Hello, I am currently developing a website which will be ready in 4 months time. Shall I start advertising in small bits (i.e, putting a coming soon message on my signature with a link to the under construction page?) On my under construction page, I have a timer and a mailing list form. Subscribers of the mailing list receive regular updates regarding the website's progress and notices before the release date. What do you guys think? Thank you in advance.
It is very, very hard to not only get people's attention, but to also hold it. These people who will read that will soon forget it. Besides, and no offense, who cares if it is "coming soon." You can try to get them to put it in their favorites, but even then.... Mailing lists, regardless, do not work because very few would still be interested after a certain amount of time.
I agree with Mr. Rose, people on the internet only care about instant gratification. If they can't have it now, they don't want it. Put yourself in your potential visitors shoes. Would you care about a website you knew nothing about, offering a product or service you knew nothing about, that promised it was "coming soon"?
You have done a great job by imputing subscribers and collecting few emails and building your list which you have to do it after finishing your website. Remember than add up all the necessary things before finishing the complete website, I mean like plugins, graphics and so on because at later stage it gives us problem big time.. if you don't change it before it give problems in future.. You need to share your website first so we can give some advice to you, so you can avoid the wrong thing.. I hope this might help you out.. Thanks Alam
Just to give a different perspective from a couple of other replies; I have seen this done very well. A friend of mine launched a feminist / lifestyle blog, and beforehand she did a lot of promotion with the "under construction" page all that was available. She had Twitter, Facebook etcetera accounts and updated with what was happening with the website construction, and links to those accounts on the holding page. It created a kind of 'buzz' about the website and she had a really good first day when she finally revealed it. It made people feel 'familiar' with the blog before it even really existed, because of the Twitter updates. Getting people to follow it is the tricky bit I guess, but from her success I'd say it can be done if you have the time.
If you are gonna do something extra ordinary then i say keep a coming up page with email notification to inform them when the site is launced
Well, You have done a great job by imputing subscribers and collecting few emails and building your list which you have to do it after finishing your website. I think their is no problem for advertising for your site but if You share your website first so we can give some advice to you, so you can avoid the wrong thing..I also tell the right strategy for the promoting the your website
its a bad idea to advertise under construction / coming soon page. people who have real interest may vanish after seeing those pages and they may not return
4 months is a really long time to hold the peoples attention. So you have to come up with new information and progress frequently otherwise people will forget about your site.
You can never start promoting your business to early. It only helps create awareness and builds up hype. The people that say not to do it probably don't know exactly how to create hype, or how to word there future launches. I do it, and it is successful for me so yes go ahead and do it, there is no such thing as bad PR and every bit you talk about your company the better. Best of Luck
I think you should start advertising only about 3-4 weeks before your open/launch the site. Because if you start advertising now I think your advertising will go to vain because I think that people will just not remember your site after 4 long months
Well guys the face is if he doesnt do anything then he wont get a single user but if he keeps a coming up page chances are people will atleast come ... and curious ppl will come back too
Thank you everyone for your opinion. So instead of asking people to subscribe to a newsletter, I should just put updates on the holding page? And start advertising the website 2 to 3 weeks before the release date?
I would keep the timer and the email updates up but like some have said; people want it now. I wouldn't spend anytime on advertising until its done. You would be wasting time and money. Why advertise for something that can covert into a sale?
That sounds more like a plan, Electro-Hos. But, even then that, may, be pushing it. You don't want to waste all that time and money anyway (if you will be spending money, that is) for just a few here and there responding. With so few responding, some Webmasters still thinks it works. I guess it is different strokes for different folks. Good luck with it, Burford.
I would actually just try to build some quality back links well you have the spare time. It will pay off in the long run and the links will not get 'noticed' by search engines for a little while which gives your site some time to go up in search engine rankings for when you and your site are ready to launch.
I agree offer an incentive like a huge discount or free access 2 weeks. People love discounts or special offers
I wouldn't do that (anymore). It's really easy to raise expectations and then fail to deliver (anyone know a site which was developed without any single delays?) Better to get your product finished, before getting loud and boasting. Basic marketing creed: promise less, deliver more