Hot on the heels of our domain backordering launch, domain names at WHC now include loads of useful new features at no additional cost.
These new and enhanced features now make it easier to manage domains right from the Client Area in no time. The new features are...
TLDR:
Domain Forwarding: Easily redirect your visitors to a different website or domain without the need for a hosting plan
Email Forwarding: Great for redirecting professional @yourdomain emails to your personal email
DNS Management: Conveniently manage your DNS records and improve domain request handling
Want to try these out with your existing domain names at WHC? Simply log in to your Client Area, and select the domain you’d like to manage from the domains section.
You’ll find each new feature available in the menu.
Domain Forwarding
Use the Domain Forwarding tool if you want to direct your domain's visitors to a different address automatically. Make your forwarding rules as simple or complicated as you’d like by choosing either regular, shadow (sometimes referred to as iframe), or advanced rewrite rules.
Email Forwarding
Use the Email Forwarding tool to conveniently forward emails sent to an email address on your domain to an external email address, for example your personal Gmail or Hotmail.
Advanced DNS Manager
The Advanced DNS Manager allows you to easily manage your domains’ DNS records. Use this tool when you want to add, edit or delete your records (A, CNAME, etc.) all from one convenient location.
If you spent any time online recently, you’ve probably noticed an increasing number of new domain extensions. .IO? .XYZ? .CO? What are they? What do they even mean?
Think about it. If you have a coffee-specific business and a .COFFEE domain exists, you’d at least consider it, right? Right. But that’s not the only reason why new domains could be interesting…
Domains have been registered and used for decades. Every year, millions of domain names are created, registered, and sometimes deleted. (Often to be backordered or registered again!)
This creates a shortage of great domain names. ICANN realized the supply-and-demand issue and has been adding or allowing new extensions (TLDs). Some of these new domains offer internet users more efficient or creative ways to generate a valuable domain for any business or any website. Not sure what TLD or ICANN stands for? We got the lingo right here:
ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the Domain Name System and coordinates the efforts to make domain names — and to a greater extent, the internet — work.
TLD for Top-Level-Domains: A domain extension, which is the last part of a domain name or a URL. (After the last dot!)
gTLD for generic Top-Level-Domains: The g stands for Generic here. But ‘good’ generic as it’s broad and generic enough to have many meanings and purposes. Think .com, .net, .org .co
nTLD for new Top-Level-Domains: A ‘new TLD’ is a top-level domain, that has been approved by ICANN, in order to create an alternative to .com, .net and other preexisting extensions.
Which are the new domains?
So, times are changing, yes. However, one thing’s for sure: domain names are here to stay. They’ll continue to play an important part online in the near and distant future.
This is why WHC is investing in its domain offer now more than ever. Because we truly believe in domains! We even launched domain backordering and domain names at WHC keep getting many new useful features at no extra cost.
So yes, the more you know about domains, the more knowledgeable (and probably successful!) you'll be online. Knowledge is power!
Here are 9 new extensions (and 2 seniors!) our team is keeping an eagle eye on. Scroll down to learn more!
1. Catchy. Memorable. Bold.
Released to the public in 2014, .XYZ is the most used new domain in the world today. The story has it that this extension rose to fame the exact moment Alphabet (Google’s parent company) decided to use abc.xyz as their online address.
Today, .XYZ has been widely adopted by the Blockchain and Crypto community and Web3 enthusiasts (think Metaverse). And if you're at all curious about crypto, chances are you've already seen .xyz as many crypto and blockchain websites use it.
It’s also easier to send and receive digital coins when you pair your wallet with your .XYZ domain. But it doesn't stop there. .XYZ can benefit many sectors.
“It’s for every website everywhere!” according to Daniel Negari, CEO and founder of .XYZ.
But one thing is for sure, choosing .XYZ for your online project showcases a certain commitment to the latest technology and can help connect with a growing online audience. It’s also one of the least expensive nTLDs to register AND renew!
2. Attract a crowd… of hockey fans!
If a website’s all about hockey, the best alternative to .CA or .COM here in Canada may just be… well .HOCKEY.
