Web & software · 2 MIN READ
A practical website pre-launch checklist
A working homepage is not enough to make a site ready for launch. Check content, navigation, forms, links, mobile tasks and search access together.
A site is not ready simply because its homepage opens. Review navigation, content, forms, links and search-engine access together. Someone unfamiliar with the project can catch problems that its creators have become used to overlooking.
Review content and links
Confirm contact details, service descriptions and company information. Remove placeholder copy, empty project pages and obsolete offer links. On multilingual sites, language switching should open the equivalent page.
When replacing an old site, inventory existing addresses. Map important changed pages to appropriate new destinations. Sending every removed URL to the homepage may not help visitors find what they wanted.
Complete a real task on a phone
Open a service, inspect a project and submit an enquiry. Does the menu close correctly? Does the keyboard cover fields? Can buttons be used comfortably? Check long titles and images at different widths. Content should remain usable when reduced motion is enabled.
Verify actual form delivery
- Submit valid test information.
- Try invalid email addresses and missing required fields.
- Confirm that the message reaches the recipient.
- Ensure server failures do not display success.
- Provide an alternative contact route.
Check search access and measurement
Ensure the live site does not accidentally retain noindex, canonical URLs use the correct domain, and the sitemap is reachable. Give pages distinct titles and descriptions. If analytics is present, test acceptance and rejection in the consent flow.
Google Search Essentials explains core requirements including accessible content and crawlable links.
Repeat critical checks after launch
Passing a local test does not validate hosting-specific email or redirect settings. Test important pages and delivery on the actual domain, then use real search data to identify further content needs.
FROM READING TO ACTION
Apply this topic to your business.
The following questions are a suggested brief framework, not a completed client project or promise of results.
Prepare for this service: Your workflow, user roles, example screens, required integrations and the main problem the first release must solve.
- Which business problem should this service address? Write one priority.
- Who do you want to reach and what action should they take?
- List existing content, images, account access and technical resources.
- Define deliverables, the approval contact and the target date.
- Record your starting point: visits, enquiries and qualified prospects.
Check before accepting a proposal
- Are included and excluded tasks stated separately?
- Are revisions, delivery format, usage rights and maintenance responsibilities clear?
- Which evidence will you review, and when?
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