Launching a new website is a major milestone for any business. It’s the result of careful planning, design, development, and strategy. However, it’s also a critical moment—getting it right is essential for establishing a strong online presence. From a digital marketing perspective, a smooth website launch can make the difference between attracting new customers and losing them to slow load times, broken links, or poor optimisation.
To ensure everything goes off without a hitch, here’s the ultimate checklist for launching a new website—a comprehensive guide to help you tick all the boxes before going live.
1. Pre-Launch Preparation
Define Your Goals
What is the purpose of your website? Generating leads? Boosting sales? Increasing brand visibility?
Set clear, measurable goals (e.g., achieve a 25% increase in organic traffic within three months).
Understand Your Audience
Does your website speak directly to your target audience?
Review the design, layout, and content to ensure they meet your audience’s needs and preferences.
Keyword Strategy
Conduct keyword research to optimise your site for search engines.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to identify high-traffic, low-competition terms relevant to your niche.
2. Technical Checklist
Domain and Hosting
Ensure your domain is connected to your hosting platform.
Confirm that your SSL certificate is active for secure browsing (a must for SEO and user trust).
Responsive Design
Test the site on multiple devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) and browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, etc.).
Verify that all images, layouts, and navigation elements display correctly across screen sizes.
Page Speed
Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test your site’s loading time.
Compress images, enable caching, and minimise CSS and JavaScript files to enhance performance.
Error Pages
Create a custom 404 page with helpful links to guide visitors back to important areas of your website.
Backup Systems
Set up regular automated backups to safeguard your website data.
3. Content Readiness
Proofreading and Accuracy
Check all text for spelling and grammar errors (remember UK English conventions).
Verify the accuracy of your contact information, opening hours, and any critical details.
SEO Best Practices
Optimise each page with:
A unique, descriptive meta title and meta description.
Keyword-rich headers (H1, H2, H3).
Alt text for all images.
Ensure internal linking creates a logical flow between your pages.
Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
Place CTAs strategically to guide users towards desired actions, such as completing a form, booking a consultation, or making a purchase.
Blog Content
Have at least 2–3 high-quality blog posts ready to launch, tailored to your audience and optimised for SEO.
4. Analytics and Tracking
Install Google Analytics and set up key goals (e.g., tracking form submissions or CTA clicks).
Integrate Google Search Console to monitor indexing and site performance.
Add tracking pixels for any advertising platforms you plan to use, such as Facebook or LinkedIn.
5. Security and Compliance
Ensure compliance with GDPR or other relevant data protection regulations.
Add a cookie consent banner, privacy policy, and terms of service pages.
Use strong passwords and limit admin access to trusted users only.
6. User Experience Testing
Navigation
Verify that menus and links are intuitive and functional.
Ensure your site structure is clear and user-friendly.
Forms and Interactive Elements
Test all forms, buttons, and chat tools to ensure they work correctly.
Confirm integrations with email marketing or CRM platforms.
Accessibility
Check compliance with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1).
Use appropriate colour contrast, descriptive alt text, and keyboard-friendly navigation.
7. Final Pre-Launch Checks
Favicon: Add a favicon to enhance your site’s branding.
Redirects: Set up 301 redirects for any old URLs that may lead to your new site.
Launch Announcement: Prepare your launch strategy—whether through social media, email marketing, or paid ads.
Go Live: Choose a low-traffic period for your launch to minimise disruptions if issues arise.
8. Post-Launch Monitoring
Test the live site for any errors or glitches.
Monitor key metrics, including bounce rates, conversion rates, and page performance, using your analytics tools.
Act quickly to resolve any issues that arise after launch.
Launching a website is no small feat, but with this checklist, you’ll have a clear plan to ensure everything runs smoothly. By focusing on technical optimisation, content quality, and user experience, you can create a site that not only looks great but also delivers results.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about any part of the process, I’m here to help. As a digital marketing consultant, I specialise in building and optimising websites that drive leads and sales. Let’s work together to make your launch a success.
Ready to Launch Your Dream Website?
Get in touch today and take the first step towards a powerful online presence!
Click here to book.
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