Welcome to my cozy little corner of the internet, where I talk all things web development, with a sprinkle of personal experiences and hard-earned wisdom.
If you’re thinking of building a website, you’re in the right place. I’ve been through the grind, and I can tell you, there’s nothing like a solid plan to steer you toward success.
The first few times, I decided to wing it. That was my mistake. No matter how eager you are to just slap it up there, launch it and see what happens, you can end up wasting so much time. And you’ll just have to go back and start from the beginning anyway. So, relax, recognize it takes time to build a great website. Especially if you want it to perform as you envisioned it.
Invest time to think things through, work out what you and your visitors want (and why) and write them down to be included as part of your action steps. You’ll add to your plan as you go along and alter and delete parts are you get more experienced.
I promise you, it’s not wasted time. This is definitely one of those times where “haste is waste.” This is where you make decisions, so you don’t have to do a re-do later.
Okay, let’s unpack the ultimate pre-launch checklist, one thoughtful step at a time.
1. Setting the Stage with Goals
Dream big, plan bigger – that’s my motto. Well, it would be if I had a motto. But even without a motto, I have no problem dreaming HUGE.
Finding my goal begins with one simple question – what do I want to achieve?
There are many types of goals that might come to mind when you ask yourself this.
Financial goals. Personal goals, such as what you personally will get out of the project. And of course, social goals. As in what you want to deliver to your audience that will serve them.
I recommend taking all three into account when deciding on what you want to achieve.
For me, that would be to create a Blog Site that eventually becomes the world-wide authority in its niche (Website Building), generating a significant income for me and mine, and helping as many web developers as I can to find the smoothest path to success in their own website endeavours.
But that’s me – what does success look like for you? Is it about reaching a wider audience and becoming a go-to resource in your niche? Your goals might include boosting sales, building a subscription list, or becoming an influencer in your space. Or is it selling the next trendy gadget, offering top-notch consulting services, or sharing life’s quirky stories?
These goals are your lighthouse, keeping you sailing in the right direction. Write them down and keep them where you can see them first thing in the morning, and last thing at night.
2. Finding Your Why
If your goal is the head, your purpose (the reason you’re trying to get the goal) is the heart of your website. It is the emotion to your reason. Identifying the purpose sets the compass for your website’s journey.
For example, your goal for your website may be to build an income to replace your day job, or to make your partner proud of you for following through on that great idea you had. So, the purpose (to make your partner proud of you) is the emotional reward you get for hitting your goal.
Or another example could be that your goal is to build an online marketplace to sell your artworks, to show your parents that you could make it as an artist.
You get the idea. Your goal is thought-based and cold. But your purpose has to be hot and emotional, so that it drives you to keep going when everything is telling you to quit.
Your Why defines the path for every design and content choice you’ll make. Take your time here. Along with the goal, it’s the foundation on which everything else is built.
If the goal shows you the destination, your purpose is the path you use to get there.
3. Who’s in the Crowd?
Now, who are you talking to with your website? Picture your ideal visitor. I like to imagine having a coffee with my ideal visitor, discussing what their interests are and what they need.
Mine are women and men, somewhat down-to-earth, simply wanting a helping hand. Specifically with building a website that will assist them to make a difference in the world, for their own audience, and for themselves too.
What about yours? Are they a tech-genius, fashionista, or perhaps, a busy parent looking for fast parenting tips? Knowing your audience shapes your content, your design, and how you’ll reach out to them.
It’s like setting up the perfect date. Your website should be designed to make your ideal visitor feel welcome. You should use their language and connect in a way that makes them comfortable, assuring them they’re exactly where they need to be.
4. Scoping Out the Competition
Ah, the competition. It’s tempting to put on blinders and focus on your own game, but a sneak peek at what others are doing can be a goldmine of insights. What are they doing well? Where are the gaps? When I first scoped out my competition, I found opportunities I hadn’t even considered. Learn from them and then do it better.
On a side note, the most important thing to remember is even if there are 100,000 websites out there, in the same niche you want to be in, you have one thing that they don’t: YOU.
Finding out how to use your uniqueness to your advantage, and your competition’s disadvantage, is partly what this “Initial Thinking Stage” is all about.
5. Dressing up Your Brand
Your brand is not just a logo or a catchy name; it’s your website’s soul. This is where you infuse personality. Pick a color palette that speaks to you (and your audience), design a logo that pops, and let your brand’s voice echo in every word on your site. Remember, consistency is your friend. Be it your Instagram (or whatever social site you decide is the main funnel for your website) or your website’s footer, keep it unmistakably you.
Eventually, if you are going to influence the world, it’s your personal brand that’s going to do that. So, as a quick tip that’s well out of place (buying a Domain Name comes later), find out if YourName.com is available and buy it. It’s an investment in your own personal brand.
6. The Tech Foundations
The tech behind your website is like the backstage of a play. It has to be solid. Whether you’re building from scratch with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, or using a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress, or a Website Builder like Wix, your choice here is crucial. It’s the difference between a two-act play, and a Broadway hit. Consider your site’s scalability, security, and the kind of experience you want to offer your visitors.
