Checklist: before you launch a new website

Why this matters

Launch day is not the time to find problems. A pre-launch checklist catches issues before visitors see them.

This checklist covers the essentials: content, forms, performance, accessibility, SEO, and testing.

For a release checklist for ongoing updates, see why QA beats hope: a release checklist.

Content checks

• ✅ All pages have titles and descriptions.
• ✅ Contact information is correct (phone, email, address).
• ✅ Opening hours or availability information is accurate.
• ✅ All links work (internal and external).
• ✅ No placeholder text or "lorem ipsum" remains.
• ✅ Images have alt text for accessibility.
• ✅ Spelling and grammar are checked.

Forms and functionality

• ✅ Contact forms work and send emails correctly.
• ✅ Form validation works (required fields, email format, etc.).
• ✅ Error messages are clear and helpful.
• ✅ Confirmation messages appear after submission.
• ✅ Booking systems, payment systems, or other functionality work.
• ✅ Forms work on mobile devices.

For more on forms, see form design that gets completed.

Performance checks

• ✅ Pages load in under 4 seconds on mobile [2]Source 2 .
• ✅ Images are optimised (compressed, resized, modern formats).
• ✅ Core Web Vitals are good (LCP, FID/INP, CLS).
• ✅ No unnecessary scripts or plugins.
• ✅ Caching is enabled.

For more on performance, see fast websites: what fast means.

Accessibility checks

• ✅ Keyboard navigation works (Tab through all interactive elements) [1]Source 1 .
• ✅ Focus is visible on all interactive elements.
• ✅ Images have descriptive alt text.
• ✅ Headings are in logical order (H1, H2, H3).
• ✅ Text has sufficient contrast (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text).
• ✅ Forms have labels associated with inputs.
• ✅ Error messages are announced to screen readers.

For more on accessibility, see what accessibility means.

SEO checks

• ✅ All pages have unique titles and meta descriptions [3]Source 3 .
• ✅ URLs are clean and descriptive.
• ✅ Sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console.
• ✅ robots.txt is configured correctly.
• ✅ Internal linking is sensible and helpful.
• ✅ Structured data is added where relevant (business, events, products).

For more on SEO, see search engine optimisation basics.

Mobile checks

• ✅ Site works on mobile devices (test on real phones).
• ✅ Text is readable without zooming.
• ✅ Buttons and links are easy to tap (at least 44px).
• ✅ Forms work on mobile (correct keyboard types).
• ✅ No horizontal scrolling.
• ✅ Navigation works on mobile (hamburger menu, etc.).

Browser and device testing

• ✅ Site works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
• ✅ Site works on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• ✅ Site works on older devices (if relevant to your audience).

Security checks

• ✅ HTTPS is enabled (SSL certificate).
• ✅ Passwords are strong and secure.
• ✅ CMS or admin area is protected.
• ✅ Updates are installed (WordPress, plugins, etc.).

For more on security, see security basics for small business websites.

Analytics and tracking

• ✅ Analytics is set up and tracking correctly.
• ✅ Goals or conversions are configured.
• ✅ Search Console is set up (if using Google).

Legal and compliance

• ✅ Privacy policy is published and accurate.
• ✅ Cookie banner is set up (if needed).
• ✅ Terms and conditions are published (if needed).

For more on privacy, see privacy policies and GDPR compliance.

Final checks

• ✅ Test the site as a visitor (not logged in).
• ✅ Test all key journeys (contact, enquiry, purchase, etc.).
• ✅ Check that staging/test content is removed.
• ✅ Verify that the site works after launch (not just before).

When to get help

If you are unsure about any of these checks, or if you find issues you cannot fix:

• Get a professional review: A developer can audit the site before launch.
• Accessibility audit: If accessibility is important, get a professional audit. See what an accessibility audit includes.
• Performance audit: If speed is critical, get a performance audit. See performance audit outcomes.

For more on working with developers, see working with web developers: what to expect.

Summary

Before launching, check: content (titles, links, accuracy), forms and functionality (working, validated, mobile-friendly), performance (fast load times, optimised images), accessibility (keyboard navigation, alt text, contrast), SEO (titles, descriptions, sitemap), mobile (works on phones, readable, tappable), browsers and devices (works across browsers and devices), security (HTTPS, passwords, updates), analytics and tracking (set up and working), legal and compliance (privacy policy, cookies), and final checks (test as visitor, test key journeys).

If you need help with any of these checks, see website build services or get in touch to discuss your launch.