9 Steps to Take After Launching Your New Website (2024)

Congratulations! You’ve launched your website in Ireland with Affordable Websites Dublin. You have taken the first crucial step into the digital world. But the journey doesn’t end there. Just like a newborn plant, your website needs nurturing and care to thrive. That’s where our guide comes in.

We’ll dive into 9 key steps to take after launching your website in Ireland. It’s specifically tailored for the current online marketplace of 2024 in Ireland. These 9 steps are vital building blocks for attracting visitors, boosting your online presence, and ultimately achieving your website’s goals.

Engage Your Audience

Learn how to use social media platforms effectively to connect with your ideal customers, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your website.

Maintain a Competitive Edge

We’ll share content creation tips and website maintenance practices to keep your website fresh, secure, and up-to-date in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Climb Google Search Engine Rankings 

We’ll show you how to optimize your website for visibility, from submitting sitemaps to Google Search Console to building high-quality backlinks.

Dominate Local Searches 

Discover techniques to leverage Google My Business and local directories, putting your business right in front of potential customers in your area.

Step 1: Google Search Console

Submit your websites sitemap to Google

Why It’s Important: Imagine your ideal customer searching for your business, but your website doesn’t appear! Get it indexed by Google to avoid this nightmare. Submit your website today and increase your visibility in local searches.

How to Submit Your Sitemap

• Go to Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account or create one.
• Add a new property by entering your website URL (domain name).
• Verify your website ownership through one of the methods provided (HTML file upload, domain name provider, HTML tag, GA tracking code, or GTM container snippet).
• Once verified, go to the ‘Sitemaps’ section.
• Enter the URL of your sitemap in the ‘Add a new sitemap’ field and submit.

Step 2: Google My Business

Add your business to Google Map

Increase your foot traffic and attract targeted leads in your area with a powerful Google My Business listing. Dominate local search results, connect directly with potential customers, and boost your sales with:

Increased visibility: Appearing at the top of local search results for relevant keywords, putting your business in front of people actively searching for your services.

Enhanced credibility: Positive reviews and high-quality photos build trust and encourage potential customers to choose you.

Direct interactions: Allow customers to call, message, or get directions to your business right from your listing.

Optimise your listing with expert tips: We’ll guide you through best practices for adding engaging photos, responding to reviews, and utilizing GMB posts to maximize your impact.

Track your results with GMB Insights: Analyse data on your audience engagement, website traffic, and search visibility to tailor your listing for even better results.

Why It’s Important: Enhances local SEO, making it easier for customers in your area to find you. It also allows your business to appear in Maps and local search results.

How to Register

• Go to the Google Business Profile Manager and sign in with your Google account.
• Enter your business name. If it doesn’t appear in the dropdown menu, click ‘Add your business to Google.’
• Select the appropriate business category.
• Add your location if you have a physical location.
• Fill in your contact information, including your website URL.
• Verify your business through the method provided by Google. This could be by phone, email, or mail.
• Once verified, optimise your profile by adding photos, business hours and regularly updating your information.

Step 3: Set Up Google Analytics

Monitor Your Website Traffic

Why It’s Important: Provides insights into your website traffic, user behaviour, and the effectiveness of your content and SEO strategy.

How to Register

• Sign up for a Google Analytics account.
• Click on ‘Admin’ and navigate to the account and property columns. Under the ‘Property’ column, click ‘Tracking Info’ > ‘Tracking Code’.
• Install the tracking code on every page of your website. If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, plugins can automate this process.
• Set up goals in Google Analytics to track conversions or specific actions visitors take on your site. This could be an enquiry form submissions, sign-ups, or purchases.

Step 4: Build High-Quality Backlinks

Boost Your Google Rankings

Why It’s Important: Backlinks act like votes of confidence from other websites to search engines. Search engines consider the number and quality of backlinks a website has when determining its ranking in search results.

How To Do It

Local Community Forums

• Participate in forums for example boards.ie to get your website known within your community and sector.
• Create profiles and classified listings that include your website link. Ensure that your business information is accurate and consistent across all platforms.

Guest Blogging

• Collaborate with blogs or websites within your industry to publish content that includes a backlink to your site. This not only provides a quality backlink in your niche but also exposes your brand to a broader audience.

Prioritise the Website Authority

• Links from authoritative and trusted websites (e.g. educational institutions and established industry leaders) are more beneficial.

Step 5: Local Business Directories

Add Your Website to Irish Business Directories

Why It’s Important: Listing your website in local business directories in Ireland will increase your local SEO when you include your city and address. This makes your business more visible to people searching for your services in your area.

