Launching a website is exciting — it’s the digital storefront of your brand, the central hub for your content, and a major milestone in your business journey. But before you hit that “Publish” button, there’s a crucial step you can’t afford to skip: the pre-launch checklist.
A flawless launch isn’t just about design or content — it’s about making sure every component of your site is working perfectly, from functionality and performance to SEO and legal compliance.
Here’s the ultimate website launch checklist to ensure your site goes live without a hitch — and impresses from day one.
✅ 1. Content: Is Everything in Place?
◻ Proofread All Text
Typos and grammatical errors can make even the most beautiful site look unprofessional. Review every page, blog post, headline, CTA, and form for clarity and accuracy.
◻ Check for Placeholder Content
No “Lorem Ipsum” allowed! Make sure all dummy text and images have been replaced with final content.
◻ Optimize Copy for Clarity and Conversion
Ensure your copy speaks to your target audience, uses persuasive language, and includes strong calls-to-action (CTAs).
◻ Include Legal Pages
- Privacy Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Cookie Policy (if required)
✅ 2. Design & UX: Is It Visually and Functionally Perfect?
◻ Mobile Responsiveness
Use responsive design principles to ensure your site looks great on all screen sizes — phones, tablets, and desktops.
◻ Browser Compatibility
Test your site on major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera to ensure it functions consistently.
◻ Test Navigation
Menus, buttons, and links should be intuitive and easy to use. Your navigation should help users find what they’re looking for with minimal effort.
◻ Check for Broken Links
Use a tool like Broken Link Checker to find and fix any dead or incorrect URLs.
◻ Favicon Check
Don’t forget the little things — like your favicon! It adds credibility and polish.
✅ 3. SEO: Set Your Site Up to Be Found
◻ Install and Configure SEO Plugins
If you’re using WordPress, tools like Yoast SEO or RankMath can help you optimize pages, meta tags, and more.
◻ Optimize Meta Titles and Descriptions
Each page should have a unique, keyword-optimized title and meta description that improves your visibility in search results.
◻ Use Headings Properly (H1, H2, H3)
Only one H1 per page — typically the main title — and use H2s and H3s to structure your content for readability and SEO.
◻ Create an XML Sitemap
This helps search engines understand the structure of your site. Submit it to Google Search Console.
◻ Set Up 301 Redirects
Redirect old URLs to relevant new ones so you don’t lose traffic or SEO juice from your previous site (if applicable).
✅ 4. Speed & Performance: Fast Is the New Normal
◻ Compress Images
Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to reduce image file sizes without sacrificing quality.
◻ Minify CSS, JS, and HTML
Minifying removes unnecessary characters and spaces to improve page load times.
◻ Enable Caching
Set up browser and server caching to boost site speed for repeat visitors.
◻ Use a CDN
A Content Delivery Network distributes your content across global servers, reducing load times for users everywhere.
◻ Test Site Speed
Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to benchmark performance and get improvement suggestions.
✅ 5. Functionality: Everything Should Work Flawlessly
◻ Test All Forms
Contact forms, newsletter signups, booking tools — test every form submission and ensure it sends data to the right place.
◻ Set Up Thank You and Confirmation Pages
Create dedicated pages for successful submissions or purchases, and use them to guide users to the next step.
◻ Test E-commerce Functionality
If you’re running an online store, ensure your:
- Product pages are accurate
- Cart/checkout flow is smooth
- Payment gateway works properly
- Order confirmation emails are sending correctly
◻ Check External Integrations
Confirm all third-party tools (CRM, email marketing, analytics, etc.) are connected and working correctly.
✅ 6. Analytics & Tracking: Know What’s Happening
◻ Install Google Analytics
Track user behavior, traffic sources, and performance metrics right from launch day.
◻ Set Up Google Search Console
Monitor how Google indexes your site and identify potential crawl or mobile issues.
◻ Install Facebook Pixel or Other Ad Trackers
If you’re planning to run paid ads, set up your conversion tracking pixels ahead of time.
✅ 7. Security & Compliance: Don’t Launch Without It
◻ Install an SSL Certificate (HTTPS)
This encrypts data between your site and visitors and is a must-have for SEO and security.
◻ Set Strong Passwords for Admin Access
Use secure credentials and enable two-factor authentication if possible.
◻ GDPR/Privacy Compliance
Ensure that your site includes necessary disclosures, opt-ins for cookies, and data collection policies.
◻ Backup Your Site
Have a full backup of your website before launching. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be able to restore it quickly.
✅ 8. Final Touches: Ready to Launch
◻ Remove “Coming Soon” or Maintenance Mode
If you’ve been using a plugin or splash page, don’t forget to turn it off!
◻ Set Up Email Notifications
Make sure form submissions and e-commerce notifications are routing to the correct team members.
◻ Verify Domain & Hosting Configurations
Check DNS settings, domain pointing, and ensure your hosting is stable and performing well.
◻ Test Everything Again
Run through your site as if you were a first-time visitor. Better yet — ask a few people from your target audience to do the same.
Bonus: Post-Launch Checklist
Once your site is live, keep the momentum going with these quick follow-ups:
- Announce your launch on social media and email lists
- Monitor performance and uptime in the first 24–48 hours
- Collect feedback from users for any issues or improvements
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console if you haven’t already
Final Thoughts
Launching a website is a huge step — but launching a high-performing, secure, optimized, and user-friendly website? That’s a game-changer.
With this comprehensive checklist, you can go live with confidence, knowing every detail has been checked and double-checked.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or want a pro to do a final audit before launch, we’re here to help. Your website deserves to shine from the very start.