Website Prelaunch Checklist

Yay!!! You've got a killer new website. Now let's give it a final check and get this baby launched!  While we've built this handy list so you can mark things as "DONE" (sorry, they do not save) as you go - you're welcome to download a printable version as well. 

Need some extra help launching? Our friend Angela over at Saffron Avenue has the BEST Launch Planner to make it EASY.


She has a FREE copy you can grab here!

But the PREMIUM version is even better! 🔥

We have used this in our own business and it's AMAZING! 

This is a fun way to share your knowledge, free product or just a virtual hug in exchange forthem to sign up to your email subscription if you are priming to sell them on a product orservice.


Does every page have a clear call-to-action (CTA)?

Strategy

N°01

Seconds absolutely count when it comes to converting your traffic. Don't waste that first impression having your user dig for what it is you actually do.


Is the website purpose clear within 5 seconds of landing on your site?

Before launch (and even before you start collecting those yummy email addresses!) be sure to have an email sequence in place to build a relationship, deliver resources, stories and soft selling. At a very minimum you should have a "Thank's for signing up" email ready to go out. Flodesk is one of our favorite email marketing platforms that makes it super easy to actually stick with an email campaign.

Make sure you have an email sequence

This is a fun way to share your knowledge, free product or just a virtual hug in exchange forthem to sign up to your email subscription if you are priming to sell them on a product orservice.


Do you have a lead magnet?

Do you have a clear welcome statement that tells visitors who you help and what problem you solve? Having a benefit driven headline will engage your visitors immediately and confirm that they are in the right place.



Do you have a benefit driven headline?

Your website is your best place to establish yourself as an expert in your industry. Share client testimonials, professional recognitions, awards received, education and experience.


Do you use evidence to establish yourself as an expert?

Content

N°02

Your website should have a clear strategy that guides your user through your content. Make sure your design is clean, your content is not overwhelming and your audience isn't being pulled in too many directions.


Is the user experience clear and easy to navigate?

Try to keep your navigation to 5 options with clearly nested items below them. Make sure to use clear titles such as "contact" vs. creative and catchy like "get in touch." 


Is your page nesting and hierarchy clear and easy to navigate?

Don't say something with long paragraphs that can be said with a short engaging sentence.Remember - seconds count.

Are your sentences short and engaging?

While you need enough content for SEO (minimum 300 words per page), don't overwhelm yourreader with so much content they just skip the page. If you do have long content, make sureyou stylize it in a way, bolding key points, so that someone skimming the page picks up whatyou are putting down. 


Make sure your content length is not overwhelming.

SEO

N°04

We recommend sizing your images no larger than 2,000 pixels, as the larger the image, the slower your site will load. For files names, don't go overboard with keywords - but try to label your files describing what they are.


Are all images sized and labeled properly for search engines?

Is your color and fonts consistent throughout the site?

Make sure that your fonts are not only easy to read size wise, but that the color doesn't blend too closely to the background that it's on.





Is there a high contrast between fonts and background?

If your brand is light and airy, you probably don't want to use neon colors. If you are classic and feminine, you would want to go with an elegant serif font, vs. a bold san serif.



The visual appeal is on point with your brand?

Make sure that any links on your site stand out with either a color, bold, italic, underline, etc.




Do links visually stand out?

Mobile browser usage is increasing every day. According to StatCounter, phone and tablet usage accounts for about 30% of web traffic. This means you will want to test on real mobile devices or use a browser simulator like iOS Xcode or Android Emulator.




Are all pages optimized for mobile devices?

Visuals & Design

N°03

Your images will make or break your site. Here are some of our favorite resources for professional photography: 

Free: 

Premium: 


Are your images professional and relevant?

Your page titles are very important when it comes to SEO and should be a clear indicator of what the page is about. Titles and descriptions should use important keywords so that when displayed on Google, the person searching can make a quick decision on whether the page contains the information they are looking for.

Do all pages have clear titles and descriptions?

Make sure you have an active SSL (security certificate) on your site. If your Showit site is showing insecure, you can message the Showit support directly within your dashboard and request for them to add an SSL to your site.

Activate your SSL

If you are doing any type of website data tracking, we recommend using Google Analytics. Also - make sure to verify your site with Google and Bing.

Set up Google Analytics

Legal

N°05

Be sure you are doing all that you can to legalize your site and it is easily accessible on every page of your site. We highly recommend making sure you have a Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, Cookie Policy, Disclaimer, etc. Legal features can vary depending on your business model so we highly recommend you are aware of the requirements that fit your business. One of the top resources we recommend is the GDPR Compliant Terms & Conditions + Privacy Policy for Your Website by The Contract Shop.

Read the Blog Post

Make sure your site is legal!

The American Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires advertisers and endorsers (i.e. publishers, bloggers and influencers) to disclose their relationships when promoting any affiliate content, or receiving something in exchange for their promotion.

Do you have any affiliate links?

If you sell goods or have visitors in the UK and EU, you will want to be diligent about if you’re General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, Compliant. If you want more in depth ways that you can become GDPR Compliant, pick up your GDPR Compliance Checklist by The Contract Shop.

Are you GDPR compliant?

N°06

If you have any type of pages where someone is signing up for your email list, downloading a freebie or even making a purchase - you should have a thank you / success page to direct them to.

Make sure you have setup "thank you" and 404 pages

If your audience is local, is your location clear on your site?

Giving your site a thorough walkthrough, clicking everything that is clickable and being sure they go to the correct place is key. Make sure to check all links: menu's, pages, newsletter, contact form, redirects, social media icons. Fix any dead links! If you have a shop, make sure all product links, add to cart buttons and carts are functional.


Double check all links

How is your performance? Run your website through Googles Pagespeed Insights. Cross test on browsers, see how each browser stacks up on W3's Browser Stats and if your site is looking top notch on all platforms.


Test your site

Ask all your friends and their mother's if they wouldn't mind proofing your site before launch.



Beta test

Pop! Click! Fizz! 🍾🥂

Final steps...

Let the world know you have launched. Do a social media challenge to amp up traffic and buzz!

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CONGRATULATIONS for launching your site!!! 

We would love to celebrate with you! Make sure to tag us @northfolkco on Instagram when you announce your new site! 

And if you have a few minutes - we would be so grateful to get a quick review!





Once your free trial ends and you sign up for a plan, you'll receive a credit for one free month of Showit!

Get Your First Month of Showit FOR FREE

With Code: Northfolk

Once your free trial ends and you sign up for a plan, you'll receive a credit for one free month of Showit!

Get Your First Month of Showit FOR FREE

With Code: Northfolk

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