The site is ready, design approved, copy uploaded — time to launch? Almost. The most expensive mistakes happen on release day: a page blocked from indexing, rankings lost to missing redirects, forms that never reach the CRM. Below is the checklist we use to hand over every website development project.
In short: before launch check indexing and robots, sitemap and redirects, unique titles and descriptions, structured data, speed and Core Web Vitals, forms and analytics, HTTPS and security headers.
1. Indexing
- The noindex used on staging has been removed.
- robots.txt does not block important sections and links to the sitemap.
- Utility pages (account, cart, search) are set to noindex.
- Every page has a correct canonical.
2. Structure and redirects
- If the site is migrating — a 301 redirect map from every old URL to the new one.
- No redirect chains and no links to 404s.
- One domain version: www or non-www, HTTPS only.
- Human-readable URLs without unnecessary parameters.
3. Content and metadata
| Element | What to check |
|---|---|
| Title | Unique, up to ~60 characters, with the keyword |
| Description | Unique, up to ~160 characters, with a benefit and call to action |
| H1 | One per page, reflecting the topic |
| Images | Compressed, modern format, alt text |
| Structured data | Organization, Service, Article, FAQ, Breadcrumb without errors |
| Open Graph | Image and copy for previews in social networks and messengers |
4. Speed
- Core Web Vitals in the green on mobile: LCP, INP, CLS.
- Fonts and scripts do not block rendering.
- Images are served at the right size and lazy-loaded below the fold.
5. Forms, analytics, CRM
- Every form is tested: the lead reaches the CRM and email.
- UTM parameters are stored with the lead.
- Analytics events and ad pixels fire once and at the right moment.
- The cookie banner works and passes consent correctly.
6. Security and legal
- HTTPS everywhere, HSTS and basic security headers.
- Spam protection on forms without hurting usability.
- Privacy policy, terms of use and cookie policy published.
- Backups and uptime monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
How long until SEO results after launch?
Indexing usually takes days to a few weeks, and rankings grow over months depending on competition and content. Submit the sitemap to webmaster tools right after launch.
What happens after launch?
The first two weeks are for monitoring errors, indexing and conversions. Then regular content and link work. For fast traffic, use Google Ads.
Do I need analytics from day one?
Absolutely. Without data from the first weeks you cannot tell what works. We set it up under marketing analytics.
Launching a site or migrating to a new one? Send a request on the websites page and we will check the project against the checklist and set up technical SEO, analytics and lead delivery to your CRM.