Your website just went live. Congratulations — you’ve cleared a major hurdle. But launching is the beginning, not the end. What you do in the first 90 days determines whether your site becomes a lead-generating asset or just an expensive online brochure.

This guide covers exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to track if it’s working.

TL;DR: The 90-Day Overview

Week 1: Test everything, fix issues, announce the launch Weeks 2-4: Monitor analytics, gather feedback, start content Month 2: Build SEO momentum, generate reviews, optimize Month 3: Evaluate results, refine strategy, plan next phase

Week 1: Launch and Verify

The first week is about making sure everything works and getting the word out.

Day 1: Go-Live Checklist

Before celebrating, verify these essentials:

All pages load correctly — Click through every page
Forms work — Submit test entries to every form
Phone numbers are clickable — Test on mobile
Links work — Check navigation, footer, and all internal links
Contact info is correct — Address, phone, email, hours
SSL is active — Padlock icon appears in browser
Mobile looks good — Test on actual phone, not just desktop preview
Analytics is tracking — Check Google Analytics real-time view

If you find problems: Fix them immediately. Day 1 issues are priority one.

Day 2-3: Testing and Fixes

Expand your testing:

Test on multiple browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
Test on multiple devices — iPhone, Android, tablet
Run PageSpeed Insights — Note baseline scores
Check Google Search Console — Make sure site is being crawled
Review all content — Typos, outdated info, placeholder text
Test checkout/booking (if applicable) — Complete actual transaction

Common Day 2-3 fixes:

Slow images that need compression
Mobile layout issues on specific devices
Form notifications going to spam
Missing or incorrect metadata

Day 4-7: Announce Your Launch

Tell people your new site exists:

Email announcement: Send to your customer list, past clients, professional contacts.

Subject: Our New Website is Live!

Hi [Name],

We’re excited to share our newly redesigned website. It’s easier to navigate, works great on mobile, and has all the information you need about our services.

Check it out: [URL]

If you’ve worked with us before, we’d love a Google review: [Review Link]

Thanks for your continued support!

[Your Name]

Social media:

Post announcement with screenshot
Pin to top of profiles
Share direct links to key pages

Google Business Profile:

Update website URL if changed
Create a post about the new site
Add new photos from the site

Personal outreach:

Text or call your best customers
Ask for feedback and reviews
Request shares if appropriate

Weeks 2-4: Monitor and Gather Feedback

The honeymoon is over. Now you watch, listen, and adjust.

Set Up Your Monitoring Dashboard

If not already done:

Google Analytics 4:

Create a simple dashboard with key metrics
Set up goals/conversions for form submissions
Connect to Google Ads if running

Google Search Console:

Verify site ownership
Submit sitemap
Monitor for indexing issues

Rank tracking (optional):

Tools like Ubersuggest, SE Ranking, or BrightLocal
Track 10-20 target keywords
Check weekly, not daily

Baseline Metrics to Record

Document these numbers at the 2-week mark:

Metric	Week 2 Baseline
Total sessions
Organic traffic
Bounce rate
Pages per session
Form submissions
Phone calls (if tracked)
PageSpeed score (mobile)

You’ll compare against these at Day 30, 60, and 90.

Gather Real User Feedback

Ask people directly:

“What was your experience finding information on our new site?”
“Was anything confusing or hard to find?”
“Did you try to contact us? How did that go?”

Watch actual behavior:

Install Microsoft Clarity (free) for session recordings
See where people click, scroll, and get stuck
Identify unexpected behavior patterns

Common Week 2-4 discoveries:

People can’t find a key page (fix navigation)
FAQ doesn’t answer the actual questions (update content)
Form is getting spam (add CAPTCHA)
Mobile experience isn’t as smooth as desktop (optimize)

Start Building Content

Even with a brand new site, content work starts now:

Week 2-4 content goals:

Publish 1 blog post or resource (if applicable)
Add any missing service details
Collect 2-3 new testimonials
Update Google Business posts weekly

Month 2: Build Momentum

Initial launch excitement fades. Now you’re building sustainable systems.

SEO Momentum

Week 5-8 SEO focus:

Verify all pages are indexed — Search “site:yourdomain.com” in Google
Check for crawl errors — Review Search Console for issues
Build 5-10 citations — Submit to major directories (Yelp, YellowPages, industry-specific)
Review and improve titles/descriptions — Based on Search Console impression data
Internal linking — Make sure pages link to each other logically
Publish 1-2 blog posts — Targeting keywords you want to rank for

What to watch in Search Console:

Impressions increasing (people seeing you in results)
Click-through rate improving
New keywords appearing
Any errors or warnings

Review Generation

Now is when you build your review system:

Week 5-6:

Create your direct Google review link
Set up email template for asking reviews
Train team on when/how to ask

Week 7-8:

Ask 10-15 recent customers for reviews
Respond to any reviews that come in
Track your review count progress

Goal for Month 2: Add 5-10 new Google reviews

Optimization Based on Data

By now you have real data. Use it:

If bounce rate is high on a page:

Is the page slow? (Speed optimization)
Does content match search intent? (Content update)
Is CTA clear? (Design adjustment)

If form submissions are low:

Is form easy to find? (Add more CTAs)
Is form too long? (Reduce fields)
Is form working? (Test again)

If traffic is low:

Is site indexed? (Check Search Console)
Is content targeting right keywords? (SEO review)
Are you promoting the site? (Marketing effort)

Month 3: Evaluate and Plan

Time to assess what’s working and set strategy for the long term.

