How to Launch Your Website On-Time

BY Jun. 13, 2011 30 Comments


When I was in the processes of developing my 30 Day Blog, I was working on a pretty set-in-stone deadline. I had already promised that the site would launch sometime in March and I did not want to let anyone down. This meant that I had to follow a pretty strict deadline system to make sure that everything was ready for the March 30th premier. Now, I’d like to share with you how I did it so you’ll launch your website on time and to the satisfaction of your customers who are already eagerly awaiting your site’s arrival.

Step 1: List Everything You Have To Do

Take a seat and write down all the tasks that you have to do to get your site up and running. Examples of tasks may be:

  • Buy domain
  • Install WordPress
  • Write copy
  • Make site graphics

Whenever you have your list, place them in order of what has to be done first to what can wait. Now on to step 2.

Step 2: Make Your Calendar

Grab yourself a calendar and a pencil because before you do anything, you have to choose a launch date. The best idea for setting a launch date is to give you plenty of time. Don’t worry about loosing customer interest; just make sure that you wont be rushing around like a headless chicken trying to get your site together.

Once you have your launch date circled (A.K.A. set-in-stone), schedule all the tasks that you have to do between now and then. This should be everything from the copy to the graphics.

Also, make sure that you allow time for site testing. This could be anywhere from a week for smaller sites or a month for a larger one.

Now that you have all of your weeks planned, make sure you follow your calendar. I mean, what good is doing all of this if your don’t follow your own guidelines?

Step 3: Decide Whether You’ll Need Help

Even though it’s fun to build a site all by yourself, you have to put your pride asside and determine whether you’ll need help: either proffesional or from a friend. But, before you contact anyone about helping you with your project, make sure you know exactly what you need them to do, especially if your hiring a professional.

Another note about professional designers is that you’ll need to get in writing what it is that they’ll be responsible for. Also, you should make sure that you chose someone who you can easily talk to and communicate your ideas with because there’s nothing worse than having a designer who doesn’t get what your trying to do.

Another good idea would be to share your calendar with your helper(s) so they know about the various deadlines that you set up in Step 2.

Step 4: Just Do It

Now that you have your list, your calendar, and your help, get out there and get your site built. If you follow your calendar of deadlines, you should have your site live in no time. And if you get done with one task early, jump on to the next one and have your website ready for testing early.

Whatever you do, just make sure that you’re not stressing out over it. In a time as exciting as launching a website, you don’t want it to be ruined by cramming months worth of work into two weeks (been there, done that).

What do you do to keep yourself on schedule?

Entrepreneurship, Launching Tips
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  • http://www.realityburst.com Eugene

    A yes, the Nike slogan strikes again :)

    But it’s so true. In my opinion it’s better to act without a plan, then to keep planning without ever asking. You will never plan for every situation, planning is guessing.

    Acting is far more important. And like you said, don’t stress over it.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      I’m glad you liked that part and I agree with what you say.

      Thanks for your comment.

  • http://www.dennisedell.com/about-direct-sales-marketing/ Dennis Edell

    Why all the pressure? Build in secret, then unleash it to the world!

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Building it in secret is one choice but not everything has to be secret, right?

      Thank you for the comment.

  • http://acupuncturedurhamnc.com/ Jon-Erik Lido, L.Ac.

    I found with creating my own websites that it is so easy to get sucked into one detail or another. I would realize after long, hard hours “working” that I had been obsessing over something that ultimately wasn’t that important.

    To keep myself on schedule I constantly remind myself of three things:
    1) Focus on the content, not on the presentation
    2) Get it done, make it pretty later
    3) Achieve excellence, not perfection

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Hi Jon,

      I know the feeling of getting off track on unimportant tasks.

      Thank you for those tips and thank you for your comment.

  • http://www.earningdiary.com Lakhyajyoti

    Great tips for new bloggers.But a new blogger can use free platform also like blogspot to start his/her blog.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Blogspot is one way for a new blogger to start but, it doesn’t give as much credibility to the blogger like an independent site would.

      Thanks for your comment!

  • http://www.mingjongtey.com Ming Jong Tey

    I especially like Step 2. Without marking your calender, things won’t get done. When we have a set date, we prone to work towards our deadline.

    Also, I found that by telling others the deadline, we will have a higher sense of urgency to make it. Else, we are screwed…

    Just Do It!

    • http://www.webuildyourblog.com Andrew @ Blogging Guide

      I agree that making calendar is very important… especially with someone like me who always forget things. Great tips.

      • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

        Hey Andrew. I agree, I can’t tackle a project well without my calendar.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Yes! I’m thrilled that you liked the post. I can definitely vouch for making a calendar because I’d be lost in a project without one.

  • http://www.hashtech.com Application Development

    Launching a website online might be a great moment as number of days work is to be made online and we can now expect fruits from it. Even launching a website should be taken care as it is also important from SEO point of view.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Most definitely! Thank you for the comment.

  • http://discountcouponsupdated.com waterpearls

    Hi Stephen,
    It is a very nice and informative post.Thanks for sharing steps on how to launch a website on time.This post is helpful for many readers.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      No problem. Thanks for your comment!

  • http://discountcouponsupdated.com Andrew Walker

    Hi Stephen. Thanks for sharing this. It’s really important to launch the website on time.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      I’d agree with you Andrew. Thanks for your comment.

  • http://crash-diets.com/ Alison

    I agree that Nike slogan rules. I don’t have any advanced knowledge in online marketing and I was continuously postponing doing the work. But there is magic in just starting to do something. Even if you don’t know how and you stumble, you WILL do it. Postponing action does not take you far….Alison

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Thanks for the comment Alison. I think that once you get the ball rolling, it won’t stop and you’ll get a lot of stuff done. Persevere!

  • Connie

    What I do is, I plan my schedule ahead. For instance, after I have done my work today, I list all the things I need to do the next day along with my estimated time frame for every task.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Hi Connie, thanks for the comment.

      It sounds like you have a great system of organization there. Thanks for sharing.

  • Luke

    Am blogging non-profit for now but i keep on coming here to read your posts.

    Excellent stuff .

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      That’s awesome. Thanks for the comment.

  • Mike lewis

    I always end up failing big time if I don’t do any plans. I am installing wordpress and when I think about installing plugins I immediatly get lazy and leave it as it is, and come back after 3 days and so on. Nowadays I have a notebook where I keep everything organized like “June 20th: 10:00AM Install wordpress (5 mins). 10:00-10:15 – Install plugins (15 mins)” and so on.. It helps me a lot to keep on track and get focused on getting the job done.

  • http://BasicBlogTips.com Ileane

    Hi Stephen, I wish I could be so organized as you! I like your list but there one thing I’d like to add under Step 1. – Install Theme and plugins. I think this is a much bigger step than installing WordPress. That’s really the easy part after you get your host.
    Thanks for the encouragement. :)

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen

      Hi Ileane. I’m glad that you liked the post. Thanks for mentioning the theme and plugin install.

  • Coach Jennie

    I LOVE that Step 4! It’s obvious, but still needs to be said! No matter how elaborate + thoughtful a plan is, you have to just make it happen!!! Great post!

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    thanks for sharing, i’m looking for the ways how to build a new web site,that’s helpful to me.

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