If you're getting ready to launch a website or re-launch your website, then there are some things that you can do to make the whole process go smoother. I've looked through my notes of various things that shouldn't be overlooked.

If you're going to re-launch an existing website, there's absolutely no need to re-submit your website to the search engines as long as your site's web pages are getting crawled on a regular basis. That certainly is the key--make sure your website is getting crawled and your pages are getting indexed. If your site is already getting indexed well then I would continue to update your web pages on a regular basis and add new pages as necessary (if you're not doing that already).

If you're going to be using any off-line marketing to promote your website then I would make sure that you own all the misspellings of your domain name--and make sure they redirect using a 301 Permenant Redirect just in case people get confused by what they read or hear and type in the wrong domain name.

I would start writing articles and content that can be used to help promote the site and products--then get them ready to submit to various online publications when you start the re-launch. This would include having a list of quotes from your company's owners and executives so you can have them ready for articles and reporters/journalists that may start contacting you. Don't forget to have several press releases written--start compiling a list of contacts at various media outlets so you can easily send out the press releases and phone them.

Make sure your web host is prepared for the extra traffic the site might receive. I've seen too many sites who launched their site or re-launched their site--and then in a day or two their site went down because there was too much of a load on the server. Or the web hosting company wasn't expecting the sudden surge in web traffic.

Have a specific list of executives at your company who are able to do radio and television interviews--make sure they're prepared to talk to the press.

This is certainly just a few of the things that can be done before you launch your website. There are definitely more items to take care of, and I will detail those in a follow-up article.

Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer manages the Search Engine Marketing division of MarketNet, Inc., a leading full-service interactive design and development firm in Dallas, Texas. Hartzer recently joined MarketNet, where his vast experience significantly bolsters MarketNet?s already robust search engine marketing offerings.

Hartzer is a successful writer and search engine marketing expert. During the past fifteen years, some of his many accomplishments include:

* Search Engine Optimization Strategist, Intec Telecom Systems PLC * Webmaster, Intec Telecom Systems PLC * Founder, Dallas/Fort Worth Search Engine Marketing Association * Owner/Author, Corporate Web Site Marketing * Administrator, Search Engine Forums * Frequent Speaker, Search Engine Strategies Conferences * Frequent Speaker, WebmasterWorld?s PubCon Search Engine and Internet Marketing Conference

Hartzer has infused MarketNet with his enthusiasm and vision for search marketing. Together with the company?s leaders, Hartzer is focused on developing results-oriented paid and organic search marketing programs to help clients increase visibility, broaden reach and maximize their return on investment.