Website launch checklist
Use this website launch checklist to verify content, mobile usability, forms, SEO controls, redirects, analytics, privacy basics and final approvals before a new or redesigned website goes live.
For a Vancouver small business website launch, the goal is simple: make sure customers can use the live site, search engines can reach the right URLs and the team knows who owns each launch-day task.
A practical pre launch website checklist should cover final content, navigation, forms, mobile layouts, accessibility basics, page titles and headings, canonical and indexing settings, redirects, analytics, backups, security, contact details and a final approval process. For redesigns, old-to-new URL mapping and post-launch monitoring are especially important.
A launch review works best when each task has a clear owner and a simple pass, fix or approved status.
Before the final QA pass
Testing is inefficient when pages, copy and functionality are still changing every hour. Before the final review, confirm the live sitemap, required integrations, content owner and launch decision-maker.
This page is the primary checklist resource. For broader planning around a small business website launch, use the supporting article for context rather than maintaining a second duplicate checklist.
New website launch checklist
Use these eight categories as the working website go live checklist. Keep each item specific enough that someone can verify it rather than simply marking an entire category “done.”
SEO website launch checklist
A technically polished design can still lose visibility if the live site blocks indexing, changes valuable URLs without redirects or keeps internal links pointing at staging addresses. For redesigns, migration checks deserve their own sign-off before DNS or production changes.
Focus on crawlability, clean internal links, useful titles and headings, sitemap submission, analytics and a clear site architecture. There may be fewer migration risks because there are no established URLs to preserve.
Preserve valuable URLs where possible. When URLs change, redirect them deliberately and verify that internal links, canonical tags and the sitemap all use the final destinations.
Check the real business name, phone number, address or service area, hours and contact routes on the live site. Location information should reflect actual service delivery rather than keyword-driven city duplication.
Website go-live checklist
Most launch problems are easier to catch before customers arrive. Schedule the final checks in stages and reserve launch day for production verification rather than unfinished content work.
Complete page review, forms, mobile testing, redirects, indexing settings, analytics and integrations while there is still time to fix issues.
Record the final approval, create a current backup and confirm who can act if the production launch needs to be reversed.
Check HTTPS, navigation, priority pages, forms, phone links, redirects, analytics and sitemap access on the live domain.
Watch form delivery, crawl errors, indexing, conversion events, broken links, mobile issues and customer questions that reveal unclear content.
A documented launch sequence gives the team a clear point for approval, publication and post-launch monitoring.
Related website planning
This checklist should remain the primary resource for launch tasks. Use the related pages for broader planning, timelines, redesign scope and post-launch care.
Website launch checklist FAQs
These answers focus on launch execution. Broader design, pricing and maintenance questions are handled on their dedicated pages.
Start testing as soon as complete pages and important customer journeys are available, then run a final sign-off after content and functionality are stable. Forms, redirects, mobile layouts and indexing controls should not be left until the moment the site is published.
There is no single SEO check that replaces the others, but indexing control is critical. Confirm that important live pages are crawlable and indexable, use the intended canonical URLs, appear in the XML sitemap and receive relevant redirects from valuable old URLs.
Submit every important form on desktop and mobile. Check required fields, error messages, confirmation messages, email or CRM delivery and any automated follow-up. Test with the people who will actually receive and respond to the inquiry.
Keep useful existing URLs when they still fit the content and site structure. If a valuable URL changes, map it to the closest relevant new page with a 301 redirect and update internal links to the final destination.
Verify the real business name, phone, email, public address or service area, hours and contact paths. For Vancouver businesses, location information should reflect how customers actually visit or receive service rather than adding neighbourhood names only for search visibility.
Monitor form delivery, calls or bookings, analytics events, indexing, crawl errors, broken links, redirect problems, mobile issues and security alerts. The first week is also useful for identifying customer questions that reveal unclear content or navigation.
Prepare for a cleaner go-live
Share the staging site, planned launch date, required pages and any unresolved migration, form or tracking issues. The review can focus on the checks that still need a clear owner before production goes live.
For ongoing updates after launch, review website maintenance.
