Launching a website is more than just hitting the “publish” button. It’s a carefully orchestrated process that ensures your site is technically sound, visually polished, SEO-optimized, and ready to deliver results from day one. This comprehensive checklist is designed to guide you through every critical step before, during, and after your website launch—so you don’t just go live, you go live successfully.
If you’re also considering a website redesign instead of a new launch, be sure to check out our full Step-by-Step Website Redesign Process, which complements this guide perfectly.
1. Content Review
- Spelling and Grammar: Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway App to eliminate typos and grammatical errors.
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent brand voice across all web pages.
- CTA and Links: Double-check that every call-to-action (CTA) works correctly and that all internal and external links lead to the right destinations.
- Legal Pages: Ensure your privacy policy, terms of service, and copyright notices are in place.
2. Mobile and Browser Responsiveness
- Cross-Browser Testing: Test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera.
- Mobile Optimization: Make sure the design adapts to all screen sizes and functions smoothly on both Android and iOS devices.
3. Performance Optimization
- Image Compression: Use TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress large media files.
- Minify Code: Compress HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files using tools like Minifier.
- Enable Caching: Use browser and server-side caching for faster load times.
- Use a CDN: A Content Delivery Network like Cloudflare helps reduce server latency and improve load times globally.
For a deep dive into performance tuning, read our post on Why Lazy Loading is Essential for Faster Sites.
4. SEO Essentials
- SEO Plugin: Install tools like Rank Math or Yoast SEO for WordPress users.
- Meta Tags: Write unique, keyword-rich titles and descriptions for every page.
- Heading Structure: Ensure proper hierarchy using H1, H2, H3 tags.
- Alt Text and Keywords: Include descriptive alt text and naturally embedded keywords.
- Sitemap and Robots.txt: Generate an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
5. Functionality Check
- Navigation: Test all menus and dropdowns.
- Forms: Test every form, including contact and newsletter opt-ins.
- E-commerce (if applicable): Run test transactions.
- 404 Page: Customize your error page with helpful links.
6. Security and Privacy
- SSL Certificate: Ensure your site uses HTTPS encryption. Use Let’s Encrypt or check with your host.
- Update Software: All plugins, themes, and the CMS should be up-to-date.
- Strong Passwords and Roles: Use strong passwords and assign appropriate user roles. Consider a tool like 1Password.
- GDPR/CCPA Compliance: Use tools like Termly, Cookiebot, or Iubenda.
7. Analytics and Tracking
- Google Analytics GA4: Set up via Google Analytics.
- Search Console: Submit your sitemap and fix crawl errors via Google Search Console.
- Tracking Pixels: Install Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and others as needed.
- Heatmaps: Use Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity to analyze user behavior.
8. Hosting and DNS Setup
- Reliable Hosting: Choose high-performance hosting such as SiteGround, Kinsta, or Cloudways.
- DNS Accuracy: Use tools like Cloudflare DNS or Google Domains to manage DNS settings.
- Uptime Monitoring: Use Pingdom or UptimeRobot to get alerts.
9. Backup and Recovery
- Automated Backups: Use tools like UpdraftPlus or CodeGuard.
- Offsite Storage: Store backups on Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Restore Plan: Always have a recent restore point ready before launch.
10. Launch Day Checklist
- Final QA: Check spelling, CTAs, links, and mobile responsiveness.
- Legal & SEO Checks: Confirm your privacy policy is published and your site is optimized.
- Analytics: Verify that all tracking scripts are live.
- Go Live Quietly: Launch during off-peak hours and test live performance.
11. Post-Launch Marketing
- Email Announcements: Notify your subscriber base.
- Social Media Push: Announce your launch with graphics and short videos.
- Blog Post: Publish a post introducing your new site.
- Referral Programs: Encourage sharing with incentives.
12. Technical Monitoring
- Speed and Performance: Monitor with GTmetrix and Google PageSpeed Insights.
- 404 Errors: Use tools like Broken Link Checker.
- Search Indexing: Track Google Search Console data post-launch.
13. Lead Generation and CRM
- Lead Forms: Ensure they capture data accurately.
- Email Automation: Use tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or MailerLite.
- CRM Integration: Sync with platforms like HubSpot or Zoho CRM.
If you’re working on your branding at this stage, don’t miss our popular guide on How to Choose the Right Brand Colors for Your Website.
14. Accessibility
- Keyboard Navigation: Ensure full access without a mouse.
- ARIA Labels: Properly tag elements for screen readers.
- Compliance Testing: Use WAVE or axe DevTools for accessibility audits.
15. Ongoing Maintenance
- Weekly Tasks: Backup reviews, plugin updates, comment moderation.
- Monthly Tasks: Audit SEO rankings, test forms, refresh blog content.
- Quarterly Tasks: Run UX tests, re-optimize images, and evaluate security.
Final Thoughts
Launching a website is a huge achievement—but true success lies in a strategic, detail-oriented launch. By following this checklist, you ensure your website doesn’t just go live, it thrives.
Let DomizWebs Handle Your Website Launch
At DomizWebs, we handle everything—from design and development to performance, SEO, and launch marketing. Whether you’re launching your first website or relaunching a brand-new platform, our team ensures every detail is executed flawlessly.
👉 Get in touch with us today and let’s launch something extraordinary.