Think about it: it displays exactly what the website’s all about directly in the domain name and it’s the best keyword!. Talk about a great first impression! (Psst… You should always give a puck or two about your first impression.)
The .HOCKEY extension is often chosen by sports bloggers, leagues, teams, associations, e-commerce, memorabilia or just top fans looking to turn their passion into an online project.
Yet, if one considers .hockey, one should know that it's on the pricier side. Guess there’s a price to pay to connect and resonate with the millions of hockey fans online, eh?
3. Aim for the .TOP
Short, punchy and memorable, .TOP just sounds good and professional. It gives instant positive vibes. It’s a first impression that creates trust.
Plus, there are still some excellent keyword-based domain names available with .TOP but watch out, they're going like hotcakes.
It should be .top of mind for any online project that aims for the top, of course. Also for online directories, review sites, local tourism agencies or bloggers (top places to visit in Montreal), etc.
.TOP works in most languages if you’re targeting a global market, and it’s relatively inexpensive to register and renew. It’s also easy to type, with the letters all accessible with one hand in a quick right-hand motion. T-O-P-ENTER. And yes, nowadays, it can make a difference in UX.
4. Build awareness
Easy to search, share and remember. This extension helps spread the word as people know exactly what to expect when they land on a .blog domain. It makes for a smooth first impression and a pleasant user experience. Great keyword too! This catchy TLD’s got it all.
Although blogs began as simple online diaries, they now represent a huge online sector today with hundreds of millions of blogs worldwide and millions of new posts every day. If you have something to say, say it in a .BLOG!
There’s no specific ‘user’ who goes for .BLOG when choosing a domain name, but rather a specific use: BLOGGING! For example:
A person will usually go with .BLOG to create a space to share their thoughts, opinions and interests on a wide range of topics. A business will typically choose .BLOG to build trust, attract customers, or help them in their customer journey. A brand can use .BLOG for brand awareness or to show a more human side with behind the scenes, brand story, marketing, etc.
5. For passionate people!
.ROCKS makes anyone stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s to promote a person, a band, a brand, an event or products: .ROCKS will tell the world it rocks!
This extension instantly shows passion and creates enthusiasm about whatever .rocks a website!
yourname.rocks
yourstuff.rocks
yourband.rocks
yourhobby.rocks
martinionthe.rocks
climbing.rocks
.ROCKS gives instant punch and personality to any domain name. It creates a sense of curiosity and urgency to click to check out if that stuff really rocks.
6. Get your geek on
It’s memorable, short and catchy. And sooo easy to type. *checks keyboard
See? They’re right next to each other! Plus, the .IO extension is a great way to identify as part of the tech scene as lately this extension became very popular among tech giants, SaaS, gaming companies, or tech and app startups.
It’s also a great domain for technology experts, engineers, web developers, game creators, and domainers looking to invest in techy domain names.
The .IO domain makes it easy to get creative with a lot more availability than .COM. Just think of card.io, portfol.io, rad.io, rat.io, etc. This extension is on the pricier side, but that’s because tech’s always looking for the next big idea!
Fun fact: .IO was first created to represent the Indian Ocean territory. Just like .CA does for Canada! It recently became available worldwide due to increasing demand from the tech sector. Nowadays, .IO primarily intends to mean Input/Output. It became popular when Google started using google.io for their developer conference. And that’s the power of Google!
7. Get creative with .ART
Artsy? The .ART extension connects art lovers and artists together no matter where they are in the world. It’s simple and it lets people know exactly what the website is about: ART! It’s also a great way to include a relevant keyword directly in your domain name.
A website becomes a blank canvas with .ART and is an ideal choice for artists (even those in the making) like dancers, painters, graphic designers, crafters, art critics, papier-mache enthusiasts, etc. Also works great for online portfolios, art venues, museums, galleries, exhibitions, collectors, etc.
8. The natural alternative to .COM
The .CO extension became popular in the first place mainly because it’s the perfect alternative to .COM and for those who want a shorter domain name.
