Website launch checklist: 40 things to check before you go live
Short answer: before launch, check that every page has a unique title and description, that the site is on HTTPS with one preferred domain, that images are compressed, forms really send, the favicon and link preview image work, a sitemap is submitted and nothing still blocks search engines. Work through the list below. It takes about an hour on a small site.
Content
- Every page has real text, with no "lorem ipsum" left over. Search for it. See what is lorem ipsum.
- Spelling and grammar are checked, including buttons and menus.
- Phone numbers, email addresses and opening hours are correct.
- Every link works. Test the menu, footer and buttons.
- Every image has a short, accurate
alttext.
Search engines (SEO and GEO)
- Each page has a unique
<title>, about 50–60 characters, that says what the page is. - Each page has a unique meta description, about 150 characters.
- One
<h1>per page, with<h2>and<h3>in a logical order. - Short, readable URLs such as
/services/web-design, not/page?id=12. robots.txtdoesn't block the site. Remove any "discourage search engines" setting used during development.- No
noindextags left on pages you want found. - An XML sitemap exists and is submitted in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Canonical tags point to the HTTPS version.
- Structured data where it fits, for example Organization, LocalBusiness, Product, Article or FAQPage. Test it with Google's Rich Results Test.
- Clear, direct answers near the top of key pages. Search engines and AI assistants quote pages that answer the question plainly.
Branding and sharing
- Favicon in every size, plus Apple touch icon and web manifest. The website asset pack makes all of them. Use the favicon checklist.
- A link preview image of 1200 × 630 and Open Graph tags. See Open Graph image size.
- Share a page in a messaging app to check the preview.
Speed
- Images resized, compressed and in WebP or AVIF. Use the image compressor.
- PageSpeed Insights tested on mobile. Fix anything red. See why is my website slow.
- Caching turned on.
- Unused plugins, apps and scripts removed.
Security
- HTTPS everywhere with no mixed content. See fix the "Not secure" warning.
- One preferred domain (with or without www), and the other redirects to it.
- Strong, unique admin passwords and two-step login. Use the password generator.
- Software, themes and plugins up to date.
- Default admin usernames such as "admin" removed.
Forms and features
- Every form sends, and the email arrives (check spam too).
- Form confirmation messages make sense.
- Spam protection works.
- Shop checkout tested with a real low-value order, then refunded.
Mobile and accessibility
- Every page tested on a real phone. See how to make a website mobile-friendly.
- Tap targets are big enough and text is readable without zooming.
- The site works with the keyboard alone (Tab, Enter, Esc).
- Text has enough contrast against its background.
Analytics and legal
- Analytics installed and recording visits.
- A cookie banner, if your analytics or ads need consent where your visitors live.
- Privacy policy, terms and contact page.
- Custom 404 page that returns a real 404 status. See fixing 404 errors.
After launch
- Automatic backups running, and one restore tested.
- Uptime monitoring that emails you when the site goes down.
- Search Console checked a week later for errors.
Questions
How long does it take Google to find a new site?
Usually from a few days to a few weeks. Submitting a sitemap and getting a link from an existing site speeds it up. No one can promise a ranking or a date.
What is GEO?
Generative Engine Optimization: making pages easy for AI search tools to understand and quote. In practice it's the same as good SEO. Write clear headings, direct answers, accurate facts, structured data and honest content.
Do I need a sitemap for a small site?
It's not required, but it's free and helps search engines find new pages faster. Most CMSs make one automatically.