Website Launch Checklist: 25 Things to Check Before You Go Live

Don't launch your website without this essential 25-point checklist! From proofreading and mobile testing to SEO and security, ensure your site is ready to impress and perform. مطالعه بیشتر...

Launching a new website is exciting — but rushing to hit “Publish” without a proper pre-launch review can cost you dearly. From broken links and slow pages to SEO disasters and legal oversights, even small mistakes can hurt your brand, SEO, or conversions.

Whether you’re launching your own business website or working with a web designer, this Website Launch Checklist will help ensure everything is polished, functional, and ready for the public.

Use it as a final QA (Quality Assurance) step before going live.

1. Proofread All Text Content

Check for typos, grammar mistakes, and unclear language across the entire website.

Your website’s content is one of the first impressions people will get of your brand. No matter how beautiful your design is, even a single typo can signal carelessness or lack of attention to detail — especially if you’re targeting professional or international clients.

Here’s what to review:

Homepage headlines, body text, and CTA buttons
Service descriptions and pricing details
About page bios and team introductions
Contact page instructions and placeholders
Blog posts, articles, FAQs, or any downloadable content
Footer elements (e.g., copyright notice, taglines)

Why It Matters:

Credibility: Typos make you look unprofessional — especially in service businesses.
Clarity: Misused words or awkward phrasing confuse users and lower conversions.
SEO: Grammar mistakes in meta tags or page copy can hurt your search rankings.
Localization: If your site is multilingual (e.g., Arabic/English), ensure translations are clean and context-appropriate.

✅ Pro Tip:
Ask someone who wasn’t involved in the content creation (a fresh pair of eyes) to read everything. If budget allows, consider using professional proofreading tools like Grammarly, or even hire a native-speaking proofreader — especially for customer-facing sites.

2. Test Mobile Responsiveness

Make sure your website looks and works great on all mobile devices.

More than half of all website traffic now comes from smartphones and tablets — and in markets like Dubai or the GCC, mobile usage is often even higher. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re not just frustrating visitors — you’re losing them.

What to Check:

Does your site layout adapt correctly to different screen sizes (smartphones, tablets, phablets)?
Are buttons and navigation menus easy to tap with a thumb?
Are text and images scaling properly — not too small or cropped?
Are popups and forms working correctly on smaller screens?
Does the mobile version load fast?

Why It Matters:

User Experience: A poor mobile experience means more bounces and fewer conversions.
SEO: Google uses mobile-first indexing — meaning your mobile site affects your overall rankings.
Conversions: If users can’t fill out a form or click your CTA button easily, they’ll leave.

✅ Pro Tip:
Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and preview your site on multiple real devices — not just browser emulators. Pay special attention to the most common phone types in your audience (e.g., iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, etc.).

3. Check Website Speed & Performance

A slow website kills conversions and hurts SEO — test and optimize before launch.

Users expect your site to load in under 3 seconds. Anything longer, and they’ll bounce — especially on mobile. Google also uses site speed as a ranking factor, so performance impacts both user experience and discoverability.

What to Check:

Homepage load time (target: under 3 seconds)
Core Web Vitals: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Size of images and scripts (are they optimized?)
Unused or bloated plugins and code

Recommended Tools:

PageSpeed Insights
GTmetrix
WebPageTest
Lighthouse Audit

Optimization Tips:

Use image compression tools (e.g., TinyPNG, ShortPixel)
Enable caching (via WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
Minify CSS, JS, and HTML files
Use a CDN (e.g., Cloudflare) for faster delivery across regions

✅ Pro Tip:
Don’t just test once. Run performance tests multiple times on different days and times — performance can vary depending on traffic or hosting quality.

📱 4. Test Mobile Responsiveness

More than 60% of your visitors will check your site on a mobile device — make sure it looks and works great.

Responsive design isn’t optional anymore. If your site doesn’t display well on phones and tablets, you’ll lose credibility and conversions instantly. Google also uses mobile-friendliness as a key ranking factor.

What to Check:

Do all pages scale properly on different screen sizes (phones, tablets, large screens)?
Is the text readable without zooming in?
Are buttons and links easy to tap?
Is there any horizontal scrolling?
Are touch elements too close together?

Recommended Testing Tools:

Google Mobile-Friendly Test
Browser developer tools (Chrome → Inspect → Device Toolbar)
Actual device testing on iOS and Android phones & tablets

Optimization Tips:

Use flexible layout units like %, em, rem, or vw instead of fixed pixels
Avoid popups or elements that block content on small screens
Make sure navigation is easy and accessible from the thumb zone

✅ Pro Tip:
Test your contact form or booking CTA on mobile. That’s where many users will interact with your site — it needs to be smooth and intuitive.