Did you know .CO started out as the official country code domain for COlombia back in 1991? The Colombian government quickly realized the potential of .CO when .com options became scarce, and decided to open registration to the general public in 2010. Much like .CA here in Canada, only Colombia residents could have registered .CO.
Fun fact: Colombia takes roughly 25% of the revenue generated by .CO domain sales and use it to boost computer and internet use in the country; a smart initiative aimed at increasing economic growth.
9. New and truly generic in nature
ICU may often be associated with Intensive Care Unit, but place it at the end of any clever domain name, it creates a cute, memorable, and unique statement. I See You!
The .ICU domain is a distinctive 3-letters extension that is one of the largest selling nTLDs at the moment. This makes .ICU perfect for a business, brand, individual, and even an institution looking to establish a memorable and brandable identity on the internet. It’s also one of the least expensive TLDs to register and renew.
10. The real OG
The .COM extension is the original and most powerful domain. This domain is the most popular, and most trusted. It lets visitors know you’re a serious and established player. It’s also the go-to extension most people associate a domain with.
Who is it ideal for? Everyone with a website. It’s that simple.
Almost half of all currently registered domains end with .COM and this is why it has, by far,the highest resell value for those investing in domain names.
Just look at Elon Musk who purchased the already-registered Tesla.com from a Silicon Valley engineer. Elon said himself: the deal took “an amazing amount of effort,” for almost 10 years and ended up costing him $11 million!
Take-away tip: If your .COM domain is available, register it now or someone else will!
11. For Canadians. By Canadians.
It’s Canada's official domain and the preferred choice for Canadian businesses and individuals. It’s also our flagship product here at WHC and the extension we support the most as a ‘best practice’ online for most Canadians.
.CA resonates strongly with Canucks shoppers. We’re just spittin’ facts here. Canadians choose .CA. 4 times more!
It’s also a great way of promoting your Canadian identity and if based in Canada, a .CA website also helps rank better in local search results on Google.
A last word
This list could go on and on as there are more than 1500 different TLDs to choose from right now. Here at WHC, we have a little more than 420 different TLDs Available to register in our virtual domain vault.
Anyone can choose a domain ending with .BEER, .VODKA, .HOCKEY or even .PIZZA! How cool is that? Now, serious question… will .MAPLESYRUP one day rule the web?
That would probably turn the internet into a sweeter place, where everyone is overly polite, eh? Well, guess, only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: domains are still a very speculative market. That’s even more true for domain investors.
The important takeaway here is: if a domain is a good fit for your idea or business and it’s available… We strongly suggest you secure it. Like, ASAP.
Cheers to you for learning more about domains today. Remember… Online knowledge is online POWER!
Email marketing is all about building and developing solid relationships through consistent and pertinent email communications. It allows you to communicate with your prospects and customers to add value, establish yourself as an expert in your domain, and promote your products and services. However, getting someone to share their beloved email address is no easy task. People are being inundated with emails and spam, so it’s become even harder to get your message across in a sea of information.
We go over the most important aspects of email marketing, including how to effectively build your list of subscribers…
It's important to understand that usually, the term ‘Email Marketing’ does not simply mean sending emails to individual customers or prospects through Outlook or Gmail. No no! It’s rather utilizing an email tool/platform to send out mass email communications to a large segment or group of customers and/or prospects.
There are many good reasons to start using email marketing to grow your business. The main one being that you always have direct contact with your audience without relying on social media or other third-party platforms to connect and share information with them.
Remember that these platforms can disappear overnight, change algorithms, or even close or ban your account without warning. This then prevents you from communicating with your audience, entirely. It’s always a good idea to build your own list to have a direct point of contact between you and your prospects at all times.
Determine the emails you’ll create
There are several different types of email communications you could send to your list, depending on what you’re trying to achieve (Connection VS Sales) and we recommend that you create a variety of email content as part of your overall strategy.
