Launching a new website is exciting — but it is also the point where small mistakes can become very visible.
Broken forms, missing tracking, slow pages, poor mobile layouts, and forgotten redirects can all cause problems after launch. A proper pre-launch checklist helps catch those issues before customers do.
Website launch checklist
Before putting a new website live, these are the key areas I recommend checking.
1) Test every contact form
Contact forms are one of the most important parts of a business website. If they do not work, you can lose leads without even realising.
- Submit every form on the website
- Check the success message appears
- Confirm the email arrives in the correct inbox
- Check spam/junk folders
- Make sure required fields work properly
2) Check the website on mobile
A website can look perfect on desktop but feel awkward on mobile. Since many users visit from phones, mobile testing is essential.
- Check the homepage on mobile
- Test menus and dropdowns
- Make sure buttons are easy to tap
- Check forms are usable
- Look for text that is too small or sections that overlap
3) Test key pages and user journeys
Do not only check individual pages. Test the actual journey a visitor would take.
- Homepage → service page → contact form
- Blog post → related service → enquiry
- Product page → basket → checkout, if ecommerce
- Navigation menu → important pages
The goal is to make sure visitors can understand what you do and take action without confusion.
4) Check page speed
A slow website can hurt enquiries, user experience, and SEO. Before launch, test the most important pages.
- Homepage
- Main service pages
- Contact page
- Checkout page, if ecommerce
Common speed issues include oversized images, too many scripts, heavy themes, unnecessary plugins, and poor hosting.
5) Check SEO basics
Every important page should have the basic SEO foundations in place before launch.
- Unique page title
- Clear meta description
- One main H1 heading
- Logical heading structure
- Descriptive image alt text where useful
- Clean, readable URLs
- Internal links to important pages
SEO does not need to be overcomplicated at launch, but the basics should not be skipped.
6) Check redirects if replacing an old website
If you are replacing an existing website, redirects are very important. Old URLs should send users and search engines to the correct new pages.
- List important old URLs
- Map them to the closest new pages
- Set up 301 redirects
- Test the redirects after launch
Skipping redirects can cause broken links, lost traffic, and SEO drops.
7) Check analytics and tracking
If you want to understand how the website performs, tracking should be set up before launch.
- GA4 installed correctly
- Google Tag Manager checked, if used
- Contact form conversions tracked
- Purchase tracking checked, if ecommerce
- Cookie banner or consent setup tested
8) Check security basics
A website should not launch with weak security settings. Basic checks can prevent a lot of avoidable problems.
- Use strong admin passwords
- Remove unused plugins and themes
- Update WordPress core, theme and plugins
- Use SSL/HTTPS
- Limit admin access to people who need it
- Enable two-factor authentication where possible
9) Set up backups
Before launch, make sure backups are working. A backup is only useful if it can actually be restored.
- Take a full backup before launch
- Check automatic backups are enabled
- Store backups away from the main hosting account where possible
- Know how to restore the site if needed
10) Check email setup
Website emails are often forgotten until something breaks. Check that important messages are being delivered properly.
- Contact form notifications
- Order emails, if ecommerce
- Password reset emails
- SMTP settings
- Domain email records such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC
If form emails are going to spam, an SMTP setup is usually the first thing to check.
11) Check legal and trust pages
Depending on the business, you may need certain pages or information visible before launch.
- Privacy policy
- Cookie notice
- Terms and conditions, if needed
- Business contact details
- Company information, if relevant
- Refund or delivery information, if ecommerce
12) Do a final content check
Before launch, read through the site properly. It is easy to miss placeholder text, old phone numbers, broken links, or unfinished sections.
- Check spelling and grammar
- Remove placeholder text
- Check phone numbers and email addresses
- Check opening hours and locations
- Click every important button
- Check footer links
Quick pre-launch checklist
✅ Check mobile layouts
✅ Test key user journeys
✅ Run speed checks
✅ Add SEO titles and meta descriptions
✅ Set up redirects if replacing an old site
✅ Check GA4/GTM tracking
✅ Secure admin access
✅ Set up backups
✅ Test email delivery
✅ Check privacy/cookie pages
✅ Proofread final content
Final thought
A good website launch is not just about pressing publish. It is about making sure the site works properly, can be found, can be measured, and can be maintained after it goes live.
Spending time on these checks before launch can prevent lost leads, broken pages, tracking issues, and stressful fixes later.
If you are launching a new website and want it checked properly before it goes live, send me a message ↗.