Free Checklist
Website Launch Checklist
Launching a website without a systematic review is like opening a storefront without checking if the lights work. This checklist ensures every element of your site is verified before it goes live.
A website launch is more than just making the site public. It is the moment where technical accuracy, content quality, and conversion readiness all come together. Missing even a few items on this checklist can result in lost leads, poor search rankings, or a frustrating experience for visitors trying to contact you.
Work through each section before your site goes live. For new websites, this process prevents the most common launch-day problems. For redesigns, it ensures nothing breaks during the transition. If you are planning a new site, our guide to website design for contractors covers how to plan a site that is built right from the start.
Domain and Hosting
- ✓Domain name is correct and points to your hosting provider
- ✓DNS records are configured properly
- ✓SSL certificate is installed and active (HTTPS everywhere)
- ✓All pages load over HTTPS — no mixed content warnings
- ✓Hosting plan is adequate for expected traffic
- ✓Automatic backups are enabled
- ✓Uptime monitoring is configured
Redirects and URLs
- ✓301 redirects are in place from old URLs to new URLs (if redesigning)
- ✓www and non-www versions resolve to a single canonical version
- ✓HTTP redirects to HTTPS
- ✓URL structure is clean and descriptive
- ✓Trailing slash consistency is maintained
- ✓No broken links exist (all internal and external links work)
Sitemap and Robots
- ✓XML sitemap is generated and includes all important pages
- ✓Sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console
- ✓Sitemap is referenced in robots.txt
- ✓robots.txt allows crawling of all public pages
- ✓No important pages are blocked by robots.txt or meta robots tags
- ✓Pages with noindex tags are intentionally excluded from search
Metadata
- ✓Every page has a unique title tag that includes the target keyword
- ✓Every page has a unique meta description with a call to action
- ✓Title tags are under 60 characters
- ✓Meta descriptions are under 160 characters
- ✓Open Graph tags are set for social media sharing
- ✓Twitter Card tags are implemented
- ✓Canonical URLs are set on every page
- ✓Favicon is installed and displays correctly
Schema Markup
- ✓Organization or LocalBusiness schema is implemented on the homepage
- ✓Service schema is implemented on service pages
- ✓FAQPage schema is used on pages with FAQ sections
- ✓BreadcrumbList schema is implemented for navigation
- ✓Schema is validated using Google Rich Results Test
- ✓No schema errors or warnings exist
Content
- ✓Homepage headline clearly states what you do and where
- ✓Every service page has unique, substantial content
- ✓Contact information is visible on every page
- ✓About page tells your story and builds trust
- ✓All placeholder text has been replaced with real content
- ✓Spelling and grammar have been checked throughout
- ✓Images have descriptive alt text
- ✓Content matches your brand voice and messaging
Forms and Phone
- ✓Contact form works and sends notifications to the right email
- ✓Form submissions are tested with valid and invalid data
- ✓Confirmation or thank-you message appears after form submission
- ✓Phone number is displayed in the header and on key pages
- ✓Phone number is tappable (click-to-call) on mobile
- ✓Form fields are minimal — only essential information is requested
- ✓Spam protection (honeypot or CAPTCHA) is implemented
Performance
- ✓Page load time is under 3 seconds on mobile
- ✓Images are compressed and served in WebP or AVIF format
- ✓Images have explicit width and height attributes to prevent layout shift
- ✓CSS and JavaScript are minified
- ✓Render-blocking resources are deferred or async loaded
- ✓Fonts are optimized (preloaded, fallback fonts defined)
- ✓Third-party scripts are minimized and loaded asynchronously
- ✓Core Web Vitals pass in Google PageSpeed Insights
Mobile and Responsive
- ✓Website displays correctly on screens from 320px to 2560px+
- ✓Navigation works on mobile (hamburger menu, touch-friendly links)
- ✓Buttons and tap targets are at least 44x44 pixels
- ✓Text is readable without zooming
- ✓Forms are easy to fill out on mobile devices
- ✓No horizontal scrolling on any viewport
- ✓Pop-ups and modals are easy to dismiss on mobile
Analytics and Tracking
- ✓Google Analytics (GA4) is installed and tracking correctly
- ✓Google Search Console is set up and verified
- ✓Conversion goals are configured (form submissions, phone clicks)
- ✓UTM parameters are documented for marketing campaigns
- ✓Google Tag Manager is installed if using multiple tracking codes
- ✓Cookie consent banner is implemented if required by law
- ✓Privacy policy and terms pages are published
Accessibility
- ✓All images have descriptive alt text
- ✓Color contrast meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- ✓All interactive elements are keyboard accessible
- ✓Form inputs have associated labels
- ✓Focus indicators are visible for keyboard navigation
- ✓Page language is specified in the HTML lang attribute
- ✓Heading hierarchy is logical and sequential
- ✓ARIA landmarks are used where appropriate
Pre-Launch Final Checks
- ✓Staging site is taken down or password-protected after launch
- ✓Internal testing links are removed from the live site
- ✓Legal pages (privacy policy, terms of service) are live
- ✓Favicon and app icons display correctly across devices
- ✓Social media profile links are correct and working
- ✓Email addresses listed on the site are functional
- ✓A plan is in place for ongoing maintenance and updates
Priority Order for Launch Items
If you are running out of time before launch, prioritize these categories first. Domain, SSL, redirects, and sitemap issues will directly prevent Google from finding and indexing your site. Form and phone checks ensure you can actually receive the leads your site generates. Without these basics working, nothing else matters.
Next, focus on metadata and content. These affect how your site appears in search results and whether visitors understand what you do when they arrive. A site with broken schema or missing title tags will struggle to rank regardless of how good the content is.
Performance and accessibility can be addressed after launch if necessary, but they should not be ignored. A slow site or a site that is not accessible to people with disabilities loses potential customers. If your launch timeline is tight, plan a follow-up sprint focused specifically on performance optimization and accessibility fixes.
After Launch: Ongoing Maintenance
Launching is not the finish line. Websites require ongoing maintenance to stay secure, fast, and effective. Schedule monthly reviews to check for broken links, security updates, and form functionality. Review your analytics monthly to understand how visitors are finding and using your site.
Update your content regularly. Add new blog posts, update service information, and refresh testimonials. Google rewards websites that stay active and current. A site that has not been updated in months will gradually lose visibility to competitors who are actively maintaining theirs.
Monitor your search rankings and lead generation metrics. If you notice a drop in traffic or leads, investigate promptly. A website audit can help you understand what changed and what needs attention.
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