Pre-Launch Website Checklist (40 Points)
Updated 31 May 2026 · 7 min read
Before launching, verify five areas: content and links, SEO basics, performance and mobile, security and backups, and legal and analytics. Working through these 40 checks prevents the broken links, slow pages, and missing tracking that plague rushed launches.
Key takeaways
- Check across five buckets: content, SEO, performance, security, and legal.
- Test every link, form, and page on real mobile devices before going live.
- Confirm analytics, Search Console, and a backup are in place pre-launch.
- Add SSL, contact details, and privacy and terms pages.
- Run a final speed and mobile check; fix issues before announcing.
Content and links
Content errors are the most visible and the easiest to miss. Read every page for typos, outdated info, and placeholder text. Then test that everything actually works before customers see it.
- Proofread all copy for spelling and grammar
- Remove every 'Lorem ipsum' or placeholder block
- Test every internal and external link
- Submit each form and confirm the email arrives
- Check all images load and have alt text
- Verify phone numbers, email, and address are correct
- Confirm social media links open the right profiles
- Add a custom 404 page that guides lost visitors
SEO basics
Search engines need clean signals from day one. Getting these basics right at launch saves a painful cleanup later and helps you start ranking sooner.
- Unique title tag on every page
- Meta description on key pages
- One clear H1 per page
- Descriptive, readable URLs
- XML sitemap generated and submitted
- Robots.txt allows indexing of public pages
- Open Graph tags for social sharing
- Schema markup on relevant pages
Performance and mobile
Most Indian traffic is mobile, and slow pages lose visitors fast. Test the real experience on real devices, not just a desktop preview.
- Compress and resize all images
- Test load speed on mobile data
- Check layout on phones and tablets
- Verify tap targets are large enough
- Test on Chrome, Safari, and one more browser
- Enable caching and a CDN if available
- Confirm no broken or oversized media
- Run a Core Web Vitals check
Security and backups
A site that goes live without security or backups is a problem waiting to happen. Lock these down before you announce, not after an incident.
- SSL certificate installed and forcing HTTPS
- Strong admin passwords and limited accounts
- A working full-site backup is taken
- Automatic backups scheduled
- Software, themes, and plugins updated
- Spam protection on forms
- Remove default or test login accounts
- Hide or secure the admin login page
Legal and analytics
Finish with the trust and measurement layer. These items keep you compliant and let you learn from visitors the moment you launch.
- Privacy policy page published
- Terms and conditions page published
- Cookie or consent notice if needed
- Analytics installed and firing
- Google Search Console verified
- Goal or conversion tracking set up
- Contact and business details visible
- Favicon and browser tab title set
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most important pre-launch check?
Testing forms and links on a real mobile device is the highest-value check. Broken contact forms silently lose leads, and most Indian visitors arrive on mobile, so both must work flawlessly.
Do I need a privacy policy before launching?
Yes, if you collect any visitor data through forms, analytics, or cookies. A privacy policy and a consent notice build trust and keep you aligned with data protection expectations.
Should I set up analytics before or after launch?
Before. Installing analytics and Search Console at launch means you capture data from day one, including your first visitors and any indexing issues, instead of starting blind.
How do I check my site is fast enough?
Run a free Core Web Vitals or PageSpeed test on key pages using mobile mode. Compress images, enable caching, and aim for fast loads on a typical mobile connection.
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