9 Things You Should Know Before Launching a Website

Before you launch your website or a new version of your old site, be sure to consider these 9 important factors:

1. Branding, Logo, Color, Palette, Design - You should have a compelling logo that looks appealing to the eye, alludes to what your company does and has colors and a shape that your niche market will be attracted to. For example, truckers probably won't look at a webpage that has kitties and flowers with pink and purple all over it.

2. Content - Don't add info your competition shouldn't see. And follow the KISS method and keep it simple, sister. Make sure that at least three sets of eyes look over your content and that between you there are at least five revisions. Your ultimate goal is to get people to call, order, contact you or visit your website.

3. Target an Audience - If you don't know who your target is, how do you expect to market to them? You should know your market inside and out so you can speak to them in their language.

4. Research Web Companies - Ask others about their experiences with web designers/developers to get some tips and hear common issues that they faced. Find samples of sites you like and make sure you know your goals.

5. Budget – Have a surplus amount of money for your website because just like building a house, it usually takes longer than estimated with added expenses.

6. Offerings and Products – On your offerings and product page you should succinctly state what you provide. This should almost be a tagline it is so short. Then there should be another more pages to click through that explain your products/services in more depth.

7. Server/Emails - Ensure that your system doesn't go down. Have a backup plan that you know how to implement in case of disaster or unexpected issue.

8. Capture Information - What kind of customer information do you hope to pull from your site for future marketing? How are you obtaining that information? Do you need a CRM (customer relationship management)? Ask your potential web developer and get specifics so you can capture and use the information your site gathers.

9. Reporting – Know your viewers' point of entry, point of exit and path on the site. This will allow you and/or your developer to see possible roadblocks or issues with navigation. You may need a sitemap to make a complicated website more manageable for viewers.

Elizabeth Gordon is the author of "The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels".