A typical website launch checklist includes content and design QA, technical setup (hosting, SSL, DNS), SEO basics, tracking, security, and a launch-day smoke test so your site works the first time a customer tries to call, book, or buy.
If you want us to run the checklist end to end and own launch day, our website design and build process is built around preventing the usual “it launched but nothing works” surprises.
Pre-launch content and design QA
- Final copy and offers approved (hours, service area, prices, insurance accepted, promotions, team bios).
- Brand assets in place (logo files, colors, fonts, photo style, favicon, social share image).
- Mobile checks for every main page (tap targets, sticky call button, forms, menus, popups).
- Cross-browser checks (Chrome, Safari, Edge) and at least one iPhone and Android test.
- Forms tested end to end (thank-you message, confirmation email, routing to the right inbox, spam filtering).
- Calls and bookings tested (click-to-call, calendar/CRM integration, payment links if used).
- Trust items verified (licenses, awards, reviews, before-and-after photos, warranties, financing, office photos).
- Accessibility pass (alt text for meaningful images, color contrast, keyboard navigation, labels on form fields).
If you’re sorting out who should handle design vs coding tasks on your team, our quick explainer on the difference between web design and web development helps you assign the checklist to the right people.
Technical and infrastructure checks
- Domain access confirmed and DNS plan documented (who controls registrar, DNS host, and nameservers).
- SSL installed and HTTPS forced sitewide, with no mixed-content warnings.
- Hosting set up for the site’s platform, plus a rollback plan (backup before launch and a way to restore fast).
- Caching and image compression configured so pages load fast without breaking layouts.
- Security basics turned on (strong admin passwords, limited logins, updated plugins/themes, firewall if available).
- Email deliverability handled for form notifications (SPF and DKIM in DNS, DMARC if your sender supports it).
- 404 page created with a clear path back to services and contact.
- If it’s a redesign, 301 redirects mapped from old URLs to new ones so old links and rankings do not drop.
SEO and tracking setup
- Titles, meta descriptions, H1s, and headings checked for clarity (one topic per page, human-first wording).
- Local signals verified (business name, address, phone match what you use everywhere in Orlando and Central Florida).
- Schema markup added where it fits (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQPage when the page truly contains FAQs).
- XML sitemap generated and ready to submit, plus robots.txt reviewed so important pages can be crawled.
- Google Analytics 4 installed and tested, with conversions set for calls, forms, bookings, and purchases.
- Google Search Console verified, sitemap submitted, and any page that should stay private set to noindex.
- Ad pixels installed only if you use them (Google Ads, Meta), and phone tracking tested if you run call campaigns.
- Performance checked in PageSpeed Insights with a goal of solid Core Web Vitals on the pages that drive leads.
If your site’s success depends on mobile lead flow, our FAQ on responsive web design pairs well with this checklist because most launch issues show up first on phones.
Launch day smoke test
- Take a full backup, then push the live release.
- Confirm DNS and SSL live, and verify the correct site loads on and off your office Wi-Fi.
- Test the top actions: call, quote request, booking, directions, and any checkout or payment step.
- Check tracking in live mode (one test form submission and one test call, then confirm events recorded).
- Scan for broken links, missing images, layout glitches, and console errors.
- Recheck index settings (no staging passwords, no “discourage indexing” toggles left on).
Post-launch checks (first 7 to 14 days)
- Watch Search Console for coverage issues, crawl errors, and indexing delays.
- Monitor uptime and speed, and fix anything that drifts after traffic starts hitting the site.
- Review form spam and tighten filters if needed, without blocking real leads.
- Confirm Google Business Profile links point to the right landing pages, especially your top service page.
- Collect early feedback from staff who answer the phone so messaging matches what callers ask.
If you’re launching on WordPress, pairing launch with ongoing updates and backups is what keeps the site stable, and our WordPress hosting and maintenance plans cover that without adding work to your week.
