Client Success Guide: What to Do After Your Website Launches

Congratulations! Your new website is live. But the launch is just the beginning of your website's journey. What you do in the days, weeks, and months following launch will determine whether your site becomes a powerful business asset or just another page on the internet.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to do to ensure your website succeeds.

The First 24 Hours After Launch

1. Thorough Testing

Even though you tested during development, test everything again in the live environment:

Functional Testing

Submit all contact forms and verify you receive emails
Test all internal links
Try all buttons and calls-to-action
Check payment processing (if applicable)
Test user registration/login (if applicable)
Verify all integrations are working (CRM, email marketing, etc.)

Cross-Browser Testing Test on:

Device Testing

Desktop (various screen sizes)
Tablet (portrait and landscape)
Mobile phones (various sizes)

Content Review

Check all text for typos or errors
Verify all images load correctly
Check that no placeholder content remains
Ensure all videos play properly
Verify contact information is correct

SEO Check

Verify page titles and meta descriptions
Check that all images have alt text
Ensure header tags (H1, H2, etc.) are properly structured
Confirm robots.txt is configured correctly
Verify sitemap is accessible and submitted

2. Set Up Monitoring

Install Analytics

Set up Google Analytics 4
Configure goals and conversions
Set up event tracking for key actions
Create custom dashboards for important metrics

Set Up Search Console

Verify your site with Google Search Console
Submit your sitemap
Check for any crawl errors
Monitor indexing status

Error Monitoring

Set up uptime monitoring (e.g., UptimeRobot, Pingdom)
Configure error notifications
Check server error logs

Performance Monitoring

Run Google PageSpeed Insights
Check Core Web Vitals
Test with GTmetrix or WebPageTest
Identify any performance issues

3. Security Check

Verify SSL certificate is working (https:// in address bar)
Check that all resources load via HTTPS
Test any user authentication systems
Verify backup systems are running
Change all default passwords
Review user permissions and access levels

The First Week After Launch

1. Announce Your New Website

Email Announcement Send an email to:

Existing customers
Newsletter subscribers
Business contacts
Suppliers and partners

Include:

Announcement of the new website
Key improvements or new features
Clear call-to-action (visit the site)
Request for feedback

Social Media

Create announcement posts for all platforms
Highlight specific pages or features over multiple posts
Use engaging visuals (screenshots, videos)
Encourage followers to visit and share

Update Existing Materials

Email signatures
Business cards
Marketing materials
Social media profiles
Directory listings
Google Business Profile

2. Reach Out for Feedback

Gather feedback from:

Close customers and clients
Business partners
Employees
Friends and family
Industry peers

Ask specific questions:

Is the site easy to navigate?
Can you easily find what you're looking for?
Is the information clear and helpful?
Did you encounter any issues?
What do you like most?
What could be improved?

3. Monitor User Behavior

Review analytics daily during the first week:

Where are visitors coming from?
Which pages are most popular?
Where are people leaving the site?
Are people completing desired actions?
What's the average time on site?
What's the bounce rate?

Look for:

Unexpected high bounce rates (may indicate issues)
Pages with no traffic (navigation problems?)
Forms with no submissions (technical issues?)
Slow loading pages
Common user paths through the site

4. Address Any Issues Quickly

Priority order for fixes:

Critical - Broken forms, payment issues, site crashes
High - Broken links, missing content, SEO problems
Medium - Minor design issues, non-critical bugs
Low - Nice-to-have improvements, future enhancements

The First Month After Launch

1. SEO Groundwork

Content Optimization

Ensure all pages have unique, descriptive titles
Write compelling meta descriptions
Add descriptive alt text to all images
Use header tags appropriately
Include relevant keywords naturally

Technical SEO

Create and submit XML sitemap
Verify robots.txt is configured correctly
Set up 301 redirects from old pages (if migrating)
Fix any broken links
Ensure mobile-friendliness
Optimize page speed

Local SEO (if applicable)

Claim and optimize Google Business Profile
Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency
Get listed in local directories
Encourage customer reviews

Build Initial Backlinks

Update profiles on professional networks
Reach out to relevant industry directories
Contact partners to link to your new site
Consider writing guest posts

2. Content Strategy

Blog Launch If you have a blog, get it off to a strong start:

Publish 3-5 initial posts
Cover topics your audience cares about
Optimise each post for search
Share on social media
Set up a regular publishing schedule

Content Calendar Plan content for the next 3-6 months:

Blog posts
Case studies
Product/service updates
Industry insights
Customer success stories

Email Marketing

Set up automated welcome series
Create newsletter template
Plan regular email campaigns
Build your subscriber list

Cross-Promotion

Share new blog posts
Highlight specific services/products
Showcase customer testimonials
Share behind-the-scenes content
Post industry insights

Drive Traffic

Link to relevant pages in social posts
Use appropriate hashtags
Engage with your audience
Join relevant conversations
Share valuable content (not just promotional)

4. Conversion Optimization

Analyze the Funnel

Identify where users enter your site
Track their journey through key pages
Find where they drop off
Identify barriers to conversion

A/B Testing Test variations of:

Call-to-action buttons
Headlines
Form fields
Page layouts
Images and videos

Improve Conversion Rates

Simplify forms (remove unnecessary fields)
Clarify calls-to-action
Reduce distractions on key pages
Add social proof (testimonials, reviews, logos)
Improve page load times

