Launching a new website is an exciting milestone, but it’s also filled with potential pitfalls. A smooth rollout can set you up for success, while a misstep can turn into a nightmare of broken links, lost traffic and frustrated users. To help you avoid disaster, here’s a comprehensive guide to the do’s and don’ts of launching your website the right way.
The Do's and Don'ts of Launching a New Website
Do: Test everything before going live
You wouldn’t buy a car without test-driving it, so why would you launch a website without a full inspection? Before your site goes live, rigorously test all functionalities, including links, buttons, forms and interactive elements.
Check for broken links using tools like Dead Link Checker
Test your site’s performance on different devices and browsers
Ensure all forms are working and sending data correctly
Catch errors now to prevent headaches later.
Don't: launch without SEO optimization
Your website might look great, but if it’s invisible to search engines, it’s practically useless. Ignoring SEO during launch is a huge mistake. Before you go live, make sure:
Your site has a clear URL structure
Meta descriptions and title tags are optimized
You have an XML sitemap and a robots.txt file
Without these basics, search engines may struggle to index your site, making it harder for people to find you.
Do: make sure your site is mobile-friendly
Over half of global web traffic comes from mobile devices, so if your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re alienating a massive audience. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check if your site adapts well to different screen sizes. Ensure your text is readable, buttons are easily clickable and navigation is seamless.
Don't: Overlook page speed
Slow websites kill conversions. Users expect pages to load in under three seconds and anything longer can lead to high bounce rates. Optimize your site’s speed by:
Compressing images
Using a content delivery network (CDN)
Minimizing unnecessary plugins and scripts
Speed isn’t just a user experience factor, it’s also a Google ranking signal.
Do: Secure your website
Nothing kills credibility faster than a security warning. Secure your website with an SSL certificate (HTTPS) to encrypt data and protect users. Also, regularly update your CMS, themes and plugins to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Don't: Ignore analytics and tracking
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console before launching so you can track visitor behavior and identify opportunities for growth.
Monitor bounce rates and time on page
Track traffic sources
Identify and fix underperforming pages
Without data, you’re flying blind.
Do: Have a backup plan
Websites break. Whether it’s a hosting issue, a cyberattack, or human error, things can go wrong. Regularly back up your website so you can restore it quickly if disaster strikes. Use automated backup solutions through your hosting provider or third-party services.
Don't: Assume visitors will just come
Just because you built it doesn’t mean they’ll come. You need a marketing strategy to drive traffic. Leverage SEO, social media and email marketing to spread the word. Announce your launch with a blog post, an email campaign and social media teasers.
Do: keep improving post-launch
Your website is never truly “done.” Monitor feedback, update content and refine your site based on user behavior. A well-maintained site grows stronger over time.
The bottom line
Launching a website is more than just hitting the “publish” button. By following these do’s and don’ts, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and set your site up for long-term success. Take the time to test, optimize and market your site properly, it’ll pay off in the long run.
Don’t let simple mistakes hold you back. Take the time to test, optimize and promote your site the right way. Need expert guidance? Reach out today and let’s make your website launch a success. Learn more and sign up for your free trial.