Here are some ways to leverage email:
Develop story-based communications that will build the know, like, trust factor
Create monthly newsletters to share what’s new in your company or industry
Share free, valuable content that’s relevant to your audience, that solves a problem or removes a pain point
Automate emails when a specific event takes place; e.g. when someone purchases a product or abandons their cart etc.
Send special occasion emails; e.g. on their birthday (free gift or discounts)
Offer special discounts exclusive to your list of subscribers
Survey your subscribers to see how they feel about your business or product(s)
Promote your products and services in order to increase sales
This brings us to the most important point…
Send useful and engaging content… always!
Determine what your ideal customer is looking for; what their pain points are, and how you can make their lives easier/better. Produce content that speaks to them, and adds value. This is key.
Do not use your email list solely to ‘sell’ to your subscribers. They will quickly unsubscribe!
You should be adding more value to your list rather than simply selling to them! If you consistently add value to the lives of your subscribers, they will continue to open, read and share your email content.
If you feel like the content you’re about to send isn’t the greatest/most helpful, don’t send it! It’s better to lack consistency than it is to lose subscribers because you’re not providing anything of value to them.
Also, don’t worry about getting things right, right away. It takes time and practice to learn how to create content that sells and motivates your subscribers enough for them to take action.
Build and grow your list
The main objective of building a list, as we mentioned earlier, is to create a direct line of communication between yourself and your visitors, prospects or customers. Something ALL business owners should be making a concerted effort to do.
If you’re looking for the right email platform, look no further than WHC’s very own email marketing tool. Existing clients with web hosting Pro or Enterprise plans can access the platform for free, with up to 500 and 1000 subscribers respectively.
There are several ways to build an email list, and we’ll go over the most common, here:
Add an opt-in link to your email signature
Create a giveaway or contest that people have to sign up for with an email address
Post an opt-in form on your website/blog so they can see the latest content from you
Create a ‘lead magnet’, something of incredible value that people can sign up to receive
For example: A PDF list of 5 FREE tools to increase sales OR a webinar/masterclass where you teach them something of value etc.
Add sign-up links through social media channels/posts or the link in your bio
The best way to get people on your list is to consistently talk about it in your content. For example, if you want to promote a lead magnet titled ‘List of 5 FREE tools to increase your sales’ you would create content related to this offer and then ask your followers to subscribe by entering their email in order to receive it. Alternatively, you can create amazing high-value content and then simply ask people to subscribe to be notified when new content comes up through your link in bio.
The point is that you must ‘advertise’ your list in order to grow it. Do not fall into the trap of believing ‘if I build it, they will come!’
You have to promote your email list, just as you promote your products and services. However, in this case, your subscribers are getting something of value for FREE instead of paying for it. It’s an easier ‘sell’. They will more likely want to give away their email.
Avoid the dreaded SPAM label
One of the worst nightmares of an email marketing strategy is the oh-so-dreaded spam folder. If your emails end up there, it’s terrible for these reasons:
Your subscribers are less likely to see your emails
The more your emails are flagged as spam, the more likely emails and your account, in general, will be labelled as such in future
The easiest way to avoid someone’s spam folder is by simply asking them to ‘whitelist’ your email upon subscribing. All they need to do is add your contact to their list of safe contacts, and/or remove your initial email from their spam inbox/filters. Simply ask your subscribers nicely and why not even explain to them exactly how to whitelist. Make it easy peasy. Ask and you shall receive, right?
Other ways to avoid ending up in spam have to do with subject line text, like the use of capital letters and excessive punctuation (like exclamation marks), or words like FREE.
We could write a whole blog alone on how to avoid being labeled as spam. In the meantime, you can use this suggested blog as a reference on how to increase your email deliverability.
Measure performance
You’ll want to consistently monitor and measure your email marketing efforts in order to optimize future campaigns. There are so many metrics you can look at, such as social shares, deliverability rates, and even bounce rates on landing pages (where email campaigns link to).
However, the main ones to measure performance are:
Open rate; the number of recipients who receive the email who actually open it
Clickthrough rate (CTR); the number of link clicks within the email
Unsubscribes; how many people unsubscribed from your email list
According to GetResponse, roughly 21.5% of email opens happen within the first hour of sending an email. However, we recommend giving your email campaign a couple of days before looking at the results.
