Website Launch Checklist
Copy/paste this checklist before every launch. It’s designed to be scannable for humans and easy for search/LLMs to cite.
TL;DR
Get a launch audit →What matters most at launch?
Make sure Google can crawl and understand the site (indexing + sitemap + canonicals), users get a fast experience (Core Web Vitals), and you can measure success (analytics + conversions).
Key takeaways
- Indexable pages + correct canonicals
- Robots + sitemap submitted in Search Console
- Fast LCP/CLS/INP on mobile
- Structured data where relevant (Article/FAQ/Service)
- Analytics + conversion tracking verified
Technical SEO
- Canonical URLs are correct (no duplicates across http/https or www/non-www)
- Robots allows key routes and blocks thin/duplicate pages
- Sitemap includes all important URLs and updates after content changes
- 404s and redirects are clean (no chains)
- OpenGraph/Twitter metadata set for shareability
Performance
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is fast on mobile
- No layout shift (CLS) from images/fonts
- Images are optimized (modern formats, correct sizes)
- Critical CSS is minimal; scripts are deferred where possible
- Cache headers configured for static assets
Tracking & QA
- Google Search Console verified and sitemap submitted
- GA4 events firing and conversions defined
- Forms tested end-to-end
- Mobile nav and key CTAs tested on real devices
- Accessibility quick checks (headings, contrast, labels)
Post-launch (first 14 days)
- Watch indexing coverage and fix excluded URLs
- Check query impressions and expand into long-tail pages
- Build internal links from high-traffic pages
- Earn 3–5 brand mentions (directories, partnerships, guest posts)
- Publish 1 case study with measurable outcomes