you have a number of staff, gain their all-important buy-in by announcing the website at the next staff meeting. You could even have a 'new arrival' cake with morning tea or 'fudge' a launch with a projector and large screen.
- Announce with a media release
If you operate in an industry where you can get good media coverage, prepare a media release outlining the website's interesting content and features.
- Announce on your social networks
Social networking sites which you are a member of provide a great avenue for promoting your new website. You can make it more friendly and enticing by inviting feedback instead of a straight plug.
- Create a pay-per-click online advertising campaign
Despite what you may have heard, search engines can take some time to crawl and index your website. A short term campaign of search engine pay-per-click advertising can fill the breach till your 'organic' listings kick in.
- Get creative
Buy some sweet cigars and give to your clients to celebrate the new arrival - ensuring they are packaged with your domain name of course. Or take out an ad in a relevant magazine. Design it like a 'new arrivals' classified and announce the birth of your new website.
While this list is far from exhaustive, it will give your new website an excellent chance of recouping some of your hard earned cash before you know it.