Guide · Updated October 2026

Website Launch Checklist: 30 Things to Check Before You Go Live

A practical website launch checklist for small businesses: content, mobile, speed, forms, SEO basics, legal pages, analytics and the checks to do in the first week after launch.

Website Launch Checklist: 30 Things to Check Before You Go Live

Short answer: Before launch, check that every page reads correctly, works on a phone, loads quickly, and that forms and phone links actually work. Make sure Google can index the site, analytics is installed, legal pages are in place and your domain and SSL are set up properly.

Content

  1. Every page is proofread for spelling and grammar.
  2. No placeholder text or 'lorem ipsum' anywhere.
  3. Phone number, email and address are correct on every page.
  4. Prices and services are current.
  5. Images are your own or properly licensed.
  6. Every page has a clear next step.

Mobile and design

  1. Test on at least one iPhone and one Android phone.
  2. Text is readable without zooming.
  3. Buttons are easy to tap with a thumb.
  4. Menus open and close properly.
  5. Nothing spills off the side of the screen.

Functionality

  1. Submit every form and confirm the email arrives.
  2. Tap-to-call links dial the right number.
  3. Email links open correctly.
  4. Booking or payment systems work end to end.
  5. All internal links go to the right page.
  6. There is a helpful 404 page for broken links.

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Speed and security

  1. Images are compressed and sized properly.
  2. The site loads quickly on mobile data. Try our free speed test.
  3. SSL is active and the padlock shows on every page.
  4. The non-https and non-www versions redirect to one main address.
  5. Backups are set up.

SEO basics

  1. Each page has a unique title and meta description.
  2. Each page has one clear main heading.
  3. The site is not blocked from search engines. Developers sometimes leave a 'noindex' setting on from testing.
  4. A sitemap exists and is submitted to Google Search Console.
  5. If you are replacing an old site, old URLs redirect to the matching new pages.
  6. Your Google Business Profile links to the new site.

Legal and tracking

  1. Privacy policy, and cookie notice where required in your country. This is general information, not legal advice.
  2. Analytics is installed and recording visits.

The first week after launch

  • Check Search Console for errors and indexing issues.
  • Send a test enquiry every couple of days to make sure forms keep working.
  • Ask a few customers or friends to use the site and tell you what confused them.
  • Update your email signature, social bios and printed materials with the new address.

Common launch mistakes

  • Forgetting redirects, so old Google results lead to error pages
  • Leaving the site set to 'noindex'
  • Contact forms going to an inbox nobody checks
  • Huge images making the homepage slow

The bottom line

A launch is not the finish line, it is the first day your site starts working. Run through this list, fix what you find, and keep an eye on it for the first few weeks. Every SiteDrum plan includes these checks before go-live.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check before launching a website?

Content accuracy, mobile layout, working forms and phone links, speed, SSL, search engine indexing, analytics and legal pages.

Do I need redirects when launching a new website?

Yes, if you are replacing an old site. Redirect old page addresses to the matching new pages to keep visitors and rankings.

How do I tell Google about my new website?

Verify it in Google Search Console, submit your sitemap and link to it from your Google Business Profile.

What should I do after launch?

Monitor Search Console, test forms regularly, gather feedback and update your web address everywhere.

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Related guides

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