What you can do after launching your website
Congratulations! If you’ve successfully journeyed through the process of designing or redesigning a website, optimised your content, scrutinised every detail and painstakingly checked that every button is linking to the correct page, you’ll know the relief of launching your beautiful new website!
While a well deserved break (and lots of celebrating!) is essential, there is still some marketing work to do in order for your website to be noticed by those from whom you wish to attract attention. Make sure your hard work doesn’t go to waste by signing up for Google Search Console, Google My Business, tracking the activity of your visitors and planning regular updates. This can really take your website to the next level and continue the journey of success.
Visibility
Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free platform offered by Google that helps you monitor, maintain and troubleshoot your site’s search performance in order to optimise its organic presence. It’s not compulsory to sign up for Google Search Console to be included in Google Search results, the Search Console can help you make sense of and improve how Google views your website. It reports on a variety of metrics, including search appearance and user experience. With a few tweaks and adjustments, this can improve your website and attract more traffic from Google.
Google Search Console can help you:
Review how your site is performing on Google
View which pages Google has found and indexed on your site
Submit your sitemap and individual pages (e.g. new blog posts) for crawling
Recognize SEO errors
Check it out here
Google Analytics
Google Analytics emerges as a very important tool when visibility and engagement are a priority. It's not just about creating a web presence; it's about understanding the dynamics of your audience's interactions which in turn provides insights into your business. This powerful platform opens the door to a wealth of information, revealing visitor demographics, traffic sources, popular pages, and even the duration of user engagement.
With Google Analytics, you can track the efficacy of your marketing strategies, identify potential areas for enhancement, and ensure that your website aligns seamlessly with your target audience's preferences. Google analytics can be used to track various customer behaviour which can be used to improve marketing campaigns, better retain visitors and drive website traffic.
Check it out here
* If you are in the EU, remember that under GDPR requirements if you are using Google Analytics you will need your user’s consent in order to process this information. On a Squarespace Website simply enable the “Cookie Banner” under the Cookies and visitor Data section which then allows you to select from “Opt-in” and “Opt-in & Out”.
Tell Everyone
Now that your website is live, it's time to embark on the next crucial phase: spreading the word. Promoting your site after making it live can be daunting. You’ve put the hard work in and now your work deserves to be shared. Let the world know about your digital corner and the unique value it offers.
Tell Family and Friends
Word of mouth remains a powerful force, so don't hesitate to encourage your friends, family, and satisfied customers to share their experiences and share your website with others.
Update Your Social Links
If you have existing social media accounts, now is a good time to add your website link so that people visiting your profile can easily click through to your website. Utilise the power of social media platforms to announce your website's arrival, engaging your audience with intriguing posts and captivating visuals. Proactively promoting your website ensures that the launch of your website is not just a passing moment but the beginning of an exciting journey.
Create a ‘Google My Business’ Listing
Google Business Profile is a free business listing from Google. It provides the ability to add details and photos of your business, including your location, services, and products. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to create a ‘Google My Business’ listing. Creating this free profile increases your visibility and therefore the likelihood that your business will come up when someone searches your relevant terms and location. Information from your Google Business Profile may appear in Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping. Increasing the chances of getting discovered can work for you as an effective SEO and lead generation tool.
Clients can add reviews to your listing which is a key element of social proofing, and a meaningful way to build trust and credibility. Customers can share as much or as little information about their experience with your business as they like with Google’s star rating coupled with space for detailed reviews. All of this helps future potential customers decide which businesses to use and products to buy.
Check it out here
Create an ongoing Maintenance Plan
Most websites require a basic level of maintenance to keep it current and updated. This shouldn’t require much of your time (depending on what your needs are) and is worth making a note of, or setting reminders for yourself so that you don’t need to remember as the year goes on:
The date of your domain renewal
A reminder in January to update the year on your website footer
A reminder in January to update the year on your privacy policy (if you have one).
If you are planning on creating a blog and writing new posts, it can be helpful to set out a realistic blogging plan. Consistency is key here, Search engines will favour consistent updates so make this your priority and commit to the plan you’ve set out.
Should you be updating your website, it is a good idea to regularly go through and check that all your links are working properly and everything else works as it should. Besides clicking through on all your buttons/links, it is also a good idea to fill out any forms you have in order to make sure they are working well and you’re not losing any potential leads.
In the wake of your website's launch, it's time to engage in a journey of growth to maximise your digital presence. With the foundations laid, it's now time to focus on each pillar that will uphold your online space. From enhancing visibility through strategic SEO practices and social media efforts to actively engaging with your audience and taking advantage of platforms like 'Google My Business’. Create a unique maintenance plan that ensures your website remains polished and up to date. Remember that the true essence of your website lies not just in its aesthetics, but in the experiences it creates and the connections it fosters.
