Skip to content

Pre-Launch Checklist

Summary

Before launching your website to the public, conduct thorough testing and verification using this comprehensive checklist. This ensures your site is reliable, secure, fast, and ready for visitors.

Overview

Before launching your website to the public, conduct thorough testing and verification using this comprehensive checklist. This ensures your site is reliable, secure, fast, and ready for visitors.

Purpose

This checklist helps you: - Identify and fix issues before launch - Verify all functionality works correctly - Ensure compliance with best practices - Protect your site and users - Optimize performance and user experience

Who Should Use This

  • Project Leads: Overall responsibility
  • QA/Testing: Verification and testing
  • Developers: Technical verification
  • Content Team: Content review
  • SEO/Marketing: SEO and analytics setup

When to Use This

Timing: - 1-2 weeks before planned launch - After all content is finalized - After Phase 5 (Building Initial Pages) is complete - Before Phase 6 handoff begins

Duration: - Estimated 4-6 hours for full verification - Can be split across multiple days

Scoring

Track your progress: - ✅ Complete: Item verified and passed - ⚠️ In Progress: Item started, needs completion - ❌ Issue: Item failed, needs fixing - N/A: Not applicable to your site

1. Functionality Verification

Verify all core features work correctly.

Page Loading & Access

  • [ ] Homepage loads: Visit / and verify page displays
  • [ ] All pages accessible: Can navigate to every published page
  • [ ] Page URLs work: URLs in address bar match expected format
  • [ ] No 404 errors: Check main pages don't show 404 errors
  • [ ] Redirects work: Old URLs redirect correctly (if applicable)
  • [ ] SSL certificate active: URL shows 🔒 lock icon (HTTPS)
  • [ ] Load time acceptable: Pages load within 3 seconds
  • [ ] Mobile viewable: Pages display on mobile devices
  • [ ] Header navigation works: All header links clickable and functional
  • [ ] Footer navigation works: All footer links clickable and functional
  • [ ] Breadcrumbs work: (If used) Breadcrumbs navigate correctly
  • [ ] Internal links work: Links between pages function correctly
  • [ ] External links work: Links to external sites open properly
  • [ ] Links open correctly: Internal links same window, external links new tab (as intended)
  • [ ] No broken links: No 404 errors from internal links
  • [ ] CTA buttons work: All call-to-action buttons lead to correct destinations

Forms & User Input

  • [ ] Contact form present: Contact form visible and accessible
  • [ ] Form fields appear: All form fields display correctly
  • [ ] Form validation works: Required fields validated
  • [ ] Form submits: Submit button functions
  • [ ] Confirmation message: Success message appears after submission
  • [ ] Email received: Confirm submission email received by admin
  • [ ] No sensitive data exposed: Password fields masked
  • [ ] CAPTCHA works (if used): Anti-spam verification functional

Interactive Elements

  • [ ] Buttons clickable: All buttons respond to clicks
  • [ ] Hover effects work: (If designed) Hover states appear correctly
  • [ ] Dropdowns functional: (If used) Dropdown menus open/close properly
  • [ ] Search works (if available): Search function returns results
  • [ ] Filters work (if applicable): Content filtering functions correctly
  • [ ] Sorting works (if applicable): Sort options work as expected
  • [ ] Animations smooth: Any animations play smoothly without stuttering

2. Content Verification

Ensure all content is accurate and complete.

Text Content

  • [ ] No placeholder text: Lorem ipsum or temp content removed
  • [ ] No typos: All text proofread for spelling errors
  • [ ] No grammar errors: Professional language throughout
  • [ ] Complete sentences: No truncated or incomplete text
  • [ ] Current dates: All dates are current (no old dates)
  • [ ] Accurate phone numbers: Phone numbers correct and clickable
  • [ ] Correct email addresses: Email addresses current and functional
  • [ ] Consistent branding: Brand name spelled correctly throughout

Images & Media

  • [ ] All images display: No missing or broken images
  • [ ] Images properly sized: No distorted or stretched images
  • [ ] Images optimized: File sizes reasonable (under 500KB for web)
  • [ ] Alt text present: All images have descriptive alt text
  • [ ] Correct images: Images match their context
  • [ ] Professional quality: Images are high quality and brand-appropriate
  • [ ] Media files work (if used): Videos play, audio files play
  • [ ] Captions present (if needed): Videos have captions

Page Structure

  • [ ] One H1 per page: Exactly one main heading
  • [ ] Proper heading hierarchy: H1 → H2 → H3 (no skipped levels)
  • [ ] Descriptive headings: Headings describe content (not generic)
  • [ ] Logical flow: Content organized sensibly
  • [ ] Scannable layout: Headings, bullets, whitespace break up text
  • [ ] Complete pages: No "under construction" or placeholder pages
  • [ ] Consistent formatting: Similar page types formatted consistently

Contact Information

  • [ ] Address current: Physical address (if used) is correct
  • [ ] Phone number correct: Phone number is current and accurate
  • [ ] Email correct: Contact email is current and monitored
  • [ ] Business hours accurate: Hours listed are correct (if applicable)
  • [ ] Contact form working: Form receives submissions
  • [ ] Multiple contact methods: Phone, email, and/or form available

3. Design & Visual Verification

Ensure visual design is polished and consistent.