It’s preferable to avoid the drama and extra work of switching platforms later on, if you can avoid it. So time is well spent researching which tech to use right from the start.
7. Content is Queen (or King)
Content is where your voice is heard. It’s your site’s heartbeat, and crafting it requires a mix of creativity and strategy. Plan what type of content will be on your pages, and what story you’re aiming to tell. I’ve spent nights planning content calendars, and while it can be a hassle, when your content hits the right chord with your audience, it’s pure magic, and well worth the effort.
If you’re to become expert in any area of website development, this one of Content Optimization is the one that will return the most for your investment of time and money. Prioritize refining both the content you share on your site, and the manner in which you present it, and your audience will thank you for it.
8. SEO from the Get-Go
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO for short, might seem like a beast, but it’s really your best ally. It makes sure people find their way to your website. Do your keyword research, optimize those meta tags, and craft content that Google loves to read. I learned SEO can’t be an afterthought; it’s got to be baked into your site from the word go. Of course, helping your visitors with what they need is your first priority. But that help is wasted if they can’t find it. That’s where SEO and Google come in.
Learning what your audience is searching for and how (aka: keyword research) is more art than science, but is a skill well worth developing. As with any skill, it gets better with practice, so do some every day until you become unconsciously competent at it.
9. Budgeting: Counting the Digital Beans
Unfortunately, budgets are a reality if you want to be successful. Plan for every expense – from your domain name to that fancy speech-to-text app you’re eyeing. Expect the unexpected, keeping a little cushion for those just-in-case scenarios.
While the budget isn’t the most exciting part of building a great website, it’s definitely needed. There are sooo many shiny digital toys and courses out there, that promise to take all the effort and stress out of whatever you’re trying to do, but only a few of them are what you really need, Knowing how much you have available makes you careful about what you do buy, and when.
Action Steps:
- Identify all ongoing expenses, such as monthly fees for service subscriptions, renewal fees for your Domain Name and Hosting, etc., and incorporate them into a monthly and yearly budget.
- Set up reminders for renewal dates to avoid any service interruptions, as well as to cancel anything you find you’re not getting value from over time.
10. Timelines: The Race Against Time
Building a website is a marathon, not a sprint. By setting a timeline, you’re committing to a pace that’ll get you over the finish line without burning out. Be realistic when you’re first starting out and learning the ropes, as everything takes longer when it’s your first go.
Mark out the milestones as best you can, based on the 6 Stages of Website Development – from design drafts to the first live test. They’re mini celebrations leading up to launch day.
11. The Legal Tightrope
The web might feel like the Wild West, but it’s regulated for sure. Compliance with privacy laws and copyright regulations is no joke.
Keeping your site on the right side of the law is non-negotiable. Plus it saves you from headaches (and hefty fines) down the road.
Given these considerations, it’s highly recommended to conduct regular audits of your website to ensure compliance with the latest privacy laws and copyright regulations.
Seeking professional legal advice to navigate these complex areas can also be invaluable, safeguarding your site and your business from potential legal challenges and financial penalties.
But don’t let legal fees deter you. There are free and inexpensive online services that you can use to develop your website’s legal policies, that will cover your bases.
12. Mapping Your Digital Kingdom
With insights from the preliminary stage, you’ll draft a sitemap. Consider this your website’s table of contents, detailing all the main areas and their subsections. This visual layout is key for envisioning the user’s journey across your pages, ensuring a seamless hop from one topic to the next. This is a vital phase for sculpting a user-friendly and visually pleasing website.
A sitemap isn’t just for search engines. It’s a clear layout of your site for your visitors. It’s how I make sure my audience can find everything without needing a search party. Keep it logical, keep it clean, and everyone will find their way around with ease.
13. User eXperience (UX): Your Welcoming Committee
Ever been to a site that’s just… clunky? A good User Experience (UX) is the cure. I obsess over this bit, ensuring that my site is as welcoming as a warm hug. I mean it. I’ve actually visited websites and heaved a deep sigh as soon as I saw their Home Page. It’s like they went into my head and knew exactly what I wanted.
This is something you want to be constantly striving to improve and what takes up the most time when concentrating on “maintenance.”
Accessibility, loading times, mobile responsiveness – it’s all part of the UX experience.
14. Mobile-First
Most web browsing is done on phones now. It passed the 50% point back in 2016 and it’s now sitting at over 60%! More than half the population of Earth are now active mobile internet users (Reference: https://explodingtopics.com/blog/mobile-internet-traffic).
That’s why a mobile-first approach is no longer optional. Your site needs to look and function seamlessly on those little screens. I learned this the hard way when a site I helped build looked beautiful on the desktop, but was a hot mess on mobile. Remember to prioritize this in your design decisions.
15. Marketing: The Loudspeaker
Here’s where you shout from the rooftops that you’ve arrived. You can use social media, email campaigns, and every tool at your disposal to spread the word.
But the real secret? Authentic engagement. When people talk to me, I talk back. It’s what turns a visitor into a community member.
Phew! That’s quite the list, isn’t it? But I promise, ticking off these boxes will set you on a path to website success.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll build. And I’m sure the world can’t wait either!
Share your journey in the comments below, and let’s swap stories and strategies.
Happy building!
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