GUIDES
Launching a website is exciting, and that excitement is exactly why things get missed. A rushed launch can mean broken links, pages Google can't find, or a contact form that silently fails. Here's the checklist we run before any site we build goes live - use it on yours.
Content & design
- Proofread everything - typos undermine trust instantly.
- Check every link, internal and external.
- Test on real devices - phones, tablets, desktop, multiple browsers.
- Confirm images are optimised - right size, compressed, with alt text.
Functionality
5. Test every form and confirm the message actually arrives. A silently failing contact form loses leads you'll never know about. 6. Walk through the key journeys - enquiry, purchase, sign-up - as a visitor would. 7. Check all CTAs point somewhere real - no dead "#" links or placeholder pages.
SEO & technical
8. Set unique title tags and meta descriptions on every page. 9. Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console. 10. Check your robots.txt isn't accidentally blocking the site. 11. Set up analytics so you're measuring from day one. 12. Add redirects if you're replacing an old site, so existing links and rankings carry over.
Security & performance
13. Confirm HTTPS/SSL is active site-wide (the padlock). 14. Run a speed test and fix the big issues. 15. Set up backups so you're protected from day one.
The one that catches everyone:
forgetting to switch off the "discourage search engines" setting after development. Sites are often built with search engines blocked so the unfinished version isn't indexed - and if no one flips it back at launch, your shiny new site stays invisible to Google for weeks. Double-check it.
Launch day isn't the finish line - it's the starting line. Crossing it cleanly means you spend the first weeks growing, not firefighting.