5. Confirm Security Measures Are in Place

Website security isn’t optional — it’s essential. Launching without basic protections can leave your site vulnerable to attacks, spam, and data breaches.

What to check before launch:

SSL certificate is properly installed (your site uses https://)
Admin passwords are strong and unique
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled for login
A security plugin or firewall (e.g., Wordfence, iThemes Security) is active
Login attempts are limited to prevent brute force attacks
CMS, themes, and plugins are fully updated

Bonus:
Install a malware scanner and schedule automatic scans to run weekly.

💡 Pro Tip: If your website handles any form of user data (contact forms, bookings, payments), securing it is not just smart — it’s legally necessary.

6. Set Up and Test Backup Systems

Imagine spending weeks on your website — and losing it all in a single server crash. Backups are your safety net.

Must-have checks:

Automatic backups are enabled (daily or weekly)
A copy of your backup is stored offsite (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox)
You’ve tested restoring from a backup successfully
Backup plugin or service is reliable (e.g., UpdraftPlus, BlogVault)

Optional but helpful:

Schedule database and full-site backups separately
Set up email alerts for failed backup attempts

💡 Pro Tip: Make a backup right before launching, just in case anything breaks during final changes.

7. Check Page Speed and Performance

A slow website kills conversions. Users expect pages to load in under 3 seconds — anything longer, and you risk losing traffic and sales.

How to test:

Run speed tests with Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom
Analyze both desktop and mobile results
Review Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS) scores

Performance optimizations to apply:

Compress images using TinyPNG or ImageOptim
Enable browser caching and lazy loading
Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
Use a lightweight theme and fast hosting provider
Set up a Content Delivery Network (CDN), e.g., Cloudflare

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just optimize for a great score — optimize for a better user experience. Test your real site on mobile, under 4G speed, and see how it feels.

8. Test Mobile Responsiveness and Cross-Browser Compatibility

More than 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices — and a site that looks great on desktop but breaks on a phone can instantly turn visitors away.

What to test before launch:

The website displays correctly on smartphones and tablets (Android + iOS)
Navigation menus are mobile-friendly and easy to tap
Fonts are readable without zooming
Buttons and links are spaced properly (no “fat finger” issues)
Images and videos scale properly on all screen sizes

Cross-browser checks:

Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge
Older versions where possible (especially if targeting corporate users)

💡 Pro Tip: Use tools like Responsively App, BrowserStack, or your browser’s DevTools to simulate different devices and browsers before going live.

9. Check All Links and Buttons

Broken links or buttons that don’t work create frustration and make your website feel untrustworthy.

What to check:

All internal links (between your pages) work properly
External links open in a new tab and point to the correct destination
Contact forms submit successfully and show confirmation messages
Social media icons link to your correct profiles
Call-to-action (CTA) buttons go to the right sections or landing pages

💡 Tool Tip: Use Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider to scan your site quickly.

10. Optimize Images and File Sizes

Large or unoptimized images slow down your site — and slow sites kill conversions.

Pre-launch image checklist:

All images are resized for web (ideally under 300 KB for standard photos)
Use the right formats: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics, SVG for logos
Image file names are descriptive and use hyphens (e.g., blue-sofa-dubai.jpg)
All images have ALT text for accessibility and SEO
Lazy loading is enabled for below-the-fold images

💡 Tool Tip: Use TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress images before uploading.

11. Confirm Security Features and Backups

Security is often overlooked — until it’s too late. Make sure your site is protected from day one.

Checklist before launch:

SSL certificate is installed and your domain uses https://
Your CMS (e.g., WordPress) and plugins are all updated
A firewall or security plugin (like Wordfence or iThemes) is active
Admin account uses a strong password and two-factor authentication
A daily or weekly automatic backup system is enabled (on-site or off-site)

💡 Pro Reminder: Back up your site right before launch, just in case you need to roll back.

12. Test Responsiveness Across Devices

Most users will visit your website on a mobile device. A site that looks great on desktop but breaks on mobile will cost you visitors.

Before launch, test your site on:

✅ Desktop (various screen sizes)
✅ Mobile (iPhone, Android, small screens)
✅ Tablets (iPad, Android tablets)

What to check:

Text is readable without zooming
Images scale properly
Buttons are easy to tap
No horizontal scrolling
Menus open and function as expected

💡 Tool Tip: Use Google Mobile-Friendly Test or browser DevTools (F12 → responsive mode).