Comply with email laws and regulations
Another very important thing to consider when planning email marketing is that you must always follow the email laws and regulations in place where your business is located and where those who receive your emails are located. If you don't follow these regulations, your business could be subject to severe financial penalties.
Here are the main ones you should be aware of and follow:
So how do you deal with so many rules and regulations from different countries!? Well, the easiest way is to combine and follow them all so you can cover all your bases, so to speak. Companies typically use this strategy when it comes to their email marketing, so they can safeguard themselves against possible penalties.
Do this before you hit send
We recommend you do the following, before you hit that ‘send’ button:
Test like crazy
Display your email on different devices before sending
Check for spelling or grammatical mistakes, or typos
Make sure images have alt-text
Check that all links are working properly
Make sure your email content is relevant to your intended list
Personalize your email subject lines or content with contact names; they do really well for open rates
A/B test elements like subject lines or images and content within emails to give you an idea of what works best for your specific audience and/or niche
Use a familiar sender name so they know it’s you (and not some random spammer)
Inevitably, there will be times when you hit ‘send’, only to feel your stomach drop as you see a glaring mistake on your screen. It happens to the best of us! Don’t stress though… if it’s a silly mistake, you can simply ignore it. However, if it is a bigger issue like sharing the wrong date/time or another important piece of information, you will have to send a follow-up email to correct the mistake.
To sum it up...
Email marketing is a strategy that allows you to build relationships with both your prospects and customers. From offering free value to selling your products and services, it’s also a powerful way to grow your business (and sales) over time.
WHC customers, beware! Once again, some of our clients are receiving phishing emails (emails that look as if they’re coming from a legit company but are actually scams).
Renewals for services will always come from WHC directly. When in doubt, we recommend logging into your Client Area directly from our website to review and pay invoices.
How are they scamming?
Clients are receiving official-looking emails asking them to sign in to their account to renew their suspended (or soon-to-be-suspended) domain. However, the email contains a link to a fake OVHcloud login page where customers will be giving away their login information to scammers/criminals when they attempt to sign in.
What to look for
WHC domains and services are NEVER managed by third-party providers, so receiving a payment request by a provider other than WHC.CA is likely fraud.
Here’s how to spot these sneaky emails, so you can keep yourself and your accounts safe from scammers…
As you can see above, the email looks fairly official; however, you will notice a couple of glaring discrepancies:
The email is not coming from WHC but talking about a product you have at WHC
There is a strange mix of French and English within the email which is not typical
There is a spelling error with the email sign-off ‘Cordialy’
Another way to detect an email scam is by inspecting the sender’s email address to make sure it is coming from the company itself. If the email is coming from a scammer, you’ll see email addresses that are not official like ‘OVHcloudofficial.com’ or ‘ovhcloudsupport.com’ etc. Some are more obvious than others. If you’re unsure, you can also type these email addresses into Google to confirm if they’re correct or if they’re scam addresses.
Another way to check is by inspecting any links within the email before clicking on them. Make sure they are going to official sites, and not some weird URL.
How to stay safe
There are a couple of things you should know in order to safeguard yourself from these types of phishing emails…
If your domains (or services) are with WHC, you will never receive emails from third-party companies for renewals
The safest way to renew services is to log into your WHC Client Area directly through our website and view and pay invoices from there
What should I do if I receive a phishing email?
If you believe that you’ve received a phishing email, you should report the issue to Google or Microsoft directly. We also recommend that you contact our support team if you suspect a phishing email like the one shown above and we can confirm whether the link or email is legitimate and make sure no other customers are being negatively affected by a scam.
And that's exactly what happened here. Thanks to all the WHC clients who reported this particular phishing attempt!
Your shiny new website is designed and integrated with a CMS. You’ve spent weeks creating and tweaking... You DID IT! Now, everything is beautiful and it’s time to go live!
