Website Launch Checklist

Every task from DNS configuration to analytics setup that needs to be complete before your website goes live.

Checklist: Website Launch (launch)

A website launch involves far more than flipping a DNS switch. Performance optimization, SEO configuration, accessibility compliance, security hardening, and analytics integration all need to be verified before real traffic hits. This checklist covers the full scope.

Checklist Items

  1. Configure DNS and SSL certificates [critical]: Point your domain to production hosting and install TLS certificates with auto-renewal.
  2. Verify all pages render without errors [critical]: Crawl the entire site to catch broken links, missing images, and rendering errors.
  3. Set up redirects for old URLs [critical]: Implement 301 redirects for any URLs that changed from a previous site to preserve SEO value.
  4. Submit XML sitemap to search engines [important]: Generate and submit a sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
  5. Configure caching and CDN [important]: Set appropriate cache headers and enable a CDN for static assets to improve global load times.
  6. Test contact forms and CTAs [important]: Verify every form submission reaches the correct inbox or CRM and triggers confirmation responses.
  7. Install analytics and conversion tracking [important]: Set up Google Analytics, tag manager events, and goal tracking for key conversions.
  8. Validate structured data markup [recommended]: Test JSON-LD or microdata with Google Rich Results Test for correct rendering in SERPs.
  9. Check favicon and social sharing images [recommended]: Verify Open Graph and Twitter Card images render correctly when shared on social platforms.
  10. Set up uptime monitoring [recommended]: Configure external monitoring to alert you within minutes if the site goes down.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to remove noindex tags: Audit all meta robots tags and robots.txt rules before launch; staging noindex directives left in production kill SEO.
  • Not testing with real content: Lorem ipsum hides layout bugs. Populate every page with real copy and images before final QA.
  • Skipping mobile testing: Over 60% of web traffic is mobile. Test on real phones, not just browser device emulators.
  • No backup before DNS switch: Take a full backup of the old site and database before cutting over DNS so you can roll back instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I lower DNS TTL?
Lower TTL to 300 seconds at least 48 hours before the migration so caches expire quickly when you switch DNS records.
What is a good page load time target?
Aim for under 2.5 seconds for Largest Contentful Paint. Google Core Web Vitals directly impact search rankings.
Should I launch on a Friday?
No. Launch mid-week so your full team is available to respond to issues. Avoid launches before holidays or weekends.