So many people wait to launch their website because it’s not “finished”, but by not launching, you’re missing out on a lot of benefits. Here's how to do a 'Soft Launch' of your website to help boost your business and save you time and effort along the way.
Why You Should Launch Your 'Half-done' Website
They say that 'done is better than perfect', but in the world of the internet, where anything can be updated in a matter of seconds and pushed out to the world, we don't need to be done or perfect! Your website is probably a lot more ready than you think it is and sitting on it can do more harm than good.
1. Build Domain Authority
When you launch your website, even if it’s not finished, search engines like Google can start finding and indexing your pages. This means your site begins to show up in search results sooner rather than later. The earlier your site is live, the sooner you can start building what’s called “domain authority,” which is essentially how much trust and credibility your site has in the eyes of search engines. This credibility is built over time, so the sooner you start, the better. Even if your content isn’t perfect yet, being visible online is crucial because it allows you to slowly climb up the search rankings. This way, when your site is fully polished, you’re already ahead of the game and easier for potential customers to find.
2. Show That You're Active
Waiting until everything is perfect might sound like a good idea, but the truth is, even an unfinished website can start making an impact. By launching your site now, you’re planting seeds in the digital world. This is important because it allows potential customers, clients, or partners to find you online, even if you’re still working on the details. Having a live site shows that your business is active and moving forward. It builds credibility and trust because people can see that you’re out there and serious about what you’re offering. Don’t worry about everything being perfect—just getting your site online is a big step toward establishing your brand and making your mark.
3. Improve With Real Feedback
One of the biggest advantages of launching your site early is that it gives you the chance to refine your content based on how real visitors interact with it. When your website is live, you can see which pages people are visiting, how long they’re staying, and what they’re clicking on. This kind of information is incredibly valuable because it allows you to adjust your content to better meet the needs and interests of your audience. Maybe you’ll find that certain sections are more popular, or that your product descriptions need tweaking. By improving your content gradually, you’re making sure that your site evolves to become more effective over time, rather than trying to get everything perfect from the start.
4. Attract Your First Supporters
A soft launch is a great way to bring in your first wave of customers or supporters. These early visitors can become your biggest advocates, providing valuable feedback and helping to spread the word about your website. They are often more forgiving of any imperfections and appreciate being part of something from the beginning. You can even add a simple waitlist form to your website to start building your interest list. By launching your early site, you create an opportunity for these early adopters to engage with your brand, get excited about your offerings, and share their experience with others. These first supporters can give you feedback and create momentum for your business, making it easier to attract more visitors when you’re ready for a full launch.
5. Start Gaining Valuable Backlinks to Your Site
Having your site live, even if it’s not fully complete, opens the door for other websites to link to your content. These links, often called “backlinks,” are important because they help search engines see your site as more credible and trustworthy. The more quality backlinks you have, the better your site will rank in search results, which means more people will find you online. By getting your site out there now, you’re giving others the chance to discover your content and link to it, whether it’s through blog posts, social media shares, or mentions in articles. These links build over time, so the earlier you start, the more you can accumulate, making your site stronger in the long run.
6. Make Sure Everything Runs Smoothly
Launching your site early allows you to test its performance in real-world conditions. This is crucial because it lets you identify and fix any issues before you attract a larger audience. Maybe you’ll find that certain pages load slowly, or that some features don’t work as expected. By spotting these problems early, you can make the necessary adjustments to ensure your site runs smoothly when more visitors start arriving. This kind of testing also helps you understand how your site handles traffic and how your hosting service performs under pressure. Fixing these issues now ensures a better experience for your users later on, making your full launch much more successful.
How to Get Your Website Ready for a 'Soft Launch'
- Connect or purchase a custom domain name
- Start with just the important sections of your website
- Hide the sections that are still in progress
- Publish your site
- Share it with a few people and get feedback
- Incorporate that feedback and publish again (rinse and repeat!)
- Fill in one section at a time and publish again
This is so easy to do on a website builder like Siimple because you can add one section at a time and hide any section that you’re still working. That way you can keep editing and filling out your information as you gather content without the pressure of doing it all at once.
You only have to publish the sections that are done and every time you do this you are gaining all of the benefits of having a live website and a domain name and when using something like Siimple you only pay $10 for everything so it won't break the bank.
Take our Soft Launch Challenge! Create your website for free on Siimple, customize your first section and hit publish! Share it with us and we'll share it on our website and social media to give your website a boost!
If you need help you can always live chat with us or email us and we’ll be right there to help you out.
