Update 31/08/2012: A new version of The Ultimate Website Launch Checklist is now available here.
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What to check before your launch
We’re developing a checklist that all websites should be checked against before launch. Let us know if we’ve missed something out, or if something needs further clarification. Some well-known and well-documented tasks (such as validation and accessibility testing) are not explained in detail. Add your suggestions in the comments.
Updated 17 Feb '09, 15:21 Added notifications (@keeran), Hidden copy (@jennybee) and Test search (@bwass).
Updated 18 Feb '09, 17:18 Added testing of backup (Edinburger), Google Webmaster Console (josefresco and Mark Alves), External monitoring and internal logging (Fernando and Karan Bhangui), and Consistent lists and UK/US spelling (Pierre Far).
Updated 24 Jan '12, 10:01 Added updated PDF version.
Updated 7 Apr '09, 10:20 Added link to French translation.
Download a PDF version: The Ultimate Website Launch Checklist. (PDF, 75KB)
French Translation: La checklist ultime pour le lancement d’un site web. (external link)
Our checklist
| Pre-Launch | |
| Content and Style | |
| Typography and layout | |
| Check for incorrect punctuation marks, particularly apostrophes, quotation marks and hyphens/dashes | |
| Check headings for where you could potentially use ligatures | |
| Check for widow/orphan terms in important paragraphs | |
| Spelling and grammar | |
| Consistency | |
| Capitalisation (especially of main headings) | |
| Tense/Style of writing | |
| Recurring/common phrases (e.g. ‘More about X’ links) | |
| Variations in words (e.g. Websites vs Web Sites, or UK vs US spelling) | |
| Treatment of bulleted lists (e.g. periods or commas at end of each item) | |
| Check for hard-coded links to staging domain (i.e. ensure all links will change to ‘live’ URL/domain when site is launched) | |
| Ensure no test content on site | |
| Check how important pages (e.g. content items) print | |
| For re-designs, ensure important old/existing URLs are redirected to relevant new URLs, if the URL scheme is changing | |
| Check all ‘Hidden Copy’ (e.g. alt text, transcriptions, text in JavaScript functions) | |
| Standards and Validation | |
| Accessibility | |
| HTML validation | |
| JavaScript validation | |
| CSS validation | |
| Search Engine Visibility, SEO and Metrics | |
| Page Titles are important; ensure they make sense and have relevant keywords in them. | |
| Create metadata descriptions for important pages. | |
| Check for canonical domain issues (e.g. variations in links to http://site.com http://www.site.com http://www.site.com/index.html should be reduced to a single consistent style) | |
| Ensure content is marked-up semantically/correctly (<h1>, etc.) | |
| Check for target keyword usage in general content | |
| Check format (user/search engine friendliness) of URLs | |
| Set up Analytics, FeedBurner, and any other packages for measuring ongoing success | |
| Create an XML Sitemap | |
| Configure Google Webmaster Console and Yahoo! Site Explorer | |
| Functional Testing | |
| Check all bespoke/complex functionality | |
| Check search functionality (including relevance of results) | |
| Check on common variations of browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome etc.), version (6, 7, 2.2, 3.1 etc.) and platform (Windows, OSX, Linux) | |
| Check on common variations of Screen Resolution | |
| Test all forms (e.g. contact us, blog comments), including anti-spam features, response emails/text, etc. | |
| Test without JavaScript, Flash, and other plug-ins | |
| Check all external links are valid | |
| Security/Risk | |
| Configure backup schedule, and test recovery from backup. | |
| Protect any sensitive pages (e.g. administration area) | |
| Use robots.txt where necessary | |
| Security/Penetration test | |
| Turn-off verbose error reporting | |
| Check disk space/capacity | |
| Set-up email/SMS monitoring/alerts (e.g. for errors, server warnings); consider internal and external monitoring services | |
| Performance | |
| Load test | |
| Check image optimisation | |
| Check and implement caching where necessary | |
| Check total page size/download time | |
| Minify/compress static (JavaScript/HTML/CSS) files | |
| Optimise your CSS: use short image paths; make full-use ‘cascading’ nature of CSS, etc. | |
| Check correct database indexing | |
| Check configuration at every level (Web server, Database, any other software e.g. Content Management System) | |
