Launch day should be uneventful. That happens when the checks are done beforehand. Use this list for a new website or a big new page. Copy it, print it, or share it with whoever is building your site.
Content
- Every page has been read through for spelling and accuracy
- Phone, email, address and hours are correct everywhere they appear
- No placeholder text or sample images are left
- Prices and offers match what you actually sell
- Privacy policy and terms are linked in the footer
Function
- Every form has been tested and sends to the right inbox
- Confirmation messages and auto-replies work
- Booking, quote and payment links open the right pages
- Every button and menu link goes where it says
- The 404 page exists and helps people find their way back
Phone and accessibility
- Every page checked on a real phone, in portrait and landscape
- Text is readable without zooming, and buttons are easy to tap
- Images have short descriptions (alt text) for screen readers
- Colours have enough contrast to be read easily
Search
- Each page has its own title and short description
- The site isn’t blocked from search engines
- Old page addresses redirect to the new ones, if you’re replacing a site
- The site is submitted in Google Search Console
Safety
- SSL is working (the padlock shows)
- A full backup has been taken just before launch
- Admin accounts use strong passwords and two-step sign-in
- Only the people who need access have it
After launch
- Check the live site on a phone and a computer
- Send yourself a test enquiry
- Watch for errors in the first week, and keep notes
This is a short version of the checklist we run on every site before it goes live.