The website launch checklist

All placeholder text removedNo more Lorem ipsum or 'insert text here'. Proofread every pageSpelling, grammar, names, prices and dates. Contact details correctPhone, email and address match everywhere. Legal pages livePrivacy policy, terms and cookie policy. 404 page in placeA helpful not-found page with a way back. Favicon setBrowser-tab icon and touch icons added. Title & meta description on every pageUnique, descriptive, within length limits. Open Graph / social previewImage and text render correctly when shared. XML sitemap submittedGenerated and added to Search Console. robots.txt correctNot accidentally blocking the whole site. Canonical tags setAvoid duplicate-content confusion. Image alt textDescriptive alt on meaningful images. Redirects mappedOld URLs 301 to their new homes. Images compressed & sizedModern formats, no oversized files. Lazy-loading on below-the-fold mediaFaster first paint. Core Web Vitals checkedLCP, CLS and INP in the green. Caching & CDN enabledRepeat visits load instantly. Tested on real mobileNot just a desktop browser resized. Analytics installedGA4 or your platform of choice firing. Conversion events set upForm submits, calls, purchases tracked. Search Console verifiedProperty added and sitemap submitted. Consent banner workingTracking respects cookie choices. Goal / lead tracking testedSubmit a test enquiry end to end. HTTPS / SSL activePadlock on every page, no mixed content. Forms protected from spamHoneypot, captcha or rate limiting. Backups configuredAutomatic, and you've tested a restore. Admin logins securedStrong passwords, 2FA where possible. Software & plugins updatedNo known-vulnerable versions. Tested in Chrome, Safari, Firefox & EdgeLayout and fonts hold up. Tested on iOS and AndroidTap targets, menus and forms work. All links checkedNo broken internal or external links. Forms deliver to the right inboxAnd the auto-reply works. Print / PDF views saneIf anyone prints, it isn't a mess. DNS & domain pointing correctlywww and non-www both resolve. Email still works after DNS changeMX records untouched or migrated. Staging noindex removedThe live site is actually indexable. Announce the launchEmail list, social, Google Business Profile. Monitor for 48 hoursWatch analytics, errors and forms.