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Website launch checklist
Everything to check before, during and after your new website goes live. Work through it in order and tick items off as you go.
This checklist is for small business owners launching a new website or replacing an old one, and for anyone building a site on their behalf. It covers the checks that are easy to forget when a launch date is close.
Start a week or two before launch and work from top to bottom. The essentials are the items that cause real problems if missed, such as lost rankings or forms that go nowhere, so do those first if time is short. Print it or copy it as text to share with your developer.
01Content and copy
0 of 502Design, mobile and accessibility
0 of 503Forms and emails
0 of 404SEO, redirects and speed
0 of 605Tracking and analytics
0 of 506Legal, cookies and security
0 of 707Launch day
0 of 508The first two weeks after launch
0 of 5Tips.
What makes the difference when you put it to work.
- Build and test on a staging site, and only switch the domain once every essential item is ticked.
- Keep a spreadsheet of old URLs and their new destinations. It makes redirects quicker to set up and easy to check later.
- Avoid changing your domain, design and content all at once if you can. The fewer changes in one go, the easier it is to find the cause if traffic drops.
- Book an hour a week for the first month to check Search Console, GA4 and your enquiry inbox.
- If you would rather hand it over, Infinity builds and launches websites for small businesses, including redirects and tracking.
Questions, answered.
How long before launch should I start a website launch checklist?
For a small site, start about two weeks before your planned date. Give yourself longer if you are replacing a site with lots of old pages to redirect. That leaves time to fix problems without rushing on the day.
Will my Google rankings drop when I launch a new website?
Some movement is normal while Google recrawls the site, especially after a redesign or a domain change. Redirecting every old URL with a 301, keeping your best content and making sure search engines are not blocked are the main ways to limit any drop. If rankings fall and do not recover after a few weeks, check redirects and page content first.
What is a 301 redirect and do I need one?
A 301 redirect permanently sends visitors and search engines from an old web address to a new one. You need one whenever a page's URL changes, such as when you move platform or restructure your menu. Without them, old links and search results lead to error pages.
Do I need a cookie banner on my website?
If your site sets non-essential cookies, such as advertising pixels, PECR means you need consent before they load. A banner that only informs people is not enough if those cookies load straight away. If you only use strictly necessary cookies, you do not need consent but should still explain them. Check the ICO's current guidance, as the rules on some analytics cookies have changed.
What should I check after my website goes live?
In the first two weeks, check Search Console for errors, confirm GA4 is recording visits and key events, and make sure enquiries still reach you. Update your website link on your Google Business Profile and other listings. After that, keep an eye on traffic to your most important pages.
Related free resources.
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