But hold on a second... are you sure you’ve checked everything? It’s so easy to miss a number of crucial steps in the initial excitement of launching a new website. Setting things up properly from the beginning is well worth it. You will set your project up for success and you may save yourself unnecessary costs later on.
Here’s an easy-to-follow checklist that covers crucial points to review before launching your site on the web.
Before you launch your website, it’s ideal to have it live on a staging site. This will allow you to make edits and play around with formats to ensure everything is perfect before you make it public.
1. Add page titles and meta descriptions
Page titles and meta descriptions are used by search engines to understand, organize and essentially rank your content. By putting some effort into your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), you’ll stand a far better chance of having more visitors and attention on your website from the beginning.
The title tag is probably the single most important element for SEO, as it lets users know what’s on your page. Put a <title> tag on every page that accurately describes its content, for example:
<title>15 things to check before launching your new website | Blog article</title>
Meta descriptions are less important, but still very useful to include as search engines will often include your descriptions in search results. Here’s an example, again make sure the description accurately describes your page content:
<meta name="description" content="Learn all about what you should check before launching your new website."/>
If you use WordPress, you can install a plugin such as Yoast SEO. You can then add your titles, descriptions, and much more, right from the WordPress dashboard.
Are you looking for a simpler, more comprehensive solution? We offer a complete SEO & Digital Marketing solution for free for the first 30 days!
2. Add a sitemap
Sitemaps are files that contain the URLs on your website. Search engines use these files to index your pages on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Many SEO plugins will generate your sitemap file automatically, but you should always confirm that it exists (use an online tool if you’re unsure).
If you use WordPress, you can use plugins such as XML Sitemaps (or the previously mentioned Yoast SEO) to both generate your sitemap file and even control aspects such as automating the submission of an updated sitemap, each time a new page is published.
If you don’t use a CMS, fear not! You can use a free tool to crawl your website and have your sitemap built automatically. Once created, upload the file to your web host and submit it to search engines.
3. Proofread and proofview everything
There’s nothing more embarrassing than spelling mistakes. So make sure you read over and check everything! Better yet, get someone else to go through your content too.
You should review your content as a whole, by asking the following questions:
Do I have any grammar or spelling mistakes?
Software tools such as Grammarly can be of great assistance, they help you pick out common errors that could otherwise be missed. DeepL will also be a popular one for anyone who wants their website to be bilingual.
Is the content easy to read?
Always try to reduce the amount of text by keeping things simple and specific. Always try to break up long text blocks into shorter paragraphs, add clear subheadings and use bulleted lists so it’s easier for readers to scan through.
Also, take some time to ensure your content is strong, on point and has a nice reading flow. Poorly written content instantly creates an unprofessional look, and if you don’t like how it sounds now, you should probably rewrite it, before it goes public.
Is the content consistent and free of redundancy?
Check that your message is consistent throughout, and that you don’t repeat yourself. Effective content communicates a simple, clear message that is easily understood by readers.
Do I have enough visual content?
The use of images and video is an excellent way to both break up longer text and break down complex topics. Consider using a good amount of each throughout your pages, and make sure they’re optimized for the web (see Step 13).
4. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
But it should be mobile-first, which is a notch more than mobile-friendly. Ensuring that your website is compatible with mobile devices is a fundamental part of the pre-launch process. Since 2019, Google focuses on mobile-first indexing, meaning the search rank is now based primarily on the mobile version of your website. And it’s not hard to see why, as most of the world now interacts with the web using mobile devices.
So you’ll need to make sure your website has been developed with this in mind. You can check for yourself by viewing it on a mobile device, or with a tool such as Google’s mobile-friendly test. It’ll scan your site and generate a report containing any issues with suggested fixes.
If you’re using Google’s AMP project to speed up your site for mobile visitors, use an AMP test tool to make sure that everything is working properly.
5. Have a favicon
A favicon is the icon you see next to a website when it's open in a browser window or tab. It also appears in other locations such as bookmarks, and search results. If you don't have one, now is the time to get one! Check out what’s a favicon & how do you create one? to learn more.