13. Review Navigation and User Flow

Your site’s menu and internal links should guide users effortlessly to the info they need — and toward action.

Checklist:

Navigation menu is simple and visible on every page
Menu items link correctly and are logically grouped
No “dead ends” — every page should lead to another or a CTA
CTAs are visible and clear (e.g., “Book a Call”, “Contact Us”)
Footer includes key links (Home, About, Contact, Social)

💡 Ask a friend to browse the site and describe what they think your business does — this reveals flow and clarity issues.

14. Set Up Google Tools (Analytics & Search Console)

These tools help you understand how people find and interact with your website.

Before launch:

Create and connect a Google Analytics (GA4) property
Set up Google Search Console
Submit your sitemap for indexing
Link your domain property in both tools
(Optional) Set up Google Tag Manager for advanced tracking

💡 These tools are free and essential for SEO, user behavior tracking, and troubleshooting.

15. Preview Your Social Sharing (OG Tags)

When someone shares your site on social media or WhatsApp, what does it look like?

Make sure every page has:

A defined Open Graph (OG) title
A proper description
A social preview image (ideally 1200 x 630px)
Twitter card settings (if relevant)

💡 Use the Facebook Sharing Debugger to check how your pages appear when shared.

16. Check for Broken Links

Broken links are more than just a minor inconvenience — they create a poor user experience, hurt your website’s credibility, and damage your search engine rankings.

Imagine this: a potential customer clicks a link to learn more about your services… and lands on a 404 error page. Chances are, they’ll leave your site and never come back. Google also takes note of broken links and may lower your rankings as a result.

Why it matters for small businesses:
Broken links make your website feel abandoned or poorly maintained, which undermines trust — especially for new visitors who don’t know your brand yet. Fixing them shows professionalism and attention to detail.

✅ Checklist:

Click through every page manually to ensure all internal links are working properly.
Test external links to other websites (e.g., blog references, partner sites) to confirm they’re still active and accurate.
Check button actions — especially CTAs like “Get a Quote,” “Contact Us,” or “Book Now.” They should lead exactly where promised.
On mobile devices, test:
- “tel:” links — do they open your dialer with the correct number?
- “mailto:” links — do they open your email app with the correct address?
Use automated tools like:
- Broken Link Checker
- Ahrefs Site Audit
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Chrome extensions like “Check My Links”

💡 Pro Tip:
If you use a CMS like WordPress, install a plugin like Broken Link Checker to run regular scans. Fixing broken links should not be a one-time task — monitor them regularly, especially if your site grows over time or includes blog content.

🛠️ Bonus Tip:
Customize your 404 error page to offer helpful navigation or a search bar. This way, even if a visitor lands on a broken page, you guide them back instead of losing them.

17. Optimize Image Sizes and File Formats

Large or uncompressed images are one of the most common causes of slow-loading websites — a major turnoff for users and a red flag for search engines.

When your images are too heavy, even the most beautiful website will load slowly on mobile networks, lose impatient visitors, and rank lower on Google.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses:

Your site’s first impression happens in seconds. A few seconds of delay could mean losing a lead to a faster competitor’s site. And in markets like Dubai or other mobile-first regions, performance is key.

✅ Checklist:

Compress all images without compromising quality.
- Use free tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, or export with compression from design tools like Photoshop, Canva, or Figma.
Use the right file formats:
- JPEG for photos
- PNG for graphics with transparency
- SVG for logos and icons (lightweight and scalable)
- WebP (modern, fast-loading format supported by most browsers)
Set maximum image dimensions:
- Avoid uploading giant 3000px-wide images if the display size is only 800px.
- Resize for actual usage.
Implement lazy loading for images and videos so they only load when the user scrolls down.
Use responsive image tags to serve different image sizes for mobile, tablet, and desktop.

💡 Pro Tip:
If your website runs on WordPress, plugins like Smush, ShortPixel, or Imagify can automate compression and lazy loading. Just make sure to optimize before launch, not after.

🧠 SEO Tip:
Name your image files descriptively (e.g., blue-sofa-dubai.jpg instead of IMG0023.jpg) and include ALT tags for accessibility and SEO benefits.

18. Verify Responsive Design Across Devices

A site that looks perfect on desktop but breaks on mobile or tablet will instantly damage your credibility and drive users away. In 2025, over 60% of website visits happen on mobile, so responsive design isn’t optional — it’s critical.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses:

Your customers are likely browsing your site from a variety of devices — iPhones, Android phones, tablets, laptops. If they can’t read your content, tap your buttons, or view your services comfortably, they’ll leave.

