Website builds or rebuilds should jump start a business. Live builds feed new information regularly to search engines.
But sometimes builds can paralyze owners who are so worried about perfecting every single item on the website that the launch is delayed. The build is not live, and the website misses out on valuable search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO is what it’s all about and you need as much as you can get from the start of the website build through the lifetime of the website. We do live builds at The Marketing Square. Responses to this tell me quickly whether the business will do well or whether it will struggle.
Obviously the live build benefits upfront boost traffic. It will take longer if the build is held up and revealed when it’s perfected. I wish I could say there’s nothing wrong with waiting until it’s all shiny and perfected. But that’s not true.
Live Builds=Success
Website owners who are OK with the live builds are generally big picture visionaries. They realize that the website is one of many marketing elements that need to immediately be put into play for the company.
They’re doing some public relations, client relationship marketing, advertising, have events planned, and are running the business with existing clients. They’re making sure that clients are finding them all over social media, in blogs, in print, on multiple communication points.
Non-Live Builds Point to Bigger Issues
Those owners who micromanage, control, and keep everything to themselves until ALL of it is completely done and edited and held in until the big LAUNCH tend not to do well and struggle online and offline.
They’re not doing any other marketing concurrent with a website and have their fingers crossed that all business will come in through one portal.
They’re looking at the website as the end all and answer to their prayers and are so constricting its release that any shred of SEO value that they’d receive from a live build is squeezed out.
We prepare them and tell them the traffic is lessened. It will take longer and they’re looking at six months down the line as opposed to some more immediate results from the website.
Benefits of a Live Website Build
“In a live website build we add copy, photos, video, headlines, design, social media piece by piece, day by day,” I say quietly and quickly.
“We do everything publicly. We take the site live and build it gradually so that we’re displaying and sharing everything including the changes, mistakes, but most of all, your progress. It’s unveiling your new website to the search engines in a proactive and preferred manner. It’s also good for reaching new prospects.”
“We do it to keep feeding regular new, better, different content to the search engines. Keeps them coming back searching for more.”
It’s about the search engine optimization, not the reveal.
Live Build Coming Next Week
New client LoveAndHopeAdoptions.org is fine with the live build. This business has been around for several years helping families with adoption information in Central Florida and parts of Pennsylvania.
Marian Huet, CEO, wants to focus on providing adoption home studies.
She understad that it’s not as if EVERYONE is searching for her website and watching every move it makes. She’s OK with little hiccups and on the fly changes that will be made.
In Reality, No One is Watching You That Closely
Your website has JUST been cached if it’s a new website build. It’s not going to pop up easily unless someone has your URL. Even if someone does see it, you WANT people to look at your website. Anything that drives traffic is good for the website.
Unless you’re Macy’s not many will notice what you’re doing to your website. There are millions of sites out there. And if your clients are looking and using your website daily here’s more good news: A live website build means that your website will not be down or business disrupted during the live website build.
It also allows feedback, comments, and interest by new prospects. Your service, brand or product has a lot of competition online. Get your SEO early and wherever you can as long as it’s a good source.
We do live website builds because it’s good for the website and its ranking and appeal to search engines. That’s why you hired us right? Let us help you!
Big mistake. Not only is the website losing much-needed search engine juice, the client loses feedback and interest by anyone who IS looking at their website.
We never put up the little sign: UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Would you go back to see that sign again? No. But if you’re under construction and you ask visitors to come back and watch as the website is built, they have a reason.
It’s something to share on social media. Your staff and clients and everyone you know should be asked to share this.
Social media, constant new traffic, interested website visitors during a launch are good for business. That’s why we do it.
We’ll send out notes, but check back and watch the live build of http://LoveAndHopeAdoptions.org
It’s going to be a good one.
