Launching Sites Totally of Partially Complete

Effects on engines, visitors, and competition

[justgowithit]

I have what I expect to be my most profitable/successful site yet and am having an internal debate whether to launch the site as a work in progress, or drop it like a bomb when it’s done (the option I’m leaning toward).

My web-sense is in disagreement with my business-sense on the issue. You see, the market is pretty competitive and I’d rather not give the competition the ability to check in on me as I develop the site. It’s pretty content-intensive and launching it complete would leave them in the dust trying to catch up.

On the other hand, I don’t want to take 3 months building the site, and then take another 3 months playing in the sandbox before it finally starts to move in the SERPs. A few inbound links from some of my pr 5/6 pages from existing site to get the bots in, and then build as it’s indexed may be a good way to go..?

Has anyone had any experience with an issue like this?

[TheDoctor]

Do you expect to make any money on the site is you put up a partially-complete version? If so, then start earning money while you develop.

You might even learn things from this "prototype", as you go, that will improve the final product.

[SlyGuy]

A few inbound links from some of my pr 5/6 pages from existing site to get the bots in, and then build as it’s indexed may be a good way to go..?

I would suggest getting it up, as soon as you can, with as much content as you can. Like you mentioned in your post, this will get the bots snooping around and start some initial interest in the site.

Update the website with your new content on a regular basis (or as you finish it)..this will not only interest bots, but visitors will notice the regular updates and possibly check back more often. This will also give you an opportunity to grow the site over a period of time..all the while building a reputation as a well maintained site.

Just a thought..

Cheers,

Sly.

[Philosopher]

I second the "get it up now" sentiment. Especially with the lag that currently affects new sites in Google. Getting it up now will allow it to start ageing in the engines and hopefully lessen the amount of time it takes you to start seeing some good rankings when it's ready for prime time.

[netguy]

To take an old farmer's analogy: plant the seeds now... reap the crops later.

Steve

<Added>I have 'several' PR4s and PR5s with virtually no content waiting for me to finish them</added>

[universetoday]

I think it's a great way to go. In fact, you'll probably be able to stick with the project if you develop something lean and mean and then create an ongoing routine to fill up the content. The sooner you get the site up, the sooner you'll get into the search engines, etc. When I first started, I put in about 30 minutes a day maintaining the content, now I'm able to work solid for about 4 hours of very productive time. I never procrastinate any more, and that was a skill that took years to learn.

[Kirby]

A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no one would find fault with what he has done.

Cardinal Newman, 1801-1890, British Preacher

"The word PERFECTION spells P-a-r-a-l-y-s-is'"

Sir Winston Leonard Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman, Prime Minister 1940-5.

Being a perfectionist/procrastinator myself, I consider it the greatest obstacle to increased productivity. Articles like this one [isma.org.uk]helped me recognize some of the traits and pitfalls that accompany them.

I now set a deadline for all tasks. Proofing it or perfecting it is only allowed after I complete the core task and only if there is time remaining prior to the deadline. I found that I simplified the tasks in order to allow myself time to perfect it. Prior to this, the plan was usually to ambitious to complete or not good enough to call complete, so the task was seldom finished.

Good luck.

[justgowithit]

Once again the voices in this forum are a huge help. I was leaning toward launching it complete, but wasn't too sure.

I'll be launching the site this weekend and adding about 6 or 7 pages a day after that.

Cheers!

edit: I can't spell ;)

[edited by: justgowithit at 2:47 pm (utc) on Nov. 4, 2004]

[guitaristinus]

I, too, had to make that decision and went ahead put it out and linked to it. This site is going to take at least six months to finish. The inside pages are the ones meant to be found and will be found. So it doesn't much matter if site is all there. I have an unnoticeable link to index just to keep the pages connected.

Now I'm thinking I could not have an index and connect pages with another page that the competition would be less likely to find.