Launch Your Website

Prior to launch you should have a fully working copy on our development server. The exact launch process varies slightly depending what website hosting you plan on using, but in generally we copy the approved website to where it will be hosted (referred to as "production server" or "live server")and update it for any server specific configurations (database name, domain name, live transaction keys, etc). If we're replacing a website on an existing server, then you're good to go.

If this is a new website or we're changing servers, then we need to update the domain name to point to the new server address. This requires access to either your domain name registar or whatever your DNS is managed. We will determine if this needs to be done prior to launch day.

Getting Ready

To ensure a smooth launch, make sure you have the following ready:

  • Hosting service logins. If you don't have an existing website host, we can provide hosting services for you or recommend a suitable host.
  • Access to your domain registrar or Domain Name Server (DNS) manager (GoDaddy, Network Solution, Google Domain, etc)
  • SSL Certificate - This is required for a secure connection to your site. Most hosting services offer a free SSL certificate.
  • Placeholder content removed from the development website.
  • Backup of your existing site. (We can help you with this).

What happens if something goes wrong?

During launch day we have at least one person dedicated to deploying and monitoring for any issues. Prior to launch a full backup is made of the your existing website so we can quickly revert back to the original site in the rare extremely event of launch failure. In the case of new websites the site can be placed on "maintenance mode" while any last minute fixes are performed.

Accessing your old website after launch

There may be information from your old website that you need access to but not necessarily to be available to the public. In this case we can provide a fully working copy of the old website at a custom subdomain ("archive.yourdomain.com") or alternate domain. Access can be restricted by IP address or password protected so only authorized users can access the website.