Congrats on your website launch! You have the tools… Now it’s time to make them WORK for you and your business. So here are your first next steps. And trust me, if it’s on this list, it’s a non-negotiable, so get on it!
Submit your site to Google’s search engine:
Google’s URL submit is very quick and easy. Just go to Google’s web page for URL submitting, type in your URL, type in the message that ensures Google you are an individual not a software robot and click “add URL.”
Set up a Google Analytics account:
Click here to go to Google Analytics. If you have a Google account, and are not signed in, click Sign in. If you do not have a Google account, click Create an account.
Once you have signed in to your Google account, click Access Google Analytics.
Click Sign up.
Fill in your Account Name, Website Name, Website URL, and select an Industry Category and Reporting Time Zone.
Under Data Sharing Options, check the boxes next to the options that you want.
Click Get Tracking ID.
From the Google Analytics Terms of Service Agreement that opens, click I Accept.
Send me the Tracking ID (something that looks like this: UA-XXXXXXXX-X) so I can add it to your site.
Sign up for Google Search Console:
Google Search Console (previously Google Webmaster Tools) is a no-charge web service by Google for webmasters. It allows webmasters to check indexing status and optimize visibility of their websites. Here’s a pretty basic guide to setting up your Google Search Console (be sure to watch the video too).
Sign up for a website maintenance plan and get yourself a webmaster:
Your website is perfect. Today. But you need to make sure your site’s security is being monitored, your WordPress core & plugins are being updated, and backups are being made. You also need a team of “web guys” at your beck-and-call whenever you have a question, would like your site altered, or need an error fixed. You can use anybody who does this, but do make sure you get someone. We have a long relationship with the team at WP Radius and highly recommend them. Their basic plan starts at $67/month, but for your small business, I recommend their $97/month professional plan.
Write a blog post:
If we’ve already had our tutorial, you know how to post a blog post all by yourself. Do it. Within the next week. Other wise you’ll forget how to it or get caught up in other things and before you know it four months have gone by and today’s most recent blog post is still showing up first. Content building can help your business immensely and I know you have a million ideas of what to write about, so don’t wait. If you need a refresher on why you should be blogging and what you should be blogging about, check out my posts.
Schedule your 90-day post- website launch call with me:
You’ve got this! I know you do! But now that I’m not a part of your day-to-day, I’m going to miss you. You’ll probably miss me too. Or maybe you’ll just have some questions that have popped up or ideas you’d like to run by me. That’s why a 90-day 1-hour check-in is included as part of this project. So shoot me an email (cody@lokitimestwo.com) and let’s get it on the books!
Think about what you might need next:
Since we’re most likely post-contract now, there are a few ways to hire me for anything else you might need. We could A) create a new contract for a list of specific services or B) you can retain me by purchasing a block of hours (at a discount) to use on the occasional one-off project, creative direction consultations, or website design updates. If you have any questions about which option might be best if/when something comes up, please don’t hesitate to let me know—we’ll figure out what’s best for you and make it happen.
Plan to keep your website up:
I offer free, clients-only virtual office hours every month. My office hours are held virtually via Google Hangout and take place on the third Thursday of every month from 11 AM to 12:30 PM (Brooklyn time). If you’re interested in attending, click here to sign up.
Let me know what you thought of our time working together:
Congratulations on your new brand identity and materials! I truly hope that you love your new look and feel that we achieved everything we set out to do for you and your business. Now you’re (even more) unstoppable! Please take some time to fill out my project feedback form—your thoughts mean the world to me.
If you have any questions about any of this, don’t hesitate to let me know!