Launching a website is undoubtedly one of the most exciting achievements for your business. It forms the core of your online presence and serves as an important part in building customer trust.
In this quick guide, we show you six simple steps on how to go live in no time. This is your complete website launch checklist.
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Steps For Your Website Launch Checklist
- 1 Steps For Your Website Launch Checklist
- 2
- 3 Launch a New Website With SEO Design Chicago
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions About Launching a Website
- 4.1 1. How much does it cost to launch a website from scratch?
- 4.2 2. How long does it typically take to launch a website?
- 4.3 3. Should I use a website builder or hire a professional web designer?
- 4.4 4. What essential pages should I include on my new website?
- 4.5 5. How do I choose the right domain name for my business?
- 4.6 6. What’s the difference between web hosting options and which should I choose?
- 4.7 7. When should I launch my website – should I wait until it’s perfect?
Step 1: Establish the Objectives of Your Website
As with anything, different websites are created to serve different purposes, whether that is to sell your services and products or build a brand. It’s important for you to clearly define what your new website seeks to do right from the onset.
This will set the basis for the themes to use, the site structure to use, and how the content will be displayed to the users. Also consider, who is your target audience? Doing this also makes it easy to plan how the website will be implemented in terms of time and cost. Debuting a website can be challenging and making sure that you have a plan in place will be a big help.
Step 2: Select and Register a Unique Domain Name
A domain name is a brand identification string used as a standard for naming and addressing a site on the web. When choosing one for your business, go for a name that resonates with your target audience, is memorable, user-friendly, and can be easily typed. If the name you wanted is taken, you might try looking for its alternative TLD (top level domain) i.e. .net, .org, .co.uk, etc.
Once you’ve chosen your most suitable domain, find a trustworthy registrar and register it for one or several years.
Step 3: Choose a Suitable Hosting Plan
Assuming you’ve registered your domain name, the next step is to choose a hosting provider and buy a feasible hosting plan before hitting publish on a website. Web hosting ensures your website is accessible online by allocating a web server that provides a physical address and space.
It can be free, shared, or dedicated depending on your website’s size, purpose, and the cost you are willing to incur.
Step 4: Use a CMS to Create and Manage Your Web Content
A content management system lets you manage and publish content on your website. Most of them are easy to operate. You need little or no prior coding experience to get your site up and running.
WordPress, Wix and Squarespace are a good place to start. The idea is to choose a CMS for your new site that suits your design and is easy to navigate. Then, you will need to fill your web pages with content. Whether it’s a blog post, landing page, or other site content, or team can create content for your new site. You will want it to be full of content before the site launch if you want to start collecting search engine rankings.
Step 5: Design Your Website, Add Web Pages, and Optimize for Search Engines
At this step, you can decide to hire a designer or design the website yourself. Whatever the route, the process involves creating an overall layout while taking care of user experience and branding.
You need to choose a theme that best characterizes your products or services. The idea is to have a properly articulated design that captures the attention of your visitors.
Step 6: The Big Launch
Finally, it’s now time to launch your website and to share to the world what your new online business is all about. But before that, it would be best to consider adding some useful tools for collecting useful user data. Some of our top picks here are Google Analytics and heat map tools for traffic and content performance analysis, and an email list builder to collect emails.
Once you’ve properly executed these steps, fine-tune the website and publish it!
If you are in need of assistance or run into any problems while creating your new site, reach out to SEO Design Chicago to get help from the experts that can guide you through the process or create the site for you.
Launch a New Website With SEO Design Chicago
SEO Design Chicago is an expert digital marketing agency that can help you build a new site. In addition to web design and web development services, we also offer search engine optimization services to boost your website visitors, can help choose a content management system, help you monitor your site with Google Analytics and the Google Search Console, and more. We are the right time to help you with your new website launch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Launching a Website
1. How much does it cost to launch a website from scratch?
Website launch costs vary significantly depending on your approach and requirements. A basic DIY website using platforms like WordPress.com or Wix can cost as little as $100-300 per year (including domain and hosting). For a professional custom website, expect to invest $2,000-10,000 or more. Key cost components include: domain registration ($10-15/year), web hosting ($50-500/year), premium themes or templates ($50-200), professional design services ($500-5,000+), and content creation ($500-2,000). Additional costs may include premium plugins, SSL certificates, and ongoing maintenance. Budget-conscious businesses can start small and upgrade features as they grow.
2. How long does it typically take to launch a website?
The timeline depends on complexity and whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring professionals. A simple website using templates can be launched in 1-2 weeks if you work on it consistently. More complex custom websites typically take 4-12 weeks from planning to launch. The timeline breaks down roughly as: planning and content preparation (1-2 weeks), design and development (2-8 weeks), testing and revisions (1-2 weeks), and final launch preparations (1 week). Factors that can extend timelines include custom functionality requirements, extensive content creation, client feedback cycles, and integration with third-party services.
3. Should I use a website builder or hire a professional web designer?
The choice depends on your budget, technical skills, timeline, and long-term goals. Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com are ideal if you have a limited budget, need a simple site quickly, and are comfortable with basic customization. They typically cost $100-500 annually and can be launched in days. Hire a professional if you need custom functionality, have specific design requirements, want optimal SEO setup, or lack time to learn the technical aspects. Professional design ensures better user experience, mobile optimization, and scalability, but costs significantly more ($2,000-10,000+).
4. What essential pages should I include on my new website?
Every business website should include these core pages: a compelling homepage that clearly explains what you do, an “About” page that builds trust and tells your story, a services/products page detailing your offerings, a contact page with multiple ways to reach you, and a privacy policy (legally required in many jurisdictions). Additional valuable pages include testimonials/reviews, FAQ section, blog for content marketing, portfolio/case studies showcasing your work, and team bios for service-based businesses. E-commerce sites also need shopping cart, checkout, shipping/returns policies, and account creation pages.
5. How do I choose the right domain name for my business?
Choose a domain name that’s memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your business. Keep it short (under 15 characters if possible), avoid hyphens and numbers, and use your business name if available. If your exact business name isn’t available, consider variations or adding location-specific terms. Choose .com when possible as it’s most trusted, but .net, .org, or industry-specific extensions can work too. Check trademark issues and social media availability for consistency. Avoid trademarked terms and ensure the name works well for verbal communication. Consider purchasing multiple extensions (.com, .net) to protect your brand.
6. What’s the difference between web hosting options and which should I choose?
The main hosting types are: Shared hosting ($50-200/year) where your site shares server resources with others – good for new, low-traffic sites. VPS hosting ($200-800/year) provides dedicated resources and better performance for growing sites. Dedicated hosting ($1,000+/year) gives you an entire server for high-traffic or resource-intensive sites. Cloud hosting (variable pricing) offers scalability and reliability. For most new websites, shared hosting is sufficient and cost-effective. Upgrade as your traffic grows. Consider factors like uptime guarantees, customer support quality, backup services, and included features when choosing a provider.
7. When should I launch my website – should I wait until it’s perfect?
Launch when your website has essential functionality and core content, even if it’s not perfect. The “minimum viable product” approach is often better than waiting for perfection. Essential pre-launch requirements include: all core pages completed, contact information accurate, basic SEO setup, mobile responsiveness tested, and no broken links or major errors. You can add features, improve design, and expand content after launch. However, ensure your site represents your brand professionally and functions properly across devices. Plan for post-launch improvements rather than delaying launch indefinitely. Real user feedback after launch often provides more valuable insights than prolonged pre-launch perfecting.
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