What are the steps an internet product manager needs to follow to launch an new website?

Answer 1

First have your marketing team provide you with all the material they want on the site, in order of priority, as a website is a marketing tool for most companies.

Second understand the role of the website in the company. Will everyone play ball internally?

Third whiteboard and brainstorm a sitemap with ALL major departments. The NUMBER ONE consideration is to make every page contain interesting content. If it doesn't make the customer want to call and order, it shouldn't be there.

Fourth brainstorm with a graphics artist (or the closest thing you can come up with) that can layout the constant look and feel of the site.

Pass ALL of this to your developer. Tell them that you need it to be 100% content (no presentation tags) in XHTML using external style sheets (less some minor hacks for browser compatibility). You will obviously want a varying degree of Flash based animation.

Have REGULAR updates from them with the 'team'.

Lastly: Know your audience/customers. What will THEY expect from a first class website? Look at your competitors sites to get a good idea.

Finding a host is the easy part...

Feel free to email me to bounce things around. GOOD LUCK!!!