Responsive = more leads, better SEO, and stronger brand perception.

✅ Checklist:

Test on multiple screen sizes, including:
- iPhone SE (small screen)
- iPhone 13/14/15 (standard)
- Android mid-size phones
- iPad/tablets (both portrait and landscape)
- Desktop (13”, 15”, 24” monitors)
Check the following elements on each device:
- Menus (mobile nav should collapse into a hamburger icon)
- Buttons and links (should be tappable without zooming)
- Text readability (no tiny fonts)
- Images (should scale correctly without being cut off)
- Forms (easy to fill in, auto-scrolls properly)
Test interactive elements:
- Sliders
- Accordions
- Pop-ups and modals
- Mobile menus
Avoid horizontal scroll or content cut-off on mobile

💡 Tools to Help:

Responsinator
Chrome DevTools → Toggle Device Toolbar
BrowserStack or LambdaTest for real device previews

🧠 Bonus SEO Tip:
Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing — your mobile site version is what it evaluates first. A poor mobile experience = lower rankings.

19. Optimize Images for Web

Unoptimized images are one of the biggest reasons websites load slowly — and that directly impacts your user experience and SEO.

Slow websites frustrate users, increase bounce rate, and cause potential customers to leave before they even see your content.

Why This Matters for Small Businesses:

You don’t need the fanciest design, but you do need a site that loads fast — especially in mobile-heavy regions like Dubai or the GCC. And image optimization is a low-hanging fruit that makes a big difference.

✅ Checklist:

Compress all images before uploading:
- Use tools like TinyPNG, ShortPixel, or Squoosh
- Reduce file size without losing quality
Use the right file types:
- JPG for photos
- PNG for images with transparency
- SVG for logos and icons
- WebP for modern browsers (smaller & faster)
Scale images correctly:
- Don’t upload a 4000px-wide image if it’s only going to display at 800px
- Use responsive image sizes (srcset) in your code if possible
Set proper image ALT text:
- Helps with accessibility
- Boosts on-page SEO
Rename image files before uploading:
- Instead of IMG_1234.jpg, use dubai-consulting-services.jpg (use keywords when relevant)

💡 Pro Tip: If using WordPress, install an image optimization plugin like Smush, Imagify, or ShortPixel to automate compression and resizing.

📈 SEO Benefit: Faster sites rank better on Google — and optimized images make your site lighter and faster.

20. Test Mobile Responsiveness Across Devices

Over 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices — especially in regions like Dubai and the Middle East. If your site doesn’t look and work perfectly on mobile, you’re losing leads.

Why This Matters:

Mobile-first impressions are now the default. Even if your desktop version is flawless, a clunky mobile experience can drive people away in seconds.

✅ Checklist:

Test on multiple screen sizes:
- Smartphone (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, etc.)
- Tablet (iPad, Android tablets)
- Small laptops and large monitors
Use mobile testing tools:
- Google Chrome DevTools (toggle responsive view)
- Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
- BrowserStack or Responsively App (for advanced testing)
Check for:
- Text readability without zooming
- Buttons being tappable and not too close together
- Menus and navigation being functional (especially hamburger menu)
- Images scaling correctly and not overflowing
- Forms being easy to fill out on touch devices
Check page load speed on mobile:
- Use PageSpeed Insights to see how fast your site loads for mobile users
- Aim for under 3 seconds

💡 Pro Tip: If your site uses animations or hover effects, make sure they degrade gracefully on touch devices — mobile users don’t hover!

📱 UX Boost: A smooth, mobile-optimized site improves user retention, engagement, and conversion — especially for busy users on the go.

21. Verify Contact Forms Are Working Properly

Your contact form is often the main bridge between a potential client and your business. If it’s broken, misconfigured, or not delivering messages, you’re losing leads — without even knowing it.

Why This Matters:

You might think your website is ready, but if messages never reach your inbox (or land in spam), clients assume you’re ignoring them. That’s not just a missed opportunity — it can damage your reputation.

✅ Checklist:

Test every form on your site:
- Main contact form
- Quote request form
- Newsletter sign-up
- Booking or appointment forms
Use different devices and browsers to test.
Verify form submissions are delivered to the correct email:
- Check spam/junk folders
- Add your domain to your email’s allowlist
- Use SMTP plugins (like WP Mail SMTP) for better delivery
Set up confirmation messages or redirect pages:
- Let users know their message was received
- Show a thank-you message or send them to a “Thank You” page
Enable auto-response emails (optional):
- “We’ve received your message and will reply within 24 hours.”

