Launching a new website is an exciting time for your business! You’ve been doing all your brand homework and often waiting weeks on weeks to unveil your brand’s new digital home to the world. But then the day comes and… crickets.

Where’s all that traffic you were promised? Why aren’t all of your Instagram followers rushing to congratulate you on your new branding and website design?

Girlfriend, you deserve to have that kind of celebration and excitement all around you on your launch day! When we work together, I’m sure as heck going to be cheering you on and making sure the world knows how amazing you are!

Unfortunately, when it comes to launching your new website, not everyone is going to be as excited as you and me. That’s why it’s so important to build that excitement ahead of your website launch!

If you’re preparing to rebrand, launch your website, or even rename your whole business, there are a few things you should do first to create hype for your launch, and I’m going to share them with you!

Why Your Website Launch Matters

The day you launch your website is often the day you’ll get the most traffic on your site. Ever. And a lot of that traffic might come from potential dream clients!

I can’t tell you the number of times JAI clients have gotten inquiries from couples right after launching their new website. That’s what having an elevated brand and website can do for you!

I want you to make the most of your website launch day, and to do that, we have to back up a few steps first…

How to Create Hype for Your Website Launch

1. Start with an end date in mind

Creating hype for your website launch starts way before launch day. If you haven’t already, pull out your calendar and pick the date you’ll be launching your site. Whether your designer has given you a launch date or you’re planning your own deadline, having the date set will make planning your launch content (and subsequent launch celebration) much easier!

Hot Pink Tip: Buy yourself your favorite bottle of bubbly and have it already chilling in the fridge before launch day. You deserve it!

2. Plan your website launch content

Now that you’ve got your date, you can work backwards and start to plan your social media content leading up to the website launch!

JAI Signature Experience clients get a pre-made launch strategy content plan, and I’m sharing a snippet of that with you to help you start planning what you can do to hype up your audience. And no, it’s not all just pretty pictures of your new brand and website (although we’ll certainly be showing that off, too)!

Your website launch content should cover things like behind-the-scenes of the design process, sneak peeks along the way, and information about you, your process, your journey, and beyond! Launching a new website is the perfect time to reintroduce yourself to your audience and remind them of all the special things that set you apart.

3. Take your audience along for the journey

The best way to get your followers excited for your new website is to make them feel like they’re part of the process. One of my not-so-secret passions is interior design, and I love watching creators transform a space from start to finish.

When you’re working on a new brand or website, that’s kind of like redecorating your digital home, so why not bring your audience along? Sharing that you’re upgrading your brand isn’t “ruining the surprise,” it’s building suspense and showing that you’re constantly investing in improving your own business.

Here are a few ideas of content you can share during the branding and website design process:

• Share some inspiration pictures from your Pinterest mood board
• Post a poll asking your followers which color palette or mood board they like best (but of course the final decision comes down to you and your designer)
• Share your excitement when you get a first look at the design, but don’t give it all away yet — remember, we’re building suspense!

4.  Encourage engagement by using interactive features

Whoops, I gave you a little sneak peek of this one in the last tip I shared! Things like story polls, question boxes, and countdown timers can give your audience a chance to chime in and feel engaged with your website design process!

Don’t forget that engagement is a two-way street! Make sure you’re responding to comments and DMs, asking questions where appropriate, and initiating conversations with your followers.

5. Show off your new website in its best light

I know I’ve just spent all this time telling your that creating hype around your website launch is more than just the launch post itself, but it is still an important part of your announcement!

You wouldn’t hang up a new piece of art with masking tape, would you? Think of your website launch day graphics like a custom frame for your beautiful online art. Instead of just posting a mobile screenshot of your website, take a few minutes to put together a simple mockup for your website launch announcement post.

Most designers, myself included, will share custom launch graphics for their clients to post! And if you’re DIYing it, you can find great free Canva templates to announce your new website. It’s a great opportunity to start using those new brand colors and fonts! ?

6. Offer a special promotion or giveaway to coincide with your launch

This step is totally optional, but offering a promotion, discount, or giveaway of some kind can be a great way to generate more hype for your website launch. This could be as simple as launching a free lead magnet or creating a quiz on your site. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that the promotion aligns with the kind of clients you want to attract!

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Your Website Launch Announcement

Not telling your audience ahead of time

By this point in the post, you’ve likely already realized that the lead-up to your website launch is as important as the launch itself! This is especially important if you’ll be changing your business name with this rebrand.

What you definitely don’t want to do is change all your handles and URLs out of nowhere without announcing it first. That’s how you lose people! Imagine a dream client has been planning on reaching out for months, but then she searches your old handle and can’t find you? Devastating!

Including your followers in the behind-the-scenes process of launching a new brand or website is about more than just generating hype. It helps keep them informed, too!

Making it all about you

“But it’s my website launch, it should be about me!”

I hear you, friend. And it is about you! But you have to give your audience a reason why they should care about your new website. I know that you’ve worked so hard to get to this point and you’re so excited about the new journey this unlocks for your business, but do your followers?

Think about the ways your new brand and website will benefit your audience, particularly your potential dream clients. Investing in your brand means you can provide an elevated client experience. It means you’ve dug deep into your business’s mission and vision and have a newly invigorated spark for it that’s downright intoxicating!

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Talking about your new brand and website launch with people and getting conversations started will make the launch itself more successful because then people are looking forward to it. Even if it’s just to be nosy and see what changed, that’s still eyeballs on your site, which helps your SEO!

That’s why having some sort of plan in place leading up to your website launch is so essential! When you’re a JAI client, I make sure you have everything you need to create hype for your website launch, from the launch graphics to the content plan and of course the gorgeous, strategic website to show off!

If you’re ready to step into the best version of your business with a brand and website that truly reflects the luxury experience you provide your clients, I’m just the girl for you! As a specialized brand and Showit website designer, I’m here to help you create a stunning and strategic website that attracts your dream clients and sets you apart from the competition.

See if the Signature Experience is right for you here and let’s get ready to make your website launch the best one yet!