Website pre-launch checklist
Is your website actually ready to go live? Before you share that link with the world, give this checklist a quick run-through. It takes about 20 minutes and could save you a lot of headaches (and lost enquiries).
Most websites go live ever so slightly too soon because the practical bits get missed in the excitement of finally being done with it. This is the unsexy but essential stuff. Trust me, future you will be grateful!
The basics
Your domain is connected and working (type it into an incognito window and check)
Your SSL certificate is active (the padlock icon should show in the browser bar - if it says "Not Secure", fix this before you go anywhere)
Your site title and tagline are set correctly in your settings - not still "My Squarespace Website"
Your favicon is uploaded (the little icon that appears in the browser tab)
Your logo is showing correctly on desktop and mobile
Your site isn't password protected any more (have definitely done this more than once!)
Every page
Each page has a proper H1 heading (one per page, not three)
Every page has an SEO title and meta description written (not auto-generated)
All images have alt text added
No placeholder text anywhere - no "Lorem ipsum", no "Add your text here", no "Coming soon" unless that's intentional
All buttons and links work and go where they're supposed to - tip: get someone else to test each page for you, you’d be surprised what gets missed!
No broken images (click through every single page)
Your contact details
Your contact form actually sends (fill it in yourself and check)
Your email address is correct and goes to an inbox you actually check
Any phone numbers are clickable on mobile
Your business address or location is on there if it's relevant
Mobile
Every page looks good on a phone (use your actual phone, not just the editor preview)
Text is readable without zooming in
Buttons are big enough to tap easily
Nothing is cut off or overlapping
The legal bits
You have a Privacy Policy page (legally required if you're collecting any data - forms, email signups, analytics)
Your cookie consent banner is set up
Any terms of business are linked if relevant
If you're selling anything, your refund policy and T&Cs are visible
Before you shout about it
Test your site in an incognito window while logged out - this is what visitors actually see
Open it on a different device if you can
Ask someone else to click around and tell you if anything is confusing
Check your Google Analytics or Squarespace Analytics is set up so you can actually track visitors
Need someone to check it over before you go live? Send me your URL and I'll take a look! Sometimes a second pair of eyes spots the thing you've stopped being able to see.