How to Implement

Research and Choose Relevant Directories

Look for directories that are specifically focused on Ireland or your local area within Ireland. Prioritise directories that are well-regarded and have a high domain authority.

Create Detailed Listings

For each directory, submit a detailed listing of your business. Include your business name, address, phone number (NAP), website URL, and a brief description of your services. Make sure your NAP information is consistent across all directories to avoid confusion and maximize SEO benefits.

Consider Industry-Specific Directories

In addition to general local business directories, also look for directories that are specific to your industry. These can provide more targeted backlinks and attract visitors who are specifically interested in your services.

Step 6: Regular Content Updates

Update Your Website Regularly with Fresh Content

Why It’s Important: Keeping your website content fresh and current encourages return visits. It also provides more opportunities for indexing by search engines.

Content Ideas

Add New Testimonials

• Showcase recent customer success stories.

Add Video Guides

• Offer video guides on how to use your products or services.

Industry Insights

• Share your expertise and commentary on industry trends.

Step 7: Website Maintenance

Update Your Website Every Week

Why It’s Important: This ensures your website remains up-to-date, secure, and functional. If your website is not updated regularly (once or twice a week), you are a target for hackers, the website can become slow and can stop working completely.

How to Do It

• Login to your WordPress dashboard.
• Check if there are any notifications.
• Click the plugins menu on the left.
• You will see an update button for any plugins that need to be updated.
• Click update on any plugins that need to be updated.

Affordable Websites support over 800+ businesses in Ireland with our essential website maintenance care plans. We can maintain, update, revise and add content, update security and back up your website each week to ensure optimal performance.

Step 8: Social Media

Post on Social Media platforms

Connect with your ideal customers

Social media platforms are like virtual neighbourhoods where your target audience spends most of their time. Being active there allows you to connect with them directly, build relationships, and share your brand story.

Boost your local reach

Go beyond your website and reach a wider audience. Share engaging content, run targeted ads, and leverage the power of social media algorithms to get your message seen by more people.

Drive website traffic

Use social media as a springboard to direct people to your website. Share blog posts, product pages, or special offers, and watch your website traffic climb.

Boost brand awareness

Keep your brand top-of-mind by regularly engaging with your audience. The more people see your name and logo, the more likely they are to remember you when they need your products or services.

Why It’s Important: Keeping your website content fresh and current encourages return visits. It also provides more opportunities for indexing by search engines.

How to Engage

Find your audience

Before diving in, research where your ideal customers hang out online. Focus on the platforms they use most, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn.

Create compelling content

Share posts that are informative, entertaining, or inspiring. Mix things up with text, images, videos, and stories to keep your audience engaged.

Align with your goals

Don’t just post randomly. Connect your social media content to your overall business objectives, whether it’s driving sales, increasing brand awareness, or building customer loyalty.

Be interactive

Don’t just broadcast. Respond to comments, answer questions, and participate in conversations. Show your audience you care about what they have to say.

Collaborate with others

Partner with other businesses or influencers in your industry to reach a wider audience and gain exposure to new potential customers.

Step 9: Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

Google Ads, Bing Ads, Facebook Ads

Why It’s Important: It drives instant traffic to your website for targeted keywords for example “eCommerce Web Design Agency Dublin” or “Irish Web Design Company”.

How to Start PPC Advertising

• Choose a platform for your PPC campaigns (Google Ads, Bing Ads).
• Define your target audience, budget, and goals.
• Create compelling ad copy and use relevant keywords.
• Monitor and adjust your campaigns based on performance data.

Launching Your New Website in Ireland Summary

Launching a new website is just the beginning of your digital journey in 2024. With Affordable Websites Dublin by your side, you’re equipped with not just a website, but a comprehensive strategy to ensure your online presence grows. Our guide, tailored for Irish businesses, outlines 9 essential steps post-launch, from leveraging Google Search Console to mastering social media engagement.

These steps are designed to boost your visibility, engage your audience, and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic digital landscape. Our experienced website developers and designers, boasting over 18 years of experience, are committed to supporting your growth journey. We understand the importance of website maintenance and SEO in keeping your site fresh, secure, and high-ranking. That’s why we offer website design packages to meet these needs, helping over 800 businesses in Ireland achieve optimal website performance.

By following our guide and utilising our web design and SEO services, you position your business to climb search engine rankings, dominate local searches, and engage your audience effectively. Whether it’s creating compelling content, building high-quality backlinks, or ensuring regular website updates, Affordable Websites is here to support every step of your digital journey.

Let us help you unlock the full potential of your website with our expert website maintenance and SEO packages, tailored for businesses aiming for success in the digital age.