Post Launch Count Down:
The 3 Must Do Actions After Launching a New Website
You've quite recently dispatched your fresh-out-of-the-box newly designed, amazing website. In any case, before you take a load off, there are some significant things you should know to set your new site up for long-term success.
Typically, during website architecture or overhaul projects, our customers need to realize what's in store after the task is finished. They regularly wonder, "What does our progressing support resemble?" "What do we need to financial plan for?" "What would it be a good idea for us to know about?" "How might we ensure our new site keeps on functioning admirably into what's to come?"
To respond to these inquiries, we ordinarily talk with our customers around a couple of various zones concerning what is straightaway:
- Maintenance and updates
- Staying active and continuing to make changes
- Test & Measuring results
Just like a car, a website needs routine maintenance."
1. Maintenance and Updates
We like to explain to our clients that a website is like a car. Periodically, you need to get your oil changed and do some routine maintenance. It works best if you are proactive about this instead of reactive. Doing this regularly allows you to catch any small issues before they become bigger issues.
With a website, it can be the same way. Technology changes fast and there are always new advances or even security issues to be aware of. That is why we recommend at least a quarterly website audit and update. This usually involves:
- Security – we check the hosting and server setup to make sure it is secure and up to date.
- Server capacity – we ensure adequate database and file storage on the server.
- Performance and CMS (content management system) update process – we make sure future updates can be easily administered or rolled back. And test the latest released since the last audit.
- Site Speed. The performance audit for key pages on the site using tools like Pingdom, and Google Page Speed, making sure they are still performant and fast loading.
- Checking Google Analytics or other website monitoring tools for common 404 errors and then fix them.
- Crawl errors or search engine technical issues. We use Google Search Console to analyze and fix crawl errors or search engine indexing issues.
Ensure you are making arrangements for progressing support and upkeep in your yearly marketing spending plan.
Great websites are constantly changing, like a well-tended garden throughout the seasons of the year."
2. Staying Active and Up to Date
We see your website as the cornerstone of your marketing initiatives. The website is your best opportunity to show how serious and how much you care about the business you do. It should be updated on a regular basis with new content, blog posts, FAQs, case studies and other relevant material.
In general websites have an average lifespan of 2 years – this typically refers to technology only. The worst thing you can do with a brand-new site is to just let it sit there for 2 years until the next redesign comes along.
It’s a marathon, not a race. We continually coach our clients on the impact of incremental changes. Sprints toward major overhauls are great and impressive but, you get more long-term value/sustainability from the slow burn. A well-engineered website is dynamic in the way it delivers content and it easily allows for new media, and content to keep individuals returning and engaged.
What can be optimized based on the data? What is and isn't working? What might need to be changed? "
3. Measuring Results
It's important to create measurable goals (KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators) in order to determine the value of the project in the long run. Increased page views, higher sales, more contact form submissions, are examples of these goals.
We use analytics platforms like Google Analytics, Parse.ly, A/B testing tools, user studies, surveys, and other data to help assess what the results are and how to help you identify areas that could be further improved. In light of ongoing analysis, we are able to make further conclusions and proposals about changes that will deliver better outcomes.
Continual questioning: What can be optimized, based on the data? What is and isn't working? What might need to change? What can we do to garner more engagement and action? is how you stay ahead of your competitors.
In summary, the process of nonstop testing, investigation, and improvement should be done throughout the life of your website.