Content And Proofreading
- Proofread every page for spelling and grammar
- Replace all placeholder text and dummy images
- Confirm contact details, hours, and pricing are correct
- Check all links work (internal and external)
- Confirm forms submit and notifications arrive
- Add legal pages (privacy policy, terms) if required
SEO Essentials
- Unique title tags and meta descriptions on every page
- One clear H1 per page and logical headings
- XML sitemap generated and ready to submit
- robots.txt allows indexing of the live site
- Canonical tags set correctly
- Structured data (schema) added where relevant
- Open Graph / social share images set
Performance
- Images compressed and correctly sized
- Core Web Vitals checked (LCP, INP, CLS)
- Caching and a CDN configured
- Tested on a real mobile device, not just desktop
Security And Reliability
- HTTPS/SSL enabled and enforced
- Software and dependencies up to date
- Automated backups configured and tested
- Admin accounts use strong, unique passwords
- Spam protection on forms (honeypot or similar)
Analytics And Tracking
- Analytics installed and firing on all pages
- Conversion goals or events configured
- Google Search Console verified
- Sitemap submitted to Search Console after launch
Final Go-Live Steps
On launch day, point the domain, remove any "no-index" or staging blocks, and immediately test the live site end to end — load it on a phone, submit a form, and click through the main journeys.
Then submit your sitemap, watch analytics confirm traffic is tracking, and keep an eye on Search Console for the first week to catch any indexing issues early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most-missed pre-launch step?
Removing the staging site’s "no-index" block. Sites launch invisible to Google all the time because the setting that hid them during development was never switched off.
Should I test on mobile before launch?
Absolutely. Most visitors are on phones and Google indexes mobile first. Always test the live site on a real device, not just a desktop browser.
Do I need analytics from day one?
Yes. Installing analytics and Search Console before launch means you capture data from your very first visitors instead of losing the early baseline.
How long before launch should I start checking?
Begin the checklist a few days out so there is time to fix anything you find, rather than discovering problems an hour before go-live.