Key takeaways
- Test every form and checkout on a real phone before launch.
- Set up analytics and Google Search Console on day one, not after.
- Every page needs a unique title and meta description.
- Privacy policy and contact details should be one click away from any page.
Launching a website is exciting, and it's easy to miss something important in the rush. Use this checklist before you go live, or print it and tick items off with your developer.
Content
- Every page has been proofread, including buttons and error messages.
- Contact details, address and opening hours are correct and consistent.
- Images are compressed and have descriptive alt text.
- There's a clear call to action on every key page.
Speed & mobile
- Pages load quickly on a mid-range phone over mobile data.
- Text is readable without zooming and buttons are easy to tap.
- Core Web Vitals are green in PageSpeed Insights.
SEO
- Each page has a unique title (50–60 characters) and meta description (120–160 characters).
- There's one clear H1 per page.
- A sitemap.xml exists and is submitted to Google Search Console.
- robots.txt doesn't accidentally block the site.
- Structured data is added for your organisation and key pages.
- Old URLs redirect to their new equivalents.
Functionality
- Every form sends to the right inbox, and you've received a test submission.
- Payments or bookings work end to end with a real transaction.
- The 404 page is helpful and links back home.
Tracking & legal
- Analytics is installed and recording visits.
- Privacy policy and terms pages are published and linked in the footer.
- Cookie consent is in place if you use non-essential cookies.
Security & backups
- HTTPS is enabled on every page.
- Admin accounts use strong, unique passwords.
- Backups are automatic and you know how to restore one.