The 10-Point Website Checklist Before You Launch

Launching a website is exciting — but a rushed launch can quietly cost you customers, search rankings, and credibility. Run through this list before you go live.

1. Mobile looks as good as desktop. Open every page on your phone. Tap every button. If anything feels cramped or hard to read, fix it before launch.

2. Page titles and descriptions are unique. Every page needs its own title and meta description. Generic or duplicate tags hurt search visibility.

3. Contact info appears on every page. Phone, email, and service area should be visible without hunting — ideally in the header or footer.

4. Forms actually send to a real inbox. Submit every form yourself and confirm the email arrives. Add spam protection (honeypot or Turnstile) before launch, not after.

5. Images are compressed. A 4 MB hero photo will tank your load time. Aim for under 300 KB per image and use modern formats like WebP.

6. SSL is active. The padlock icon in the browser bar isn''t optional — Google flags non-HTTPS sites as "Not Secure".

7. Analytics is installed. Google Analytics or a privacy-friendly alternative should be live from day one so you can measure what works.

8. A sitemap.xml exists and is submitted to Google Search Console. This tells Google which pages to index and how often.

9. Privacy Policy and Terms are linked. Even small sites need these for legal compliance and to build trust.

10. Someone outside your business has tested it. Fresh eyes catch typos, broken links, and confusing flows you''ve gone blind to.

Need a second set of eyes before launch? Technology On Call does pre-launch reviews for small business sites — fast, plain-English, no jargon.

Need help with this in your business?

Paul Berg, The Tech Doctor — friendly, low-pressure technology help across Connecticut.

Talk to Paul