Website design pre-launch checklist
Launching a site is exciting but easy to rush. Use this concise, practical checklist to catch common issues before go-live. Think of it as a final QA routine that balances visuals, functionality, performance, and legal requirements so visitors get the experience you designed.
- Content and copy — Proofread headlines, body copy, CTAs, image captions, and product descriptions; confirm alt text for every image.
- Responsive design — Verify layouts, typography, and touch targets across phone, tablet, and desktop breakpoints.
- Performance — Optimize images, enable caching, minify assets, and confirm fast first contentful paint and reasonably small page weight.
- SEO basics — Set unique meta titles and descriptions, correct heading hierarchy, and ensure canonical tags are present.
- Accessibility — Check keyboard navigation, color contrast, semantic markup, and descriptive alt text so more users can interact with your site.
- Forms and conversions — Test contact forms, sign-ups, and purchase flows, including confirmation emails and spam protection.
- Cross-browser testing — Test in major browsers and versions your audience uses to avoid layout or scripting errors.
- Security — Install SSL, enforce HTTPS, validate secure headers, and verify admin/login protections.
- Analytics and tracking — Add analytics, set up conversion events, and test that data is recorded correctly.
- Legal and compliance — Publish privacy policy, cookie notice, and required disclaimers.
- Redirects and URLs — Implement 301 redirects for moved content and confirm clean URL structure.
- Backup and rollback — Create a backup and a deployment rollback plan.
- Soft launch and monitoring — Launch to a small audience first, monitor errors, and iterate during the first 24–72 hours.
If you want a final audit, Thinkit Media can review this checklist with you and run targeted tests so the launch is smooth and professional.
