Important Steps You Should Take Before Finalizing Your New Website
Building a new website is a busy and exciting time. Whether you are creating a new ecommerce shop, an individual profile, a new forum to showcase your passion, or any other website, the odds are that you’ve invested yourself into each line of HTML code. If you’ve reviewed and edited your web pages and are ready to hit the network connections, then this post is for you.
Before you click “Publish” and send your new website out into the world, it’s worth running through a quick checklist to be sure that you’ve thought through all of the various angles of a digital presence. We’ve created a quick list of everything you need to confirm before joining the World Wide Web, along with tips on how to be sure that you are presenting yourself, business, or organization in the best light possible.
Search for similar domains and trademarks.
It’s important to make sure that website visitors looking for your website are intercepted even if they miss out or misspell your web address. Try to create a list of domains that might be similar to yours, and purchase those too. You will also want to be sure that you are not infringing on any registered trademarks. Sometimes a great domain is also a product name for a business you’ve never heard of. It’s worth doing some homework to make sure you don’t run into issues down the road.
Secure any social media handles that you will use.
Before pressing “Publish” you must also be sure that the social media handles you intend to use are available. This task is particularly important if you are creating an ecommerce business. Social media is an important source for creating brand interest. However, you need to be sure that your social media handles display the same sense of professionalism and reputability. Using MyBrand7728 instead of MyBrand will cast doubt on your project.
Speed test your website.
The rate that your web pages appear on a visitor’s screen is very important. If possible, you want your pages to load in three seconds or less to make the most of search engine optimization and decrease bounce rate. Test your website for any bottlenecks, large images, or trouble spots that might slow down your loading speeds.
Get as many opinions as possible.
Sometimes a perfect website in the eyes of the creator isn’t so perfect when others try to use it. For this reason, it’s important to have as many people as possible to test out your website and provide honest feedback. It might sting a little to hear that your creation isn’t as great as you assumed, but it will help usability in the future. Ask friends and family for their opinions, and ask them to run the site by a few of their acquaintances who don’t know you. Strangers always give the very best feedback.
Double check navigation and links.
Website navigation is a crucial part of user experience. Be sure that the journey through your website is intuitive and that links are clearly marked. Also, check that your contact information is easily accessible. Clear ‘About Us’ pages help your website visitors let you know if there is an issue or complement your site and services.