5. Build Your Email List

Capture Methods

Newsletter signup forms
Content upgrades (downloadable resources)
Exit-intent popups
Footer signup forms
Blog post opt-ins

Value Exchange Offer something valuable for email addresses:

Free guides or ebooks
Templates or checklists
Exclusive content
Discounts or special offers
Industry insights

Ongoing Maintenance (Monthly)

1. Content Updates

Regular Updates

Add new blog posts (aim for at least 2-4 per month)
Update product/service information
Refresh outdated content
Add new case studies or portfolio pieces
Update news or announcements

Content Refresh Periodically review and update:

Team bios and photos
Pricing information
FAQ sections
Testimonials and reviews
Statistics and data

2. Technical Maintenance

Security

Performance

Compatibility

3. Analytics Review

Monthly Review

Total visitors and trend
Top performing pages
Traffic sources
User behavior flow
Conversion rates
Goal completions
Bounce rate by page

SEO Performance

Organic search traffic
Keyword rankings
Click-through rates
Indexing status
Backlink profile
Core Web Vitals

Make Data-Driven Decisions

What content resonates most?
Which marketing channels work best?
Where are conversion bottlenecks?
What pages need improvement?

4. Engagement Activities

Build Relationships

Respond to blog comments
Reply to social media mentions
Thank customers for reviews
Engage with industry discussions
Network with complementary businesses

Gather Testimonials

Request feedback from happy customers
Turn positive feedback into testimonials
Collect reviews on Google/Trustpilot
Create case studies from successful projects
Showcase results and outcomes

Community Building

Build an email list
Create valuable content
Foster discussions
Provide excellent customer service
Deliver consistent value

Quarterly Reviews

Every three months, conduct a comprehensive review:

1. Strategic Assessment

Goal Progress

Are you achieving your website goals?
What metrics are improving/declining?
Do your goals need adjustment?

Competitor Analysis

What are competitors doing?
New features or strategies to consider?
Where do you have advantages?
Where do you need to improve?

User Feedback

What are users saying?
Common questions or complaints?
Feature requests?
Pain points to address?

2. Technical Audit

Run full site audit (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, etc.)
Review Core Web Vitals
Check mobile usability
Verify all functionality
Review security measures
Analyze load times
Check for broken links or errors

3. Content Audit

Which content performs best?
What needs updating?
What gaps exist?
What should be removed?
What new content is needed?

4. Plan Improvements

Based on your review, plan:

Quick wins - Easy improvements with high impact
Strategic initiatives - Larger projects for business goals
Technical upgrades - Platform updates or new features
Content projects - New pages, blog series, resources

Long-Term Success Strategies

1. Stay Current

Technology

Keep software updated
Adopt new web standards
Improve accessibility
Enhance security
Optimize performance

Design

Refresh design every 2-3 years
Update imagery regularly
Maintain modern aesthetic
Improve user experience based on data
Stay consistent with brand evolution

Content

Keep information current
Remove outdated content
Update statistics and data
Refresh old blog posts
Maintain content calendar

2. Grow and Evolve

Add Functionality

Based on user needs
To support new business goals
To improve conversion
To enhance user experience
To differentiate from competitors

Expand Content

New pages for new services
Additional resources and tools
More in-depth content
Different content formats (video, podcasts, etc.)
Community features (forums, comments, etc.)

3. Measure and Improve

Continuous Optimization

Regular A/B testing
Conversion rate optimization
User experience improvements
Performance enhancements
SEO refinement

ROI Tracking

Track leads generated
Monitor sales attributed to website
Calculate cost per acquisition
Measure customer lifetime value
Assess overall ROI

Common Post-Launch Mistakes to Avoid

1. Set It and Forget It

Your website needs ongoing attention. Neglected websites become outdated, insecure, and ineffective.

2. Ignoring Analytics

Data tells you what's working and what's not. Regular review is essential for improvement.

3. Not Promoting Your Site

Build it and they won't come. Active promotion is necessary to drive traffic.

4. Skipping Maintenance

Security updates, backups, and technical maintenance prevent major problems down the line.

5. Not Gathering Feedback

Your users know what they need. Ask them and act on their input.

6. Expecting Instant Results

SEO takes time. Building traffic takes time. Give your strategies time to work before changing course.

7. Not Having a Content Strategy

Random, infrequent content won't build an audience. Consistent, valuable content will.

Your Success Checklist

Print this and keep it handy:

Launch Day

Complete testing on all devices
Set up analytics and monitoring
Verify security measures
Document any known issues

Week 1

Announce launch via email and social media
Update all marketing materials
Gather and review initial feedback
Address critical issues

Month 1

Ongoing

Regular content updates
Monthly technical maintenance
Monthly analytics review
Quarterly comprehensive review
Continuous improvement and evolution

Conclusion

Launching your website is an exciting milestone, but it's just the beginning. Success requires ongoing effort in:

Maintenance - Keep your site secure, fast, and functional
Content - Provide consistent value to your audience
Promotion - Actively drive traffic to your site
Optimization - Continuously improve based on data
Evolution - Grow and adapt with your business and audience

Remember, your website is an investment in your business. The time and effort you put into its ongoing success will pay dividends in leads, sales, and growth.

Need help with post-launch support, ongoing maintenance, or growing your website? Get in touch to discuss how I can help your website succeed long-term.