Layout & Spacing

  • [ ] Consistent margins: Margins uniform across pages
  • [ ] Consistent padding: Spacing within elements consistent
  • [ ] Whitespace adequate: Page not too cramped or sparse
  • [ ] Alignment proper: Elements aligned to grid or left/center/right
  • [ ] No overlapping: Elements don't overlap unintentionally
  • [ ] Mobile friendly: Layout adapts to small screens
  • [ ] Tablet friendly: Layout works on medium screens
  • [ ] Desktop friendly: Layout uses available space on large screens

Colors & Typography

  • [ ] Brand colors used: Colors match brand guidelines
  • [ ] Color contrast adequate: Text readable on backgrounds
  • [ ] Typography consistent: Limited font choices (2-3 fonts maximum)
  • [ ] Font sizes readable: Base text 16px or larger
  • [ ] Line height adequate: Vertical spacing between lines appropriate
  • [ ] Line length reasonable: Text lines not too wide (max 80 characters)
  • [ ] Color accessible: No red-green only color distinctions

Visual Elements

  • [ ] Buttons distinct: Buttons look clickable
  • [ ] Links underlined/styled: Links visually distinct from text
  • [ ] Hover states work: Links/buttons show hover effect
  • [ ] Icons appropriate: Icons match their purpose
  • [ ] Borders/dividers clean: Lines and dividers properly rendered
  • [ ] Backgrounds clean: No odd texture or pattern issues
  • [ ] Visual hierarchy clear: Important content stands out
  • [ ] Brand consistency: Logo, fonts, colors match brand

4. Responsive Design Testing

Verify site works across all devices.

Mobile (375px - 480px)

  • [ ] Readable on small screen: Text size adequate
  • [ ] Buttons tappable: Buttons large enough (min 44×44px)
  • [ ] No horizontal scroll: Can view without scrolling left/right
  • [ ] Touch targets adequate: Form inputs usable
  • [ ] Navigation accessible: Menu works on mobile
  • [ ] Images scale properly: No overlapping or distortion
  • [ ] Forms work: Can fill and submit on mobile
  • [ ] CTAs visible: Call-to-action prominent

Tablet (600px - 900px)

  • [ ] Layout adapts: Multi-column layout properly adjusted
  • [ ] Images appropriate: Scale well for tablet size
  • [ ] Touch targets adequate: Everything easily tappable
  • [ ] Text readable: Font sizes appropriate for tablet
  • [ ] Whitespace balanced: Not too cramped or sparse
  • [ ] Navigation functional: Menu works on tablet
  • [ ] Forms work: Input fields properly sized

Desktop (1200px+)

  • [ ] Full design visible: All design elements display
  • [ ] Content centered: (If applicable) Content properly centered
  • [ ] Content not stretched: Text lines not excessively long
  • [ ] Images crisp: Larger images look sharp
  • [ ] Hover effects visible: Hover states work properly
  • [ ] Multi-column layouts: Columns properly distributed
  • [ ] Footer properly positioned: Footer at bottom

Orientation Testing

  • [ ] Portrait mode works: Mobile in portrait orientation
  • [ ] Landscape mode works: Mobile in landscape orientation
  • [ ] Tablet portrait works: Tablet in portrait orientation
  • [ ] Tablet landscape works: Tablet in landscape orientation

5. Browser Compatibility

Test in multiple browsers.

Desktop Browsers

  • [ ] Chrome: Latest version tested
  • [ ] All pages load
  • [ ] No console errors
  • [ ] Forms work

  • [ ] Styling correct

  • [ ] Safari: Latest version tested

  • [ ] All pages load
  • [ ] No console errors
  • [ ] Forms work

  • [ ] Styling correct

  • [ ] Firefox: Latest version tested

  • [ ] All pages load
  • [ ] No console errors
  • [ ] Forms work

  • [ ] Styling correct

  • [ ] Edge: Latest version tested

  • [ ] All pages load
  • [ ] No console errors
  • [ ] Forms work
  • [ ] Styling correct

Mobile Browsers

  • [ ] Chrome Mobile: Android version tested
  • [ ] Safari Mobile: iOS version tested
  • [ ] Mobile Firefox: If supported

Known Issues

Document any issues found:

Browser Issue Severity Status

6. Performance Verification

Ensure site loads quickly and efficiently.

