You can feel a sense of anticipation when you're about to launch a new website, but how can you create excitement in your target audience? It starts with an exciting and intriguing launch, followed by a big announcement, a lot of sharing, and strong reasons to visit the website your web designer spent so much time on.
Excitement, intrigue, and the successful launch of a website
Consider the launch date. What approach do you want to take? Do you want to make a big announcement on the first day, or do you want to follow the restaurant's soft-opening strategy and release the site with a smaller-scale announcement?
Consider a release with a soft opening. A great website can have a few errors, no matter how hard designers and developers work. If you get the message out to a smaller group of people, they can help you find the flaws so you can fix them before your big splash.
When the big day arrives, the moment you and your audience have been anticipating, make your announcement through as many channels as necessary to reach it. You will not make a one-and-done announcement because it is best to reveal your new website in new and different ways to avoid missing those who were not paying attention. Here are some ideas for future posts to promote:
More people will hear your message if you make it varied and frequent, and if you target specific features on the site, more customers will click and view it. Once the site is up and running, include a call to action in your posts regularly to encourage the reader. Be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease or, more accurately, the attention your website deserves.
Elevate the email banner.
Millions of people still use email, and it's the most effective way to reach out to existing customers and other parties who have already expressed an interest in joining your email list. Make an enticing subject line and an eye-catching, brand-consistent banner for your announcement. Each time you send an email, highlight something new or redesign the website with a call to action that encourages people to visit the site.
Along with sending the announcement email, here's a tip: find ways to build your email list before the launch. Highlight a sign-up box on your existing site or a newly created landing page, or use social media posts to build an extensive account list. "Sign up here?" say flashing red arrows. That may be a bit much, but the idea is that if you build your list, you'll be able to inform more people about your new or redesigned website.
Make your presence known.
This tip is consistent with the others in that it reminds you that Facebook, LinkedIn, and email aren't your only options for sharing announcements. Today's world revolves around finding new ways to share information, ideas, opinions, and, sadly, bad jokes. Your responsibility is to identify media that will reach your target audience based on their lifestyles and habits. Consider:
Video postings
Making a blog
Guest blogging on other people's blogs
Creating a podcast
Obtaining the help of influencers to promote your brand
Making use of everyone you know to promote your brand
Publication of press releases
Organizing advertising campaigns
There are more ways to advertise your brand and news than we can count. Some might be unique to your company, so use them to publicize your new website.
Make an offer that your customers will find difficult to refuse.
Customers are always looking for something of value, no matter where you decide to announce and promote your website. While this can be as simple as a new exciting blog post, think about what you can offer that will entice people. It could be a discount on the first order placed through the new site, priority scheduling for appointments made through the new site, or a physical item that customers would appreciate, such as a tote bag, coffee mug, or free e-book with an order.
Examine the crystal ball.
Or, as we like to refer to it, the data. Keep detailed records of everything you do. Analyze the data. Continue reinforcing paths that bring visitors to your new site and secure new business. If something isn't working, redirect your efforts toward new avenues of action.
Big Bang!
Do you want to know a not-so-secret? The best way to make the most of the above launch suggestions is to make your announcements visually appealing, engaging, and on-brand. The internet is a visual medium, and bad design is often overlooked, whereas good design holds attention for longer. Suppose you devote the same time and effort to launching your site as you did to create it. In that case, you will create a successful campaign that generates excitement and intrigue, resulting in site visits and increased business opportunities.
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