Launching Your Website: Pre-Launch Testing and Checklist

Before launching your website, it is crucial to conduct thorough pre-launch testing and follow a detailed checklist to ensure a smooth, error-free launch and optimal user experience.

Key pre-launch testing and checklist items include:

• Content Check: Review all website content for spelling, grammar, and placeholder text (e.g., lorem ipsum). Don’t forget hidden pages, form success messages, and CMS content.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing: Verify that your website displays and functions correctly across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and their common versions. Check layout consistency and interactive elements like buttons and dropdowns.

• Device Testing: Test your website on various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure responsive design and usability.

• Forms and Interactive Elements: Test every form (contact, signup, lead generation) to confirm submissions work, confirmation messages appear, and validation messages are clear. Also, test all buttons, links, and calls to action (CTAs) to ensure they lead to the correct destinations and are not broken.

• Navigation: Check all menus (header, footer, sidebar) for correct links, logical organization, and accurate highlighting of the current page.

• User Accounts and Login (if applicable): Confirm registration, login, logout, and password recovery functions work properly, and user-specific content displays correctly.

• URL and SEO Checks: Ensure all URLs are correct, especially after moving from staging to production. Install and configure SEO plugins, verify unique page titles and meta descriptions, and confirm XML sitemaps exist and function properly.

• Performance and Security Testing: Assess site speed, load times, and security measures to protect user data and maintain trust.

• Legal Compliance: Verify that privacy policies, terms of service, and cookie notices are in place if required.

• Post-Launch Monitoring: After launch, monitor site performance, fix any issues, and update content as needed.

Following this comprehensive pre-launch testing and checklist will help prevent user frustration, improve search engine rankings, and ensure your website delivers a seamless experience from day one.