Page Speed

  • [ ] Homepage loads < 3 seconds: Use Google PageSpeed Insights
  • [ ] Other pages load quickly: No excessively slow pages
  • [ ] Images optimized: File sizes under 500KB
  • [ ] CSS minified: No unnecessary whitespace
  • [ ] JavaScript minified: Code is compressed
  • [ ] Caching enabled: Browser caching configured
  • [ ] CDN enabled (if applicable): Static files cached globally

Core Web Vitals (Google's Metrics)

  • [ ] Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): < 2.5 seconds
  • [ ] First Input Delay (FID): < 100 milliseconds
  • [ ] Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): < 0.1

Performance Tools

Check using: - [ ] Google PageSpeed Insights - [ ] Google Lighthouse - [ ] GTmetrix - [ ] Browser DevTools (Network tab)

Recommendations Implemented

  • [ ] Address any "Critical" recommendations
  • [ ] Address any "High" priority recommendations
  • [ ] Defer non-critical "Medium" priority items

7. Security Verification

Protect your site and users.

SSL/HTTPS

  • [ ] SSL certificate installed: HTTPS active on all pages
  • [ ] No mixed content: No "insecure content" warnings
  • [ ] Certificate valid: Not expired
  • [ ] Certificate trusted: From trusted certificate authority
  • [ ] Redirects to HTTPS: HTTP redirects to HTTPS automatically

Data Protection

  • [ ] Password fields masked: Passwords show as dots/asterisks
  • [ ] No sensitive data in URLs: Passwords/tokens not in address bar
  • [ ] Form data encrypted: Submitted over HTTPS
  • [ ] Sensitive files protected: Database files not web-accessible
  • [ ] Admin areas protected: Admin login required to access

User Permissions

  • [ ] Roles configured: Admin, Editor, Contributor properly set
  • [ ] Permissions enforced: Users can only access appropriate content
  • [ ] Public pages public: Published pages accessible to all
  • [ ] Draft pages hidden: Draft pages not accessible to public
  • [ ] Admin areas secured: Not accessible without authentication

Backups

  • [ ] Automated backups enabled: Daily backups configured
  • [ ] Backup tested: Verified backups can be restored
  • [ ] Backup location secure: Stored separately from main server
  • [ ] Backup schedule documented: Team knows backup process
  • [ ] Recovery process documented: Know how to restore from backup

Updates & Patches

  • [ ] CMS updated: Running latest SkyCMS version
  • [ ] Plugins updated: All extensions current
  • [ ] Dependencies updated: Libraries and frameworks current
  • [ ] No known vulnerabilities: Check security advisories

8. SEO Verification

Ensure site is discoverable in search engines.

On-Page SEO

  • [ ] Page titles optimized: 50-60 characters, includes keyword
  • [ ] Meta descriptions present: 150-160 characters, compelling
  • [ ] Heading hierarchy correct: One H1, proper H2/H3 structure
  • [ ] Keywords used naturally: Not keyword-stuffed
  • [ ] Alt text on images: All images have descriptive alt text
  • [ ] Internal links present: Pages link to related content
  • [ ] URLs descriptive: Not /page1, /temp, etc.
  • [ ] Mobile-friendly: Responsive design implemented

Technical SEO

  • [ ] Sitemap created: XML sitemap generated
  • [ ] Sitemap submitted: Submitted to Google Search Console
  • [ ] Robots.txt present: Configured correctly
  • [ ] Structured data: Schema markup implemented (if applicable)
  • [ ] Canonical tags: Implemented to avoid duplicate content
  • [ ] Mobile index first: Site optimized for mobile
  • [ ] No crawl errors: No blocked resources

Search Console & Analytics

  • [ ] Google Search Console: Verified and connected
  • [ ] Google Analytics: Installed and tracking traffic
  • [ ] Bing Webmaster: Connected (optional but recommended)
  • [ ] Tracking code working: Data being collected
  • [ ] Goals configured: Analytics goals set up
  • [ ] No tracking errors: Console shows no errors

9. Analytics & Monitoring

Set up tracking and monitoring.

Google Analytics

  • [ ] Tracking code installed: GA code on all pages
  • [ ] Tracking code working: Real-time data shows visits
  • [ ] Goals created: Key actions tracked
  • [ ] Conversions configured: Goal completions tracked
  • [ ] Funnels created: User flow tracking set up
  • [ ] Segments created: Visitor segments configured

Monitoring & Alerts

  • [ ] Uptime monitoring: Service monitoring downtime
  • [ ] Error alerts: Notified of site errors
  • [ ] Performance alerts: Notified if site slows down
  • [ ] Security alerts: Receive security notifications
  • [ ] Backup alerts: Notified if backups fail

Reporting Setup

  • [ ] Dashboard created: Analytics dashboard for key metrics
  • [ ] Reports scheduled: Auto-emails to stakeholders
  • [ ] KPIs identified: Know what to measure success by

10. Accessibility Verification

Ensure site is usable by everyone.

