Are you stuck wondering the best way to launch your new Showit website?  Let’s talk about creating pre-launch buzz through to a red carpet-worthy launch day that has people queuing around the (digital) block.

As a website designer, I see my clients face this dilemma all the time. 

We curate a beautifully designed, dynamic website that’s planned, developed, and tweaked to perfection.  But then comes the big question, ‘How do I actually  let people know I’m about to launch a new website?’

The key is to create anticipation ahead of your launch and build such excitement that you instil serious FOMO. No one will want to miss this!

So, let’s dive into ways to build a creative website launch strategy. 

New Website Launch Ideas

Building pre-launch day excitement and anticipation will give you the best chance of a strong turnout. 

Apple does this so well. They tease glimpses of what’s to come without giving too much away. The result? The kind of excitement you see in a 5-year-old on Christmas Eve post-cookie sugar rush…

How can you build momentum for an ‘Apple-Worthy’ digital queue on launch day?

1. Email Exclusives

Let your current email list know your new website is coming soon and that they’re the first to know by linking to a custom ‘coming soon’ hype page.

Giving existing subscribers an ‘exclusive’ will make them feel special and more likely to buy into what’s to come. You can customise the coming soon page and email to whatever you want to share as long as you keep teasing. Offer a special discount, just for them, to use on launch day – or an exclusive bonus for the first 50 people to check out the site and hit reply on your campaign.

Create a separate segment on your email list for previous customers to tell them about the exciting new website changes that are coming. And offer a discount for your loyal customers with a personal thank you for supporting you on your journey this far.

2. Social Media Hype

Time to use the power of social media and have some fun building hype online. This is the most common way my clients use to share about their new launch and whilst it may seem obvious, you can really personalise this experience for your audience.

Kick off a social media countdown in the weeks leading up to launch day. Share sneak peeks of your new website, teasing new branding, design elements, exciting new features, etc.

Offer exclusive discounts for Shares to encourage new followers and spread the word. Similarly, offer a ‘surprise discount’ in return for Comments, which is great for interaction and building connections.

Create fun Reels to showcase snippets of creating and launching a new website such as a page spotlight where you talk through your favourite sections, or a short interview of each person that made your business journey a better experience along the way.

Host a live social media event party and invite people to join at a specific time to share in the celebrations and exclusive launch party giveaways. Make it worth their while showing up!

Have your audience guess something about the new site such as a business name rebrand or a new offer and create a fun prize for the winner who guesses correctly.

3. Word of Mouth

My guess is that you have connections who will be more than happy to help spread the word and promote your new website launch.

Reach out to business and content creator contacts within your industry that aren’t direct competitors. 

Don’t forget those who’ve helped in the creative process of building your new website – they’ll have a vested interest in seeing you succeed! Think Website Designer, Copywriter, Photographer etc.

Ask them to share your posts on their social media. Do an Instagram live together and talk about the design process. 

Can you snag a Podcast guest spot to share the details of your upcoming website launch? 

Don’t forget to return the favour and offer to help with any promotions they have in the works so it’s a win-win on both parts.

4. Blog Posts

Stories sell, so write a blog post about the process behind creating your new Showit website.

What’s the reason for your new website? Are you rebranding, wanting to offer a better user experience to customers, or expanding and growing your business?

Let readers know your why and how it will affect them – give a reason to check it out. And offer a ‘blog exclusive discount’ incentive and a link to the new site, guiding them in the right direction.

Share your journey, including the tears and tantrums through to the final ‘champagne glass clinking’ moment when the website is ready to launch.

Get real; it’ll help readers form an emotional connection. Again, tease snippets of the new design to spark curiosity and encourage another launch day attendee.

Don’t forget to share links to the blog post on socials, emails and newsletters for maximum exposure. 

So far, we’ve covered how to promote your new Showit website launch, creating an irresistible pre-launch buzz. But what about the website launch day itself? How do you engagevisitors on the day to keep them wanting more?

Our final point adds an engaging, fun element…

5. Tiered Discounts & Giveaways

Who doesn’t love a freebie?! And for people to take the time to visit your new website, they have to feel as though there’s something in it for them. 

Hold an Easter Egg Hunt, okay, so it might not be easter, but the principle is the same. Encourage visitors to search the site for hidden elements that lead to a grand prize at the end such as a fun icon or a specific highlighted word.

Create an interactive Tiered Sales Game –  I’ve seen this work SO well lately for my friend Kaili at Reveal Studio Co. It’s a great strategy to keep visitors on your site longer and massively boost conversion potential.

Offer varying engagement-based discounts:

• 20% – standard ‘Thank you for coming’ website launch day discount.
• 30% – Read the About Page.
• 40% – Email and explain your favourite thing about the new website.
• 45% – Post about the launch on Stories with a tag (to drive more traffic to your site).

Remember, the main aim here is increasing visibility and awareness, so make it an opportunity for visitors to participate rather than a heavy sales pitch.

Bonus New Showit Website Launch Ideas

Coming Soon Page

Make it eye-catching to spark curiosity. Include a launch day countdown timer or an email sign-up link to be notified when you go live.

Affiliate Links

Reach out to bloggers or Influencers in your industry to get them to promote your upcoming new website launch on their blog and/or on their email list.

This builds further on the hype since people are more likely to trust an opinion when it comes from someone else, and an exclusive discount for their audience will help drive valuable traffic on launch day.

Launch Day Photoshoot

Arrange a photo shoot with a celebration cake for a super glamorous website launch!

A really fun way to kick off the celebration and create a festive atmosphere, with fabulous photos to mark the occasion (and share on your socials). A personal favourite. 🥂

Ready for your brand to shine with a red-carpet-worthy new Showit website launch? Book a 1:1 Strategy Call, and let’s talk.