Waiting for your new website to go live is an exciting and nervous time. You’ve set a date and have the launch strategy ready to go. The last thing you want is something to upset that timetable. Avoiding unnecessary delays is a matter of planning and communication.
There are a range of things that can get in the way of a website launch. From genuine technical issues to lack of content, problems will crop up. The key to stopping them pushing back your launch is considered and precise planning and keeping everyone talking.
Start with a plan and try not to deviate.
Your specification becomes a proposal and the proposal becomes a project plan. Within that process make sure everything is accounted for. Every page, every requirement, every feature, every word of copy, and every graphical nuance. If there is one thing that will cause your release date to slip it’s trying to add in a forgotten feature. It may sound simple to “just quickly add an online shopping basket” but in reality it can mean major back-end changes.
Keep the decision system simple and fast.
“Flip-flopping” or changing your mind often is a big problem. Make a decision based on the best available information and stick to it. If there are multiple stakeholders make sure whoever has sign off has the actual final say. Nothing bogs a release down in the mud quicker than a poorly designed sign off process. Also avoid asking everybody and anybody “what they think” about elements of the website. Unless it’s their area of expertise, the answers are likely to be subjective. Let the developer develop, the content writer write, and the designer design.
Don’t make the small issues into big issues.
If you get fixated about every tiny detail being 100% perfect, then the launch might not just be late, it may never come at all. Websites are meant to be a work in progress. Sure, on release they have to be clear of major issues, but they don’t need to be flawless. Is something was listed as “nice to have” don’t make that the priority. Likewise if there is a small issue with a minor element don’t let it stop you launching.
If you’re expecting your website developer to be a brand designer (and digital marketer and graphic designer and content writer), you’re in for a shock.
When your developer asks for design schematic, it’s no good saying “I thought you did that”. You’ve got to be having the right conversation with each member of your team. Making sure that each role that contributes to the final site is accounted for early in the project is important. Designers waiting for brand colour palettes and site content is sure to slow things down.
There are some things that can trip you up and there is nothing you can do about it. Genuine unforeseeable technical issues head up this list. But with a good team behind you, you’ll soon recover. If you plan the site correctly and don’t deviate, and keep communication rapid and effective, that site will be launched just as you’d hoped.
I often develop sites with tight timelines that have deadlines that can’t be missed. As a result, I’m well placed to ensure that things go smoothly across the board. No matter what size or scope you have for your website development, I can help. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.