Welcome back! In Part 1 of our guide, we walked through the foundational steps of building your website—from securing a domain and choosing a platform to designing a mobile-friendly site.
Now that you have a beautiful digital storefront, it’s time to prepare it for the public. This guide covers the critical pre-launch checks, promotion strategies, and ongoing maintenance needed to turn your new website into a powerful business asset.
Let’s get your site ready for the spotlight!
6. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO Basics)
“Will my customers find me on Google?” SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the answer. These basic steps will give you a strong start.
- Set Up Google Analytics and Search Console: These free tools are essential. Analytics tracks your visitors, while Search Console monitors your site’s health in Google search and alerts you to issues.
- Optimize Page Titles & Meta Descriptions: Craft a unique, descriptive title and a compelling meta description for each page. For example, a homepage title could be “Calgary Catering Services – [Your Business Name]”.
- Local SEO for Calgary Businesses: This is critical. Mention your location (“serving customers in Calgary”) in your site content. Most importantly, create a free Google Business Profile. This is the info box that appears in Google Maps and local searches. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this is the first step to improving your local SEO.
- Submit Your Sitemap: Once live, submit your sitemap (e.g., yourdomain.ca/sitemap.xml) to Google via Search Console to help it discover all your pages faster.
7. Take Care of the Tech Essentials (Security & Compliance)
These behind-the-scenes details protect you and your visitors.
- Enable HTTPS (SSL Certificate): The padlock icon in the address bar shows your site is secure. This is a must for building trust and for Google rankings. Most hosts offer a free SSL certificate.
- Create a Privacy Policy: If you collect any user data (even via a contact form), a Privacy Policy is essential to comply with Canadian privacy laws like PIPEDA.
- Understand CASL for Email Marketing: If you plan to send newsletters, be aware of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). You must get consent before sending commercial emails. Reputable services like Mailchimp help you stay compliant.
- Set Up Backups: Ensure your site is backed up regularly. Your host may offer this, or you can use a plugin if you’re on WordPress.
8. Test Everything (Quality Assurance)
Before you announce your site to the world, do a thorough pre-flight check.
- Proofread All Content: Check every page for typos and grammar mistakes.
- Click All Links: Make sure all buttons and links go to the right place and that none are broken.
- Test Your Forms: Fill out your contact form and any other forms to ensure they work and that you receive the submissions.
- Check on Multiple Devices and Browsers: Test your site on a phone, tablet, and desktop computer using different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox).
9. Launch and Promote Your Website
With your site live and polished, it’s time to spread the word!
- Announce the Launch: Tell your existing network! Post on social media, send an email to your client list, and update your business cards.
- Add Your URL Everywhere: Put your website address in your social media bios, your Google Business Profile, your email signature, and any online directory listings.
- Collect and Feature Reviews: Encourage happy customers to leave you reviews on Google. Positive feedback builds immense trust—research shows that 71% of consumers read online reviews when researching businesses.
10. Keep it Fresh and Maintain Your Site
A successful website is an ongoing project, not a one-time task.
- Update Content Regularly: Add a blog post, update promotions, or simply refresh your homepage to show your site is active.
- Perform Technical Maintenance: Keep your website software (e.g., WordPress plugins and themes) updated to protect against security risks.
- Monitor Analytics: Check your Google Analytics once a month to see what’s working and find areas for improvement.
Final Thoughts: You’re Online – What Next?
Building a website is one of the best investments you can make in your new business. You’ve created a hub for your brand that can attract customers 24/7 and help you compete in the digital marketplace.
However, if reading through this checklist has you feeling a bit overwhelmed, that’s completely understandable. The good news is, you don’t have to go it alone.
At WEB NEURO, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses in Calgary (and across Canada) get online quickly and painlessly. We offer subscription-based website design and marketing services that handle all the heavy lifting for you—from design and hosting to security, SEO, and ongoing updates.
Our affordable Launch Pad Plan is perfect for startups, while our Growth and Business Accelerator plans offer more pages and advanced SEO as you scale. We’re a Calgary-based team that understands the local market, and our goal is to be your long-term partner in growth.
Ready to take the next step?
If you want to ensure your first website is a smashing success without the stress, we’re here for you. Building your business website should be an exciting milestone, not a daunting task.
Schedule a free consultation with us to talk about your goals. Let us handle the tech stuff while you focus on what you do best—running your business!
Happy building! 🚀