| Configure server-based logging/measurement tools (e.g. database/web server logging) | |
| Finishing Touches | |
| Create custom 404/error pages | |
| Create a favicon | |
| Post-Launch | |
| Marketing | |
| Social Marketing: Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg, Facebook, Stumbleupon, etc. | |
| Submit to search engines | |
| Set-up PPC/Google Adwords where necessary | |
| Check formatting of site results in SERPs | |
| Ongoing | |
| Monitor and respond to feedback (direct feedback, on Social Media sites, check for chatter through Google, etc.) | |
| Check analytics for problems, popular pages etc. and adjust as necessary | |
| Update content | |


Comments
Add a comment
Keeran
17 Feb 2009 14:45Carl Morris
17 Feb 2009 14:45Dan Zambonini
17 Feb 2009 14:58Alex
18 Feb 2009 12:03Pierre Far
18 Feb 2009 12:07Karan Bhangui
18 Feb 2009 12:11Fernando
18 Feb 2009 13:36Mark Alves
18 Feb 2009 13:59Dan Zambonini
18 Feb 2009 14:08Simon
18 Feb 2009 14:28Leroy Fernandes
18 Feb 2009 14:29Timothy
18 Feb 2009 15:00James
18 Feb 2009 15:41Matt
18 Feb 2009 17:17Carlos Kirkconnell
18 Feb 2009 17:40http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch04_Ignore_Details_Early_On.php">http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch04_Ignore_Details_Early_On.php
Dan Zambonini
18 Feb 2009 17:54Kweek
18 Feb 2009 19:26Jason Bartholme
18 Feb 2009 20:34alexvega
18 Feb 2009 21:24Dan Zambonini
18 Feb 2009 23:19k srivatsa iyengar
19 Feb 2009 00:18ricardoe
19 Feb 2009 08:43Mike
19 Feb 2009 09:50Daniel
19 Feb 2009 10:29Bassy
19 Feb 2009 14:23Wiktor
19 Feb 2009 20:02Dave Quested
20 Feb 2009 02:59Ryan Roberts
20 Feb 2009 14:06Dan Zambonini
20 Feb 2009 14:07Nick
20 Feb 2009 14:19tommythewolfboy
20 Feb 2009 15:38Prashant
20 Feb 2009 16:07B Moore
22 Feb 2009 07:02Anthony Sutton
22 Feb 2009 07:23Malcolm
22 Feb 2009 18:48Spider
22 Feb 2009 19:14Dan Zambonini
23 Feb 2009 09:24Mike Archibald
23 Feb 2009 09:29francis_dierick
24 Feb 2009 01:19Monika
24 Feb 2009 06:05Abhinav Gulyani
24 Feb 2009 19:07Heidi Cool
25 Feb 2009 10:24Kevin Hemsworth
26 Feb 2009 14:58facundo
26 Feb 2009 19:01merzmarkus@goglemail.com
27 Feb 2009 19:05Anne
1 Mar 2009 15:36Lachelle T.
3 Mar 2009 05:00Greg
6 Mar 2009 19:41Stu Collett
10 Mar 2009 13:40Eva johnson
27 Mar 2009 10:14mathew llewellyn
2 Apr 2009 21:05Adrian
8 Apr 2009 01:07Michael Müller
8 Apr 2009 02:54Erick Schluter
10 Apr 2009 23:53Thanks!
Joni Mueller
14 Apr 2009 02:47Gustavo Ballve
14 Apr 2009 14:24EmmaB
23 Apr 2009 09:43Biggs
30 Apr 2009 15:12Great list by the way, Dan. I've been thinking of how I can incorporate it to my workflow. Not as a piece of paper on my desk, iykwim.
Richard
13 May 2009 12:20David Radovanovic
27 May 2009 00:10Noah
2 Jun 2009 02:55Under marketing, I'd add 'create an XML site map' and replace 'submit to search engines' with 'begin link building process.'
Doing the social marketing you mention and/or link building will get the site indexed in every search engine, so submitting is not necessary.
Brian McManus
29 Jun 2009 05:38http://www.launchly.com">http://www.launchly.com
Raffi Darrow
29 Jun 2009 18:21Junagadh
3 Jul 2009 11:58here its one of the best needed checklist present.
Michael Melen
5 Jul 2009 21:27PabloC
20 Jul 2009 20:40Jonas
22 Jul 2009 22:23Chris
23 Jul 2009 17:31Luis Fontes
26 Jul 2009 20:05anunturi
28 Aug 2009 22:45Thanks,
Regards
tocoa.net
1 Sep 2009 12:28Jay - Work At Home Blogger
7 Sep 2009 12:47April
7 Oct 2009 11:10Bill Gassett
10 Oct 2009 12:03Peter Lancaster
12 Oct 2009 09:53http://www.barneyslabels.com.au
stefa
3 Dec 2009 17:27Dwayne
4 Dec 2009 00:33My new site is: http://www.linkshares.net/
Bolsa de Trabajo
4 Dec 2009 23:31How about testing your 'web2.0 and social networking features'. I.e. 'user generated content', 'social bookmarks', 'widgets', 'shared/posted links', 'user account set-up/settings', esp. OpenID/Facebook Connect, 'management & admin systems', 'mashup performance', 'embeded content', e.g. YouTube Videos,
prakash
14 Dec 2009 09:37But this study revealed this to be incorrect!
IT solution
Steve
4 Jan 2010 01:52Probably not a concern for small sites, but a must for larger, very public sites like Banks etc who need to pre-warn customers their site is changing (so it doesn't look like the sites been hijacked on launch). Therefore, I recommend a complete comms strategy at least 2 months prior to launch for larger corporate sites. This would slot in around 'performance' entry in the above timeline.
