Hot Air Balloon Flying Under Blue Sky during Daytime

Launching A Website: Strategies for Engagement and Growth

ByWillhouse

Introduction

The time has come! All the hard work you and your team have spent planning, designing and building your website is about to culminate in the website launch! It’s an exciting time. Your next step is to tell the world about your new site design. Here are some tips and tricks to launch:

1. Build anticipation with teasers before the site is live

Teasers for your website launch can help to build anticipation and get users wondering what the new experience will be like. Before you start to tell your audience about the website there are a few things to consider:

  • Consider adding a coming soon landing page to your website. Even though your site isn’t live yet, this page can capture early interest and allow visitors to sign up for updates.
  • Define your goals for your new website’s launch. Are you aiming for a specific number of website visitors? Or do you want to increase product sales or newsletter sign-ups?
  • Given your target audience, ask yourself who would benefit from your product or service. And what kind of content would they find engaging?

2. Create a Content Calendar

Select the type of content you plan to publish, identify key dates and milestones and establish a publishing schedule. You’ll want to have a schedule to a month or so out from launch to continue to engage your audience. The goal is to keep your website top of your audience’s mind, prompting them multiple times to check it out. Check out the section on Social Media for helpful information on when to post to your channels.

3. Send Emails to your existing database

It’s a great idea to give your email audience details about your new website and what it features. With social media, you can reach a bunch of people, but delivering your message right into people’s inboxes with email marketing gives you the best ROI. People can check their emails virtually from everywhere, provided there is an Internet connection available. What’s more, recent email open rate statistics show that an astonishing 61.9% of emails are opened on mobile devices.

One example could be to create a series of emails with 3 different bits of information sent out over several days, such as:

  • A screenshot of a new area of your site.
  • A collage of important pages that will feature in the new website.
  • A scrolling gif that shows the site in action.

Quick tips when writing those pesky subject lines:

  • Most subject lines range from 41-50 characters.
  • Make it as clear as possible (e.g. Our new website is live!)
  • Use emojis to boost visibility and make it more fun
  • Add a preview text to provide more information
  • Try the MooSend Subject Line tester to help craft your perfect subject line

4. Engage with Your Audience on Social Media

There are many ways to build excitement about your website launch on social media. Let’s explore a few options to get the most out of your marketing efforts:

  • Designate a Hashtag – As you get ready to launch, give careful thought to your hashtags. Make sure that they are unique, easy to remember, and as simple as possible. Naturally, your hashtags should be tied to your new website or any action you want your users to take. Avoid long strings of words and use words that are easy to spell. 
Quick tip: As a rule of thumb, try to not attach more than 3 hashtags to anything you post.
  • Post Often – You’ll want to continue to engage on your social channels at least a month after the launch. Be mindful of the days and times you post at. Posts shared on a Friday afternoon, for example, won’t have much traction and will ultimately be a waste of your time. 
The best day to post on Instagram is Saturdays. The worst is on Mondays. The worst times to post are: 6 - 9 AM and 9 - 12 AM.

The best day to post on Facebook are Friday and Saturday specifically between 6 and 9 PM and 12 PM and 3 PM. The worst is on Sunday.

The best day to post on X is Friday and Wednesday specifically between 9 AM and 6 PM. Worst times? Early morning. Specifically 6 - 9 AM.

The best day to post on LinkedIn is Mondays, Wednesdays, or Tuesdays, in that order. Between 9 AM and 6 PM. The lowest-performing days are Sundays and Saturdays, respectively.
  • Don’t Neglect Your Calls To Action! – Encourage your audience to take specific action as a result of your instructions. Give your audience a reason to take action by using commanding language but also incorporates emotion. For example, would you be more likely to click on a post promoting if it said, “new website available” as opposed to “click through to browse our new website”? You want to make sure that as your users scroll through endless seas of social and calls to action, yours stick out–and for the right reasons. Curate both your images and your messages.
Let AI assist by helping your write your perfect Call to Action phrase.
  • Post Screen Recordings of the website in use – Screen recordings on social media can help you provide your followers with content that drives engagement. Studies actually suggest the average attention span now is only eight seconds. Because you can’t count on a viewer paying attention to a piece of video content for a long time now, it’s wise to share content that makes its point fast. A screen recording can serve this purpose.
Try the Loom app or use the Screen Recorder on your phone (iPhone and Android).

Conclusion

Building an effect launch campaign takes time and effort. By understanding your audience, creating quality content, engaging with readers, and utilizing different marketing strategies, you can ensure your website gets off to a great start. Remember, the key is consistency and authenticity.