6. Have a contact page
Not only does a contact page allow visitors to get in touch with you, it adds credibility and improves the trust perception of your website. So make sure you have one.
7. Check website accessibility
A website shouldn’t only look good or contain useful information. The truly great websites are those that are built with accessibility in mind. Accessibility is all about making sure your site is usable for everyone, even those with disabilities. Here are a few things you can check:
Ensure your menus can be navigated via keyboard
Use headings properly to organize the structure of your content
Cross-browser compatibility is the ability of your website to function across different browsers. While there are hundreds of different browsers out there, you’ll only need to be concerned with the most popular ones: Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox & Opera.
You can check out the current state of browser market share data here.
Test this for yourself by installing each browser and checking your website manually. There are also services such as BrowserStack, that give you a truly comprehensive test on 3000+ different browsers and device types. However, in most cases, a manual test of the main browsers will be more than sufficient.
9. Check all the links
It’s often easy to assume that all your links are good and overlook this step. But something as simple as not adding https:// to an external link will create a broken link. Another common mistake is to forget to change links from a website staging environment to the live website address.
Tools such as the W3 link checker, or Dead link checker will scan your website for broken links, and produce a report for you to fix any issues.
Bonus tip: Always make sure your logo links back to your homepage!
10. Check the site functionality
Does your website have forms, a shopping cart, or a login area? Make sure you test each and ensure everything works as expected.
Pro tip: Get others to test your website! If you observe how users interact with your site, you often find it differs from your assumptions. Learning from observation can give valuable insight into potential areas of improvement. Eventually, you can subscribe to a tool like Hotjar that shows heat maps of how visitors browse your website, including where they click etc.
11. Have a valid SSL certificate
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates validate your website’s identity and are crucial to have in order to avoid your website being flagged as ‘Not Secure’ by search engines. They’ll also help to increase security and boost trust by displaying the security padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. A 'secure' signal for Internet users!
If you don’t yet have an SSL certificate, now is the time to get one! Check out our SSL options for more information, as you’ll ideally want your certificate up and running from the get-go.
12. Have a proper backup solution
Before launching your website, it’s important to set up and have a backup solution in place. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind knowing you have a plan in case something should ever go wrong. There are a lot of ways you can backup your website, from manually copying and downloading your files, using a third-party service or even using a service provided by your web host.
A website should be optimized to give the best experience possible to your visitors. This refers to factors such as;
Page Speed: webpages should be optimized to render as efficiently as possible. Not only does this improve visitor retention, it will also help your website rank higher in search engines.
Media Compression: ensure all images and videos are compressed for optimal viewing on the web.
Navigation Smoothness and Interactivity: conduct a review from the users’ perspective. Do you feel like the experience is enjoyable as a user? Do all pages scroll smoothly? Are all links and buttons clickable?
The order in which elements load: ideally, you want to make your site usable as soon as possible. For example, you can use ‘lazy loading’ techniques to render images efficiently.
Web analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) provide you with valuable information about your website’s visitors. Data collected includes traffic, demographics, user behaviour, conversion rates (for online sales), bounce rates and much more!
The insights you can gain make it a real no-brainer to install analytics from day one (not to mention it’s free!). Even if you don’t look at the data right away, tracking it now will become a valuable resource down the line.
15. Link to social media
A healthy presence on social media is an important element for any business or project looking to benefit from exposure or engagement. And the best time to start building your social media presence is from day one.
Having social media icons on your website is a trust signal you send to your visitors, given the icons link to valid social media profiles, of course. People like to see them and search engines like them too.
So if you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to create your social media profiles and link them to your site. Great places to add your social icons include the navigation menu, footer, and article ‘share’ links (if you have a blog).
Launching a website is an exciting, yet stressful time. Often it feels like the job is done when the site is all ready to go, but it’s important to keep your focus and not overlook important steps.
By using this website launch checklist, you can be confident that you’ve ticked all the boxes and that your site is ready to go public and wow the world.
Now, get out there and launch your website! May your online journey be positive and successful!