Neil Webster
5 Jan 2010 01:08Clerkendweller
19 Feb 2010 10:39http://www.clerkendweller.com/2010/2/19/Website-PreLaunch-Security-Review-Checklist
(Linking back to your great list at the end).
Satish Chathanath
14 May 2010 12:42Another critical check - whether Home page downloads within 10 seconds on dial-up connection
Arpan Dhandhania
18 Jun 2010 04:24Thanks for this really comprehensive list. I have been looking for something like this for a while. By the way, I came across this awesome web app called LooseStitch that is ideal for sharing checklists with others. So I have created a document on LooseStitch and entered the points from your checklist into it. Here is the link to the document:
http://loosestitch.com/ideas/h393p7hrjalcv9zr/ultimate-website-launch-checklist/
Tanie auta
29 Jun 2010 08:10Yachting
21 Jul 2010 09:36Yachting
5 Aug 2010 09:52Lex Fitz
20 Aug 2010 16:06I've started sending my clients here so they can really put me over the hot coals, and also so they will appreciate how thorough I am with their sites.
Thanks for the list.
Best regards,
Lex Fitz
Paulo
10 Sep 2010 15:42efusien
15 Sep 2010 20:03ioan salter
20 Sep 2010 13:24Joomla Website Development
8 Dec 2010 10:33Keep on sharings
Prasad Hassan
10 Dec 2010 14:44saufi
22 Dec 2010 07:08Meery Christmas & Happy New Year
dyejo
14 Jan 2011 23:27Any similar checklist for mobile website you know of?
JOHN DYE
President
FLUID STUDIO
801.295.9820 ext.22
http://www.fluid-studio.net
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Usability Questionnaire
19 Feb 2011 11:23Usability Questionnaire
vijendra singhal
22 Feb 2011 16:49Custom logo design
31 Mar 2011 13:35loanbusiness
22 Apr 2011 07:07Ashton Blue
18 May 2011 18:58business financing
23 May 2011 01:24business financing
Grapes Calories
2 Jun 2011 03:07That was one great checklist and I really appreciate that. However, make sure that you update it more often.
Vlad
2 Jun 2011 12:01scary maze
handyquelle
2 Jun 2011 18:25http://ch.diggonline.net/member/handyquelle
kiteboarding
4 Jun 2011 05:37grow taller
4 Jun 2011 07:01Tamy
4 Jun 2011 07:42Penelope
4 Jun 2011 08:43get her back
Katy Perry
7 Jun 2011 06:01Katty Perry
Kalpesh
13 Jun 2011 05:56Sandra
13 Jun 2011 14:21Thanks.
google tablet pc
Jeanie
13 Jun 2011 14:25http://runnergpswatch.com
Jack
15 Jun 2011 06:31local scholarships
John
15 Jun 2011 06:32This a much more complete checklist than the one I created for myself and my readers. I'm going to borrow some from your list but won't publish without permission.
Lila Marion
21 Jun 2011 12:47this subject. Thanks - keep up the great work!
kiteboarding
26 Jun 2011 23:43Gary
27 Jun 2011 20:07Media mangement
9 Jul 2011 06:40rheawinford
14 Jul 2011 03:13I truly enjoy looking through on this website , it has wonderful posts.small business search engine optimisation
Brian
31 Jul 2011 14:55melvinvillton
3 Mar 2012 12:48Mike Cowburn
7 Mar 2012 09:04Off to see a client now to get a content & branding brief.
:-)
Megan
20 Apr 2012 08:32Chintan
27 Apr 2012 13:29Great work there
Levela Skin Care Reviews
22 Jun 2012 03:35I guess I'll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any tips and hints for novice blog writers? I'd definitely appreciate it.
link building UK
6 Jul 2012 11:31Webmastericons
12 Jul 2012 15:27website development
3 Aug 2012 09:52nidhu
13 Aug 2012 04:19Neil McLeish
21 Aug 2012 08:44http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/blog/2012/updated-ico-advice-guidance-e-privacy-directive-eu-cookie-law.aspx
VSI Web
14 Sep 2012 06:45We also add post live 404 checks using a crawler (mostly just for reassurance ), submit site xml to search engines (webmaster tools) and testing on mobile platforms.
Once live, we also reanalyse whether the sites aims that we initially created the site for are being achieved and if not why not.
akne heilen
25 Sep 2012 14:51Its very well written; I love what youve
got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or
2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
Ingrid
17 Oct 2012 05:57to shoot you an email. I've got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
fahad
18 Oct 2012 15:16Eric Nguyen
30 Jan 2013 08:56I would suggest that we number the item though.
Let me know what you thinks.
Cheers,
Eric Nguyen
30 Jan 2013 09:32Yahoo! Site Explorer is no longer active.
Bing Webmaster should be used instead.
Thanks,
Emma Willis
30 Jan 2013 16:18 Box UK StaffAdd your comment