All Systems Go: Getting Your Website Ready for Launch

Getting Ready to Go Public

For brands of any size, establishing a professional web presence is a must, but building a new website from the ground up and getting it ready to go live is no small feat. Just consider the terminology commonly used to describe the effort… A website isn’t merely published or set up – it is launched, a colorful use of language suggesting heroic imagery of mighty ships and soaring rockets.

Okay, so maybe launching a website isn’t quite like putting a man on the moon, but just like a rocket launch, a website launch is the culmination of a lengthy, labor-intensive process that relies on contributions from a range of players – from coders and graphic designers, to copywriters, marketers, and SEO specialists. Just like a rocket launch, a key final step is to go through a series of tests and checks to ensure that “all systems are go!”

So, what do these pre-launch checks typically consist of? A truly comprehensive checklist might have dozens of items that need to be tested before a site goes live.

Some of the major items include:

Proofread everything, to catch any embarrassing spelling or grammatical errors, formatting inconsistencies, or filler content left over from early stages of site development.

Make sure all URLs are live and working. For small websites this can be done manually, but for larger sites, automated online tools can be used to perform URL checks.

Check all links to make sure they work correctly, and test all nav elements and forms for user-friendliness and proper functionality.

Test website speed. This is critical for user experience and for SEO purposes. Many factors affect site speed, and online tools are available that allow web developers to test a site’s speed and find any weaknesses.

Make sure content is search-optimized. There’s more to SEO than keywords, and much of what makes for successful search optimization is “under the hood,” including things like headers, meta tags, and alt text for images.

Perform mobile-responsive and cross-browser testing. To reach the broadest audience possible, you want to be sure that your site displays properly on a wide variety of devices, and on all major browsers.

Are you looking to boost your brand’s profile with an upgraded web presence? Rosie’s Creative is here to help. We know that building a website is a long-haul effort, and we’re here for you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? Contact us today. Remember, with Rosie’s Creative, your first consultation is always free.