Planning a Smooth Website Launch.
Launching a new website is an exciting milestone, but it’s also a process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. A well-structured launch checklist ensures everything runs smoothly, minimising errors and helping your site make the best possible impression from day one.
Without a clear plan, things can slip through the cracks—broken links, incorrect contact details, or even compliance issues. These oversights can disrupt your launch and leave a bad first impression on visitors.
At Central Coast Websites, we work closely with you to ensure every aspect of your website is ready for launch. While our team of developers handles the technical setup, functionality, and performance optimisation, your role is equally important. Reviewing the content, confirming accuracy, and ensuring everything reflects your business ensures the final product is polished, professional, and ready to achieve your goals.
With teamwork and clear communication, we’ll make sure your website launch is a success. Let’s break down the steps to get there.
“A successful website launch is more than just going live—it’s about creating a platform that represents your business accurately, engages your audience, and sets the foundation for long-term growth.”
Pre-Launch Checklist: What Central Coast Websites Handles
Before your website goes live, the team at Central Coast Websites ensures that everything is technically sound, fully functional, and ready to be crawled and indexed by search engines. Our meticulous pre-launch process is designed to catch any potential issues and optimise your site for performance, mobile responsiveness, and SEO.
Here’s what we do to prepare your site for a smooth and successful launch:
1.Preparing for Search Engines: Crawling and Indexing.
We ensure your website is ready to be discovered and ranked by search engines:
- Submit your XML sitemap to Google Search Console to guide search engine crawlers.
- Configure your robots.txt file to allow appropriate pages to be indexed while blocking sensitive or unnecessary files.
- Check all meta tags, including titles and descriptions, to ensure they are optimised for search visibility.
- Add schema markup (if applicable) to enhance how search engines display your site in results.
2.Mobile Responsiveness and Design Standards.
We make sure your website is fully responsive on all devices, from mobile phones to tablets and desktops.
We test:
- Layout and usability across mobile, tablet, and desktop screens.
- Font sizes, button spacing, and navigation menus for mobile-friendliness.
- Forms, payment gateways, and other interactive elements function correctly across devices.
3.Technical Performance and Functionality.
We conduct thorough checks to ensure your site is technically sound and performs well:
- Test all forms, buttons, and CTAs to confirm they are functioning correctly.
- Verify payment gateways (if applicable) to ensure secure and seamless transactions.
- Perform cross-browser testing to confirm compatibility on popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
- Run performance scans to evaluate and optimise page load speeds.
4.Setting Up Tracking and Analytics.
To give you insights into your site’s performance, we handle all necessary setups:
- Configure and link Google Analytics to track website traffic and user behaviour.
- Set up Google Search Console for performance monitoring and troubleshooting.
- Add tracking codes for tools like Facebook Pixel or any additional marketing platforms you may use and have requested.
By carefully working through these steps, Central Coast Websites ensures that your site is not only functional and visually appealing but also SEO ready meaning it can be crawled and indexed and ready to deliver a great user experience. This preparation sets the stage for a successful launch.
For more information on our SEO ready websites read our post on “What is an SEO ready website?”
“Collaboration with Central Coast Websites ensures your website isn’t just functional at launch—it’s a tailored, powerful tool that supports your business goals and delivers lasting success.”
Responsibilities of the Client When Launching a New Website .
While Central Coast Websites handles the technical and functional aspects of your website launch, your role in reviewing and confirming the accuracy of your content and assets is crucial. To ensure your website reflects your business accurately and complies with all legal requirements, we’ve outlined your key responsibilities below.
1.Signing Off on Content Accuracy.
Before your website goes live, we will provide you with a form to sign, confirming that:
- You have carefully reviewed all written content on the site for spelling, grammar, and factual accuracy.
- All contact details, including phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses, are correct.
- The content represents your business truthfully and aligns with your goals.
This final approval step ensures there are no errors that could impact your website’s professionalism or user experience.
2.Asset Verification.
It is your responsibility to ensure the images and videos that you provided for your website meet the following criteria:
- Relevance: All media aligns with the business’s goals and branding.