Keyboard Navigation

  • [ ] Tab order logical: Can tab through interactive elements
  • [ ] Skip links present: Skip to content link available
  • [ ] Focus visible: Can see which element has focus
  • [ ] No keyboard traps: Can tab out of all elements
  • [ ] Buttons keyboard accessible: Buttons work with Enter/Space

Screen Reader Compatibility

  • [ ] Images have alt text: Described for screen readers
  • [ ] Form labels present: Labels associated with inputs
  • [ ] Links descriptive: Link text describes destination
  • [ ] Headings semantic: Using H1-H6 properly, not for styling
  • [ ] ARIA labels (if needed): Used for complex elements
  • [ ] No color only: Information not conveyed by color alone

Color & Contrast

  • [ ] Contrast ratio adequate: Text readable (min 4.5:1)
  • [ ] Large text contrast: (min 3:1)
  • [ ] No red-green only: Not using only color to differentiate
  • [ ] Focus visible: Focus indicators have adequate contrast

Font & Text

  • [ ] Font readable: No decorative fonts for body text
  • [ ] Font size adequate: Base size 16px or larger
  • [ ] Line height adequate: Vertical spacing between lines
  • [ ] Line length reasonable: Max ~80 characters per line
  • [ ] Text not justified: Left-aligned, not justified (for readability)

Ensure legal requirements met.

  • [ ] Privacy Policy: Present and complete
  • [ ] Terms of Service: Present (if collecting data)
  • [ ] Cookie Policy: Present (if using cookies)
  • [ ] Disclaimers: Included if applicable
  • [ ] Copyright notice: Footer copyright up-to-date

Compliance

  • [ ] GDPR compliant: If targeting EU users
  • [ ] CCPA compliant: If targeting California users
  • [ ] Accessibility compliant: WCAG 2.1 AA standard
  • [ ] Email compliance: CAN-SPAM compliant (if marketing emails)
  • [ ] Cookie consent: Consent obtained if using cookies

Cookies & Tracking

  • [ ] Cookie banner present (if needed): Users informed of cookies
  • [ ] Privacy settings available: Users can control tracking
  • [ ] Consent obtained: Tracked with consent management tool
  • [ ] Third-party scripts disclosed: Analytics, ads, etc. disclosed

12. Launch Readiness

Final verification before launch.

Team Readiness

  • [ ] Team trained: Content creators trained on SkyCMS
  • [ ] Documentation ready: User guides and training materials prepared
  • [ ] Support contacts identified: Know who to contact for issues
  • [ ] Workflows established: Publishing process documented
  • [ ] Communication plan ready: Launch announcement prepared

Infrastructure

  • [ ] Hosting ready: Server configured and tested
  • [ ] Database ready: Database backed up and verified
  • [ ] Email configured: Contact forms can send emails
  • [ ] Domain points to site: DNS records configured
  • [ ] CDN configured (if used): Static files optimized
  • [ ] Load balancer ready (if applicable): Traffic distribution ready

Documentation

  • [ ] Admin guide: Technical documentation complete
  • [ ] User guide: Content creator documentation complete
  • [ ] API documentation (if applicable): Available
  • [ ] Architecture documented: System design documented
  • [ ] Credentials stored securely: Passwords in secure vault

Launch Plan

  • [ ] Launch date confirmed: Team aligned on date/time
  • [ ] Launch window identified: Off-peak time chosen
  • [ ] Launch communication: Email/announcement scheduled
  • [ ] Post-launch support: Team available for issues
  • [ ] Rollback plan: Know how to revert if critical issues

Summary & Sign-Off

Verification Summary

Total Items Checked: ___ / ___

Items Passed:
Items In Progress:
Items Failed: ___
Items N/A: ___

Overall Status: - [ ] ✅ Ready to Launch - [ ] ⚠️ Ready with known issues (document below) - [ ] ❌ Not Ready (resolve issues before launch)

Known Issues

Document any unresolved items:

Issue Severity Planned Fix Owner Due Date

Sign-Offs

QA/Testing Verified: __ Date:
Technical Lead Approved: __ Date:
Content Manager Approved: __ Date:
Project Lead Approved: __ Date:

Notes

[Additional notes about launch readiness, concerns, or successes]

Resources

Related Documentation: - Phase 6: Preparing for Handoff - Website Launch Workflow

Testing Tools: - Google PageSpeed Insights - Google Lighthouse - GTmetrix - Google Search Console - Google Analytics

Accessibility: - WCAG 2.1 Guidelines - Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE) - Contrast Checker

Congratulations on completing this comprehensive pre-launch checklist! Your website is now ready to launch with confidence.