Launching your website is the moment when your indie game’s online presence truly comes alive. It’s the gateway for players, press, and partners to discover and engage with your project. A smooth and well-prepared launch not only builds credibility but also ensures visitors have a seamless experience from their very first click.

This comprehensive checklist will guide you through the essential steps to prepare, launch, and maintain your Indie Pocket website effectively.

Before Launch: Prepare your site to Shine

Prior to going live, invest time to polish every detail of your website. This stage is crucial to avoid last-minute surprises and to present a professional, polished image.

Key checks before launch:

• Review and proofread all text content (game descriptions, developer bio, blog posts).

• Confirm that all images and videos are final versions and optimized for fast loading.

• Verify that all external links (store pages, social media, press kit downloads) are accurate and open in new tabs.

• Test interactive elements like contact forms and newsletter signups with real submissions.

• Preview your site on various devices (desktop, tablet, smartphone) and browsers to ensure responsive design and usability.

• Integrate and test analytics tools (Google Analytics, etc.) to track visitor behavior from day one.

• Add and configure a cookie consent banner compliant with GDPR and other regulations.

• Set up SEO basics: page titles, meta descriptions, alt texts for images.

• Ensure your custom domain is properly connected and resolving without errors.

• Backup your Framer project and any custom code or assets.

On Launch Day: Go live smoothly and communicate Clearly

Launch day is when your preparation pays off. Pay close attention to technical performance and community engagement.

Essential launch day actions:

• Publish your site at a planned time and check all pages for errors or broken links.

• Announce your launch across all channels: social media, email newsletters, Discord, forums.

• Monitor site uptime and loading speeds using tools like UptimeRobot or Pingdom.

• Keep an eye on real-time analytics for visitor traffic and behavior patterns.

• Respond promptly to messages from the contact form or social media.

• Confirm that newsletter signups are being collected and automated emails are sent correctly.

• Watch for any unexpected bugs or user experience issues reported by visitors.

After Launch: Maintain and Improve your site

The launch is just the beginning of your website’s life. Keeping your content fresh and your site running smoothly is key to ongoing success.

Post-launch maintenance checklist:

• Regularly update news, devlogs, screenshots, and blog content to engage visitors.

• Review analytics weekly or monthly to identify popular pages and optimize underperforming ones.

• Update store links, pricing info, and press kit assets as your game evolves.

• Periodically test contact forms, newsletter integrations, and embedded widgets for functionality.

• Keep cookie consent and privacy policy pages up to date with current regulations.

• Optimize images and scripts to maintain or improve loading speeds.

• Backup site data and Framer projects regularly to prevent data loss.

• Monitor and fix any SEO issues or broken links discovered over time.

• Maintain a clear navigation structure and consider user feedback to improve UX.

Additional Tips for a Successful site Launch

• Use a custom domain for professionalism and branding consistency.

• Prepare a FAQ or troubleshooting page for common visitor questions or issues.

• Consider integrating a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve loading speeds worldwide.

• Use social proof elements like testimonials or press quotes where relevant.

• Schedule periodic reviews of your website content and technical setup.