- Formatting: Images and videos are of appropriate quality and format for web use.
3.Copyright and Permissions.
As the provider of the visual assets, you must confirm that:
- You own the rights to the images and videos supplied or have obtained explicit permission to use them (e.g., licensed stock images or photographer agreements).
- Any required copyright attributions are included where necessary.
- The assets do not infringe on any third-party copyrights or intellectual property.
4.Legal Compliance.
Ensure that all supplied content and assets adhere to relevant regulations, including:
- Any required disclaimers for industry-specific standards (e.g., medical or financial services).
- Business certifications or approvals that need to be displayed.
By completing these tasks and providing final approval, you play a vital role in ensuring your website is accurate, professional, and legally compliant. This collaborative process allows us to launch your website with confidence, knowing it is ready to represent your business effectively.
“Your website is the backbone of your marketing strategy—a powerful tool that connects your business with your audience and drives lasting growth.”
Post-Launch Follow-Up .
Responsibilities of Central Coast Websites (CCW):Legal Compliance.
Once your website is live, our focus shifts to ensuring it remains secure, functional, and up to date. Our hosting and management services are designed to give you peace of mind while keeping your site in excellent working order.
1.Hosting and Management.
Our comprehensive hosting and management package includes:
- Security Updates: Regular updates to WordPress core, themes, and plugins to protect your website against vulnerabilities.
- Backups and Monitoring: Routine backups to safeguard your data and ensure quick restoration if needed, along with continuous monitoring for performance.
- Minor Content Updates: One hour per year of minor text or image updates is included. Any additional updates, such as adding new pages or creating content, are billed at an hourly rate.
- Technical Maintenance: Managing plugin updates and resolving any conflicts to ensure your site stays in great working order.
2.Content and SEO Strategy (If Applicable).
- If you’ve engaged us for SEO services, we’ll begin developing a customised strategy, including keyword research, content creation, and on-page optimisation.
- For clients not pursuing SEO, we provide guidance and support as needed for content updates or changes.
3.Ongoing Support.
- We’re here to assist with any technical issues or queries you may have after launch.
- For more significant updates or additional work outside your hosting package, we provide prompt support at a clear and competitive hourly rate.
With these services in place, you can focus on running your business while we handle the technical upkeep, ensuring your website continues to perform at its best.
Responsibilities of the Client: Post-Launch.
Once your website is live, you play an important role in ensuring its ongoing success. While Central Coast Websites handles the technical upkeep, here’s what we recommend for you as the website owner:
1.Content Updates.
- Fresh Content: Regularly update your website with new content, such as blog posts, updated services, or product information, to keep it relevant and engaging.
- Providing Updates: Share any new text, images, or videos with us if updates are required beyond what’s included in your hosting package.
- Website Access: We will give you editor access to your website, so you will be able to make changes yourself. If there is anything you want us to do we will quote on work required first.
2.Engagement and Promotion.
- Social Media: Announce your new website and share updates regularly on social media to drive traffic and keep your audience engaged.
- Email Campaigns: Use your email list to inform customers about the new site, new features, or updates.
- Advertising and SEO: If applicable, consider leveraging digital marketing strategies, such as paid ads or SEO services, to enhance visibility.
By staying proactive with content and promotions, and keeping us informed of any changes you need, you’ll ensure your website remains an effective tool for your business. This partnership allows us to support your growth while keeping your site performing at its best.
Collaboration: The Key to a Successful Website Launch.
Launching a website is a collaborative effort that brings together the expertise of the Central Coast Websites team and the unique knowledge you have about your business. While we handle all the technical aspects—ensuring your site is functional, secure, and optimised—it’s your role in reviewing and approving content that ensures the website reflects your brand and business accurately.
The launch of your website marks the start of its journey, not the end. Ongoing updates, fresh content, and proactive maintenance are essential to keep your website performing at its best and supporting your business goals. By working together, we can ensure your website remains a valuable and effective business and marketing tool for years to come.
