Short answer: Before launching a client website, check six areas: content and design on real devices, forms and integrations, page speed, SEO basics (indexing, titles, redirects, sitemap), security and backups, and analytics tracking. Then hand over logins and a short editing guide. Most launch-day problems come from skipping one of these.
Key takeaways
- Test every form and confirm the email actually arrives.
- Switch search-engine indexing on for the live domain.
- Redirect old URLs when replacing an existing site.
- Confirm backups run and test one restore.
- Hand over logins and a short guide on day one.
What should you check before launching a website?
Work through the checklist below in order. Each group can be ticked off by a different team member, but nothing should go live until every box is checked.
Content and design
- Every page proofread, no placeholder text or images
- Names, phone numbers and addresses double-checked
- All links clicked, with no broken pages
- Layouts reviewed on a real phone, tablet and laptop
- Favicon, social sharing image and page titles in place
- Accessibility basics: alt text, color contrast, keyboard navigation
Forms and integrations
- Every form submitted once and the email received in the real inbox
- Spam protection working on every form
- Thank-you messages and redirects working
- CRM, newsletter and booking integrations tested end to end
- Email sending set up through SMTP, not the server default
Performance
- Images resized and compressed, modern formats where possible
- Caching enabled and fonts loading efficiently
- Key pages tested on mobile with a speed tool such as PageSpeed Insights
SEO
- Search-engine indexing switched on for the live domain
- Unique title and meta description on every page
- One H1 per page and a logical heading structure
- 301 redirects from old URLs if replacing a site
- XML sitemap submitted in Google Search Console
- Structured data where relevant (organization, FAQ, articles)
Security and backups
- HTTPS working on every page
- Admin accounts use strong passwords and two-factor login
- Unused plugins and apps removed, everything updated
- Automatic backups running and one restore tested
Tracking
- Analytics installed and recording visits
- Conversion goals set up for forms and key buttons
- Ad platform tags in place if campaigns are planned
Handover
- Logins shared securely
- A short guide to editing the most-used pages
- A named contact for support after launch
What are the most common website launch mistakes?
The most common launch mistakes are leaving search-engine indexing switched off, forgetting redirects from the old site, contact forms that send to the wrong address or land in spam, missing analytics, and launching without a tested backup.
How long should a pre-launch check take?
For a typical 5 to 10 page business site, a thorough pre-launch check takes a few hours. Larger and e-commerce sites need longer because checkout, payments and inventory must be tested end to end.
Frequently asked questions
Should you launch a website on a Friday?
Ideally not. Launch early in the week so your team is available to fix anything that comes up while traffic and feedback arrive.
How do you make sure contact form emails are delivered?
Send through an authenticated SMTP service linked to the client’s domain, add SPF and DKIM records, and submit a real test before launch.
Do you need a sitemap for a small website?
Yes. A sitemap helps search engines discover every page quickly, and most platforms create one automatically.
Want every launch handled with the same checklist? Talk to Yondsite about your next project.