90-Day Review

Compare current metrics to your Week 2 baseline:

Metric	Week 2	Day 90	Change
Total sessions
Organic traffic
Bounce rate
Form submissions
Google reviews
PageSpeed score

What Success Looks Like

Good signs:

Organic traffic is growing (even slowly)
Search impressions are increasing
You’re getting consistent form submissions/calls
Review count is growing
Pages are indexed and ranking for brand name

Warning signs:

Organic traffic flat or declining
High bounce rate not improving
Very few or no conversions
Reviews stalled
Indexing issues in Search Console

Plan Your Next 90 Days

Based on results, prioritize:

If traffic is the problem:

Double down on content
Review keyword strategy
Check technical SEO issues
Consider Google Ads while organic builds

If traffic is good but conversions are low:

Review user experience and CTAs
Add more trust signals
Simplify contact process
A/B test key pages

If both are working:

Maintain momentum with consistent content
Expand keyword targeting
Refine based on what’s converting
Consider expanding services/pages

Emergency Troubleshooting

Things that require immediate attention:

Site Is Down

Check if it’s actually down (use downforeveryoneorjustme.com)
Contact hosting provider
Check if domain expired
Review recent changes that may have broken something

Site Got Hacked

Signs: Strange content, redirects to other sites, Google warnings

Take site offline immediately
Restore from clean backup
Update all passwords
Update all software (WordPress, plugins, themes)
Scan for remaining malware
Submit for Google review if flagged

Rankings Dropped Suddenly

Check Search Console for manual actions
Check for recent algorithm updates
Verify site is still indexed
Look for technical issues (slow speed, errors)
Review recent changes that might have caused it

Forms Stopped Working

Test form yourself
Check spam folder
Verify form email settings
Check if CAPTCHA is blocking legitimate submissions
Review any recent plugin/software updates

The Ongoing Routine

After 90 days, establish a sustainable routine:

Weekly (15-30 minutes)

Check for new reviews, respond to all
Review key metrics (traffic, conversions)
Post to Google Business Profile
Scan for any issues or errors

Monthly (1-2 hours)

Deeper analytics review
Publish 1-2 pieces of content
Check page speed and fix issues
Review Search Console for opportunities
Gather and post testimonials

Quarterly (Half day)

Comprehensive site audit
Content review and update
Competitor review
Strategy adjustment
Goal setting for next quarter

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I start seeing SEO results?

Organic traffic typically takes 3-6 months to show significant growth. You should see gradual improvement in impressions and rankings during the first 90 days, even if clicks are still low.

How do I know if my website is working?

Track conversions (calls, form submissions) relative to traffic. A conversion rate of 2-5% is typical for local service businesses. If you’re getting traffic but no conversions, the site has issues. If you’re getting conversions but not traffic, focus on SEO and marketing.

Should I make changes to the site right away?

Give it at least 2-4 weeks of data before making significant changes. Small fixes (typos, broken links) should happen immediately. Design or structural changes should be based on actual user data, not gut feeling.

What if traffic isn’t growing?

First, verify there are no technical issues (indexing, speed). Then assess your content strategy — are you targeting keywords people actually search? Finally, consider whether you’re competing against established sites that have years of SEO advantage (you may need paid ads to bridge the gap).

How much traffic should I expect?

Highly variable based on your market, competition, and how well known your business already is. A brand new business site might see 50-200 monthly visitors initially. An established business with some online presence might see 500-2,000. Focus on trends, not absolute numbers.

What This Means for Your Business

A website launch is a milestone, not a finish line. The businesses that succeed online are the ones that treat their website as a living asset that needs ongoing attention.

The first 90 days set the foundation. The habits you build now — monitoring analytics, generating reviews, publishing content, optimizing based on data — these compound over time.

Whether you’re a florist in Phoenix, a lawyer in Louisville, or a clinic here in Springfield, Oregon — the post-launch playbook is the same. Test, monitor, improve, repeat.

Next Steps

Week 1: Complete the go-live checklist and announce your launch.

Week 2-4: Set up monitoring, gather feedback, fix issues that emerge.

Month 2: Build SEO and review momentum.

Month 3: Evaluate results and plan your next phase.

Need help? I include 30 days of post-launch support with every website project. If you’re beyond that or working with another designer, I’m happy to consult on your post-launch strategy.

Let’s discuss your launch plan →

The First 90 Days After Your Website Launches: What to Do Next