3 Steps to Take in Preparation for Launching a Website

Whether you’re launching a website for ecommerce purposes or as a personal creative outlet, there are a number of preparations you’ll need to make before the site goes live. While it’s true that website design and management have become more streamlined than ever, this doesn’t mean that you can simply launch a site without first tending to the aforementioned preparations. Fortunately, these preparatory measures are fairly simple to complete – even if you don’t have any background in web development. To ensure that your site launch goes off without a hitch, take care to complete the following steps in advance of going live.

1. Register a Suitable Domain Name

Registering a suitable domain name is one of the first things you’ll need to do in preparation for your site launch. For maximum success, make sure your name is catchy, easy to remember, devoid of hyphens and no more than three words long. Since your top choices will most likely be taken, it’s in your best interest to create a long list of options when creating a domain name. Luckily, if you’re able to find a good domain registration service, you should have no problem determining which names are taken and which are currently available. In many cases, these services will provide you with alternative suggestions if your top choices are presently spoken for.

2. Decide on Whether You Want to Create the Site Yourself or Outsource

As recently as 10 years ago, people with no web design experience had no choice but to enlist the services of professional designers whenever they needed a site created. However, things have changed dramatically over the last decade. These days, there are a plethora of DIY web design tools available that make site creation a breeze. Even if your web design experience is minimal – or nonexistent – these tools will enable you to design a fully-functional, professional-looking site in a timely manner. This isn’t to say that there’s no longer any place for professional web designers, but with the help of the aforementioned tools, creating the site you envision may be well within your abilities.

3. Decide on a Suitable Hosting Service

It pays to be selective when shopping around for the right web hosting service. Any service you give your business to should provide fast load times, have high limits on data usage, and offer fantastic customer service. Your ideal hosting service will also offer top-notch security and 24/7 live support. If your site unexpectedly goes down or begins suffering from lag, knowing you can speak with an actual human is sure to provide you with peace of mind. Furthermore, a good hosting service will provide first-rate protection against assorted viruses and malware.

Launching your first website can be an exciting experience. However, before the site can go live, you’ll need to tend to the steps discussed above. As long as the necessary preparations are made, your site launch should go smoothly, thus setting the stage for long-term success.