You put in the work to bring your business’s website to life. You thought through your services, gathered your content, and worked with an agency (hopefully us 😉 ) to decide how you want your business to show up. Now it’s live. Take a moment to appreciate that!
Now it’s time for step two. A website on its own won’t bring customers in the door. It needs a few things around it to get found. Our guide provides some clear next steps for you.
Looking for more post-launch support? MORE creative agency offers ongoing SEO services and website support to ensure your site stays in front of the right people.
1. Create Your Google Business Profile
If you haven’t already, set up a Google Business Profile. It’s free, and it puts your business on Google Maps and in local search results when someone searches for what you offer nearby.
Go to business.google.com to claim or create your profile. Fill out your business name, address or service area, phone number, website, hours, and a description of what you do. Make sure your hours, address, and phone number are identical between your website and GBP! The more complete your profile, the more Google has to work with when deciding whether to show your business in a search.
2. Get Listed on Free Directories With Consistent Information
There are several free directories worth being on. They give potential customers more ways to find you, and they help Google verify that your business is what you say it is.
Start with: Yelp, Bing Places for Business, Apple Maps, Facebook Business, the Better Business Bureau, Patch, and ShowMeLocal. If you’re a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, a professional association, or a community organization, make sure they have your current website listed. Same for any events you’ve sponsored or organizations you support.
Your business name, address, phone number, and website should be identical everywhere they appear, including in directories. Even small differences like “St.” versus “Street” can cause search engines to treat them as separate listings.
**Some directory websites require you to pay to be a “member” or create a business profile. For the most part, these sites aren’t worth it because there are so many free options out there!
3. Ask for Google Reviews
After launch, reach out to a few customers or clients you’ve worked with and ask them to leave a Google review. Send them a direct link to your review page so it takes less than a minute on their end. Potential customers look for firsthand accounts of what it was like to interact with your business, and the more positive feedback they see from past customers, the more likely they are to engage.
Respond to every review you receive. For positive ones, a brief thank-you works. For critical ones, keep your response calm and professional. Future customers read the responses as much as the reviews themselves.
Google trusts businesses who have more reviews, and they’re more likely to recommend your business to potential customers if you have great ratings.
4. Confirm Your Contact Form Works
Send yourself a test message through your website’s contact form and make sure it lands in your inbox. Check your spam folder too. A form that silently drops inquiries is one of the most common post-launch problems, and you won’t know it’s happening until you realize you haven’t heard from anyone in a while. You don’t want to lose interested customers because they’re waiting on a response from you!
5. Post Updates on Your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile has a posts feature that lets you share news, offers, photos, and updates directly on your listing. Businesses that use it regularly tend to show up better in local search than those that leave their profile static.
Once or twice a month is enough. A new service, a seasonal offer, a photo from a recent project, anything that shows your business is active and open.
6. Check Your Compliance
Every business has different requirements depending on its industry, location, and how it collects customer information. Most websites need a privacy policy, particularly if you use contact forms or analytics tools. Some industries also require license numbers, certifications, or specific disclaimers to be displayed.
Your website designer can tell you what’s on the site. What legally needs to be there is yours to verify with a legal or industry advisor who knows your specific situation.
One More Thing
If any of this feels like a lot to manage alongside running your business, we offer ongoing SEO services for businesses that want to keep growing their visibility MORE after launch. You worked hard to bring this to life. Let’s make sure it gets found.
Reach out here anytime. Congratulations on your new website!