Launch day goes smoothly when the boring checks are done ahead of time. Here's the list I work through before any site goes live. Copy it, adapt it, and check things off.
Content
- Every page has real content. No placeholder text, no "coming soon" sections.
- Business name, phone number, email, and address are correct and consistent everywhere they appear.
- Opening hours, prices, and service areas are current.
- Spelling and grammar have been checked by someone other than the person who wrote it.
- Every image is something you own or have the right to use.
Forms and contact points
- Every form submits successfully, and the message actually arrives in the right inbox.
- Form confirmation messages are clear and friendly.
- Spam protection is in place.
- Phone numbers are tappable links on mobile.
- Email addresses and social links point to the right accounts.
Mobile and browsers
- The site has been tested on a real phone, not only a resized desktop browser.
- Menus open and close properly on touch screens.
- Buttons and links are big enough to tap comfortably.
- Nothing scrolls sideways on a narrow screen.
- The site looks right in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
Search engine basics
- Every page has a unique title and meta description.
- Each page has one clear main heading.
- URLs are short and readable.
- An XML sitemap exists and is listed in robots.txt.
- Nothing important is accidentally blocked from search engines. Check for leftover "noindex" settings from development.
- The site is verified in Google Search Console, and the sitemap has been submitted.
Redirects (for redesigns)
If you're replacing an existing site, this step protects your search traffic.
- Make a list of every old URL, especially pages that get visits or have links from other sites.
- Set up permanent (301) redirects from each old URL to the best matching new page.
- Test a handful of old links after launch to confirm they land in the right place.
Performance
- Images are resized and compressed.
- Key pages have been tested with PageSpeed Insights.
- Unused plugins, scripts, and tracking tags have been removed.
Accessibility
- Images have meaningful alt text (or empty alt text if they're purely decorative).
- Text has enough contrast against its background.
- You can reach and use every link and button with just a keyboard.
- Form fields have visible labels.
Analytics and privacy
- Analytics is installed once, not twice. Double tracking inflates your numbers.
- A privacy policy explains what you collect and why.
- Cookie consent is handled in a way that fits the rules where your visitors live.
Security and backups
- The site loads over HTTPS, and HTTP redirects to HTTPS.
- Admin accounts use strong, unique passwords.
- Old test accounts have been removed.
- A backup exists, and you know how to restore it.
After launch
The first week matters too:
- Check Search Console for crawl errors.
- Watch your inbox to confirm form messages keep arriving.
- Ask a few customers to try the site and tell you what confused them.
A launch isn't the finish line. It's the first day real people use what you built, and that feedback is worth paying attention to.
