New Website. Now What?

Congratulations on your new website! 

Launching a new website represents a pivotal moment for any business. It’s not just about giving your brand a digital facelift; it’s about setting a new foundation for all your online marketing efforts. A professionally designed website brings improved user experience, stronger brand representation, and enhanced functionalities that can transform how your audience interacts with your business. However, the journey doesn’t end with going live. To truly leverage your new asset, there are strategic steps you should consider immediately after launch. This guide outlines six essential actions to ensure your website not only reaches but also engages and converts your target audience effectively.

Embrace these steps as part of your ongoing digital marketing efforts, and watch as your website becomes one of your most powerful business tools.

01. Announce the Change to Your Audience

Launching your new site is an event worth shouting about. Start with a well-crafted announcement to alert both new and existing customers. Use every channel at your disposal:

• Email Campaigns: Send out an announcement to your email list. Consider segmenting your list to personalize messages for different groups, like loyal customers, prospects, or partners.
• Social Media: Share engaging posts that include visuals from your new site. Use appropriate hashtags, and consider paid promotion to increase the reach of your posts.
• Press Release: For businesses targeting a broader market or depending on industry recognition, a press release can be a powerful tool to gain media coverage.
• In-Person or Virtual Events: Hosting a launch event can be a direct way to engage your audience. A webinar, for instance, can be an excellent opportunity to walk through the new website features.

02. Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console

Ensure your website is quickly indexed by search engines by submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console. 

This tool not only helps Google find and crawl your pages but also provides valuable insights into how your site is performing in search results. 

Showit automatically generates a sitemap of your Showit pages when you publish your site. 

Here’s how to do it:

• Verify Your Website: Add your site to Google Search Console and verify ownership via DNS record, HTML file upload, or other provided methods.
• Submit Your Sitemap: Locate the ‘Sitemaps’ section and submit the URL of your sitemap. This is typically found at yourdomain.com/siteinfo.xml.

This step is crucial for SEO as it helps new and updated content appear in search results more quickly.

Instructions directly from Showit can be found here.

03. Connect Your Website to Google Analytics

To track the performance of your new site, set up Google Analytics. This powerful tool provides insights into your website traffic, user behavior, and more, enabling you to make data-driven decisions.

Here’s how to integrate it within Showit:

• First up, secure your Google Analytics account. 
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to Admin > Data Streams
• Click the arrow next to the domain you want to track data for.
• On the page that opens, you should see a Measurement ID that begins with a “G-“. 
• Copy the measurement ID.
• Go to your Showit account and open the Design App. 
• Click the Site Settings tab in the top left corner of the screen.
• Toggle to the “Third Party” tab.
• Enter your Measurement ID in the box.
• Click save. 
• Click publish.

Here are the complete instructions from Showit.

04. Create a Web-Based Content Strategy

Content is the cornerstone of digital marketing and is pivotal in driving traffic and engaging users. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your business goals and speaks to your target audience. 

Consider including:

• Blog Posts: Regularly updated blogs can boost SEO, establish your expertise, and provide fresh content to engage visitors.
• Videos: Integrating videos can increase user engagement and time spent on your site. They are also highly sharable.
• Infographics and Case Studies: These can help in visually presenting information and showcasing your successes.

For more details on developing a content strategy, check out this Hubspot article.

05. Set Up Retargeting Ads, If Applicable

Maximize conversions by setting up retargeting ads. These ads target users who have visited your site but did not make a purchase or fill out a contact form.

Here’s how to start:

• Choose a Platform: Popular platforms for retargeting include Google Ads and Facebook.
• Install Pixels: Install the retargeting pixel on your website, which will track visitors and allow the ad platform to retarget them.
• Create Compelling Ads: Develop ads that remind users of the products they viewed or offer a special discount to come back.

Retargeting is a cost-effective way to increase your conversion rates by keeping your brand top-of-mind for potential customers.

Here’s another Hubspot article on the topic if you want more details.

06. Integrate Your Website with Other Marketing

Ensure that your new website is not an island. Integrate it fully with your existing marketing strategies to enhance both offline and online efforts.

This can include:

• Marketing Content Integration: If you have a net new site or if any of your core slugs/URLs changed, make sure the most relevant and up-to-date links are used in your marketing materials.
• Social Media Integration: Ensure your website includes social sharing buttons and that your social media profiles link back to your site. If you have a links page on your website, use that!
• Email Signature Integration: Make sure your email signature links folks back to your new site.

This integration ensures a cohesive marketing strategy where each component works together to support your overall business objectives.

Expanding Your Reach: Additional Strategies

Beyond the foundational strategies outlined, consider exploring additional avenues to further enhance your website’s launch and ongoing promotion:

• Networking and Partnerships: Collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your industry to expand your reach.
• Community Engagement: Participate in forums, groups, and discussions relevant to your niche to build relationships and drive traffic.
• Continual Learning and Adaptation: Stay informed about the latest trends and technologies to keep your strategies fresh and effective.

Wrapping Up

By embracing a strategic approach after your website goes live, you’re not just launching a website; you’re launching a dynamic platform that will grow and evolve with your business.

As you move forward, keep refining your strategies, stay engaged with your audience, and continue to build on the momentum of your launch.

Here’s to the success of your new website and the exciting opportunities it will bring to your business!