I often launch a new site well before it is actually complete. You can start with the main pages or the core concept and then simply branch out from there. Once you get enough to at least offer a decent covering of your site’s topic (without a lot of blank pages), go ahead and put it up on the domain and get some links pointing in. This will at least start the Google “waiting period”… and then you can continue adding pages and complete the site as you go.

Let’s say that you are creating a site about Parrots, for example. You can put up the main page with some copy and a newsletter subscription box. Your main page (for now) can serve as a sales letter or flycatcher page to encourage visitors to subscribe for more information.

If you have other pages (such as contact info, Parrot Articles, etc) go ahead and add those links to your navigation as well.

Then add other sections like “What Parrots Eat”, “Parrot Care”, etc etc as you go. And as you add each new section or article… add the links to your sitewide navigation, and then email your list and let them know!

If it takes you a couple of months to complete the site, at least you are that much closer to being “out of the sandbox” and already have a list steadily growing by the time you officially launch your site…