You’ve done it. The domain is set up. Your best photos are uploaded. And now, the website is live. That big “Publish” click feels like a big win—and it is. But it’s also just the beginning.
Think of your new website like setting up for a concert. Before the crowd arrives, you need to make sure the stage is set, the sound is clear, and everything works. That’s what the first seven days are for. These early days are very important. They show you what’s broken, what’s working, and how people are using your site.
Here’s exactly what you need to check and fix during this first week.
Day 1–2: Test the Website Like a Sound Check
Before worrying about how many people visit your website, you need to check if the website even works. If fans can’t open pages, click on links, or hear your songs, they’ll leave.
Check How the Website Looks on Phones
Most people use phones, not computers. In fact, over 70% of visitors on music sites come from phones. They check tour dates while out, or play songs while walking. That means your site must work perfectly on small screens.
Look at every page on different phones. Don’t just trust the “mobile view” in the editor. Check it on real phones.
Make sure:
- The event calendar doesn’t get cut off.
- Ticket links are easy to tap.
- The menu opens and closes without hiding important buttons.
Check if Music and Videos Work
If people come to your site and can’t listen to music, that’s a big problem. Not all browsers work the same. Some block music from playing right away.
Make sure the play button is big and works. If you use Spotify or SoundCloud players, test them too. Check both on phone and computer. Sometimes they don’t load right and leave an empty space.
Test Contact and Booking Forms
This one is huge. If someone wants to book you and the form doesn’t send, they probably won’t try again. You could lose a gig without knowing it.
Send test messages through every form. See where the email goes. If it ends up in spam or an old inbox, fix that now.
Day 3–4: Watch How People Use Your Website
After you check that everything works, you should watch how people are using your site. Are they finding the music? Are they leaving too fast?
Track Who Clicks on Streaming Links
Most musicians use their website to send fans to Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. If no one is clicking those links, something is wrong.
Check your website stats. How many people click “Listen on Spotify”?
Also, if you’re using a smart link service like Linktree, log in to that account too. See if the links are working. If people visit the website but don’t click play, maybe the button is too small or hidden.
Look at the Bounce Rate
The bounce rate shows how many people land on your homepage and leave right away without clicking anything else.
A high bounce rate is not always bad. Some fans may only want to check tour dates, then leave. That’s fine.
But if your goal is to sell shirts or get email signups, then a high bounce rate means your homepage needs work. You might need to move key buttons like “Buy Merch” or “Join Mailing List” higher up, where they’re easier to find.
Day 5–7: Focus on Gaining Fans
By now, the basics should work. So now it’s time to grow. That means getting email signups and making sure the people in the music industry can download what they need.
Test the Mailing List Signup
Social media comes and goes, but email lists stick around. If a fan signs up, they should get a welcome message. If you promised a free track or discount, send it right away.
Try signing up from a phone, too. Some pop-up forms block the whole screen. If users can’t close them, they leave. Make sure the form is easy to use and doesn’t block the page.
Check the Press Kit Page
If you’re trying to get press or shows, you need a good EPK (Electronic Press Kit). This is the page where music writers, radio hosts, or promoters go to learn about you.
Watch how many people visit your EPK page. And test all downloads. If you link to a PDF bio or press photo in Google Drive, make sure the link is public. A lot of artists forget this. If someone gets a “No Access” error, they move on.
Red Flags That Show Something Is Wrong
While checking everything, look out for these warning signs. They tell you something’s off.
Fans Visit the Merch Page But Don’t Buy
This usually means something scared them off. Most times, it’s high shipping costs. Try going through the checkout process yourself. See how much it costs to ship. Also, check if the store feels slow or confusing.
Pages Take Too Long to Load
Musicians love high-quality pictures. But big image files slow down websites. If your site takes over 3 seconds to load, many visitors will leave before it opens.
Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. They show which images are too large and how to fix them.
Build a Strong Base in the First Week
The first week is not about getting thousands of views. It’s about making sure everything works and helps your music career.
You need to check if:
- The site looks good on phones
- Fans can listen to your music
- Contact forms send emails correctly
- Buttons lead people to Spotify and other platforms
- The merch page doesn’t scare off buyers
- Industry folks can download your EPK
- The site loads quickly on all devices
Once these are done, set up a reminder to check your site stats once a month. That way, you’ll keep improving and catch problems before they grow.
The launch of your music site should feel like a new gig. The first seven days are like soundcheck. Use this time well. Fix things now so your website can truly help you grow your fanbase, get more shows, and sell more music.
The site isn’t the finish line. It’s your starting point.