💡 Pro Tip: Use tools like Formspree, Gravity Forms, or WPForms with proper SMTP setup to avoid delivery issues.

📬 Don’t forget: Your form success is not just technical — it’s part of your customer journey. Make the experience feel welcoming, professional, and trustworthy.

22. Make Sure Your Site is Secure (HTTPS & SSL)

Security is a non-negotiable — even for small business websites. If your site isn’t properly secured with SSL, browsers may flag it as “Not Secure,” which scares users away and damages your credibility.

Why This Matters:

SSL encrypts data exchanged between your visitor’s browser and your server.
Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal.
Many modern browsers (like Chrome and Safari) will display a warning if SSL is missing.
Payment gateways, contact forms, and login pages must be protected.

✅ Checklist:

Is your domain accessible via HTTPS (not just HTTP)?
- Try opening your site as http://yourdomain.com — it should auto-redirect to https://.
Check for mixed content warnings:
- Some images, scripts, or fonts may still load over HTTP.
- Use tools like Why No Padlock? or your browser’s console to detect them.
Ensure SSL is installed and auto-renewing:
- If your hosting plan includes Let’s Encrypt, make sure it’s active.
- Paid SSL certificates (e.g. from Comodo or GeoTrust) may require manual renewal.
Update all internal links to use HTTPS.
Check for a valid green padlock icon in the address bar.

🔐 Pro Tip: In WordPress, use plugins like Really Simple SSL to handle automatic redirects and mixed content cleanup.

📈 Bonus: A secure site increases trust, SEO visibility, and conversion rates — even if you’re not collecting sensitive data.

23.Test Your Site Across Multiple Devices and Browsers

Your website must look great and work flawlessly across different devices and browsers. If it only works well on your laptop or one phone model, you risk losing visitors who encounter bugs or layout issues elsewhere.

Why This Matters:

Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices.
Visitors use different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
Inconsistent rendering can break your design or hide critical content.
A broken layout = lost trust, high bounce rate, and fewer conversions.

✅ Checklist:

Test on Mobile, Tablet, and Desktop:
- iPhone (Safari & Chrome)
- Android devices (Chrome & Firefox)
- iPad or tablet devices
Test on Major Browsers:
- Google Chrome (latest version)
- Safari (especially on Mac or iOS)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
Check Key Elements:
- Header and navigation menus
- Buttons and call-to-actions
- Forms and dropdowns
- Images (are they cut off or scaled weird?)
- Font sizes and spacing
- Animations or sliders
Try both landscape and portrait modes on mobile devices.

📱 Pro Tip: Use tools like BrowserStack or Responsinator to preview your site on real devices without needing access to all of them.

💡 Bonus: Ask 2–3 people to test the site on their own devices — they might catch issues you missed.

24. Make Sure All Integrations Work Properly

Your website may rely on third-party tools and integrations — like forms, payment gateways, booking systems, email marketing tools, or CRMs. If any of these are broken or misconfigured, it can lead to lost leads, failed transactions, or a poor user experience.

🔍 Checklist:

Test all contact and lead capture forms (do they send notifications?).
Try a test transaction if you have e-commerce or payment features.
Check integration with email platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
Confirm booking/calendar tools (e.g., Calendly, SimplyBook) work properly.
Test live chat, chatbot, or CRM integrations (HubSpot, Zoho, etc.).

💡 Pro Tip: Log into each platform and confirm data is syncing correctly before you go live.

✅ 25. Ensure Proper Security Measures Are in Place

Security is not optional — even for small websites. Before launch, your site should be protected from common vulnerabilities and hacking attempts.

✅ Checklist:

SSL certificate is active and site loads securely over https://.
CMS, plugins, and themes are fully updated.
Strong passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) are in place.
Security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, or iThemes Security are installed.
Login attempts are limited to prevent brute-force attacks.
Sensitive files (like wp-config.php) are protected from public access.
Backups are scheduled regularly and stored off-site.

💡 Pro Tip: Ask your developer to document all security settings and hand over access credentials securely. Review logs monthly for any unusual activity.

⬇️DOWNLOAD PDF

Want a version you can check off with your team?

Perfect for sharing with your business partner or printing out before your discovery call.

Final Thoughts: A Smooth Launch Starts with Preparation

Launching your website isn’t just clicking “Go Live.” It’s a detailed process — and the success of your online presence depends on these final checks.

By working through this checklist, you’ll: