Post-launch checklist

Make sure you tick all these boxes once the website is live.

1. Technical verification

  • DNS Propagation: Confirm that the DNS changes have fully propagated and the site is accessible worldwide.
  • SSL Certificate: Verify the SSL certificate is active and properly installed for secure connections.
  • 404 Errors: Check for any broken links or missing pages using tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.
  • Mobile Responsiveness: Test the website on various devices and screen sizes to ensure optimal viewing and interaction.
  • Loading Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to assess and optimize loading times.
  • Functionality Check: Test all forms, CTAs, and interactive elements for proper functionality.
  • Backup System: Ensure that a regular backup system is in place and functioning.

2. SEO and analytics

  • Google Analytics: Confirm that Google Analytics is correctly set up for tracking website traffic and user behavior.
  • Search Console: Set up and verify the site with Google Search Console to monitor indexing status and optimize visibility.
  • Meta Tags: Review and optimize all page titles, meta descriptions, and headings for SEO.
  • Sitemap and Robots.txt: Submit the updated XML sitemap to search engines and ensure the robots.txt file is correctly configured.
  • 301 Redirects: Implement 301 redirects for any changed URLs to preserve search engine rankings.

3. Content and usability

  • Spell Check: Review the website content for any spelling or grammatical errors.
  • Legal Pages: Ensure that privacy policy, terms of service, and cookie policy pages are up to date and accessible.
  • Contact Information: Verify that all contact details are correct and working as intended.
  • Social Media Links: Check that all social media links are accurate and functional.

4. Security measures

  • Security Plugins: Install or update security plugins to protect against spam, malware, and other vulnerabilities.
  • User Permissions: Review and adjust user permissions for backend access to necessary personnel only.
  • HTTPS Redirection: Ensure that all HTTP requests are correctly redirected to HTTPS.

5. Post-launch monitoring

  • User Feedback: Collect and monitor user feedback for any issues or improvement opportunities.
  • Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor website performance and user engagement metrics.
  • Update Plan: Establish a routine for regularly updating content, plugins, themes, and core technologya