Pre-launch checklist for a big update

Everything to verify before a major website update, new feature, or redesign goes live.

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Maintenance topicChecklist topicGetting started topicPerformance topic

Before any major change goes live on your website (a redesign, a new feature, a new e-commerce section, or a large content overhaul), there's a checklist to run through. This guide covers what to verify before you hit publish on something big.

When to use this checklist

Use this guide for:

  • A full or partial website redesign
  • A major new section (adding e-commerce, a booking system, a member area)
  • A large content migration or restructuring
  • A platform migration (moving from one CMS to another)
  • A significant WordPress theme change

For routine updates and content changes, the website health checklist and the monthly check are sufficient.

Pre-launch checklist

Before you start

0 of 5 done

  • A fresh, complete backup has been taken today
  • The backup has been tested and confirmed restorable
  • All changes have been built and tested on the staging site
  • The staging site has been reviewed and approved (by you or the relevant stakeholder)
  • The launch window is scheduled at a low-traffic time for your site

Saved in this browser only.

Content & copy

0 of 8 done

  • All placeholder text (like "Lorem ipsum") has been replaced
  • Business name, address, phone, email, and hours are correct
  • All prices are accurate
  • All services and products are listed correctly
  • Staff bios are current
  • Legal pages (privacy policy, terms, cookie policy) are present and current
  • Copyright year in footer is correct
  • All images have alt text

Saved in this browser only.

Navigation & links

0 of 5 done

  • All main navigation links work and go to the right pages
  • All footer links work
  • Any internal links (links from one page to another) work correctly
  • If any page URLs changed, redirects have been set up from the old URLs to the new ones
  • The 404 page (shown when a page isn't found) looks good and is helpful

Saved in this browser only.

Forms & functionality

0 of 6 done

  • Contact form submits and delivers correctly
  • If there's a store: complete a test purchase end-to-end (add to cart → checkout → confirmation)
  • Order confirmation emails are delivered to both you and the customer (in test mode)
  • Any booking or scheduling systems work correctly
  • Search works (if applicable)
  • Any CRM, mailing list, or integration is connected and receiving data

Saved in this browser only.

Design & performance

0 of 6 done

  • The site looks correct on a desktop browser
  • The site looks correct on a phone (check in a real mobile browser, not just a resized window)
  • The site looks correct on a tablet
  • No images are broken or missing
  • No obvious layout issues (text overlapping, images too large, elements misaligned)
  • The site loads in a reasonable time on a mobile connection

Saved in this browser only.

Trust & security

0 of 4 done

  • SSL certificate is active (the address starts with https:// on every page)
  • No "Not secure" warnings appear
  • Google Analytics or your analytics tool is tracking correctly
  • Favicon (the small icon in the browser tab) is correct

Saved in this browser only.

After launch

Do a live walkthrough. Walk through your site as a visitor would, from the homepage to the contact form or purchase flow. On the actual live site, not staging.

Check on your phone. Visit the live site on a real mobile device.

Submit a test form. Send a test message through your contact form and verify you receive it.

Check your analytics. Confirm that page views are tracking correctly in Google Analytics or your analytics tool.

Monitor for the first few hours. Keep an eye out for any unusual error reports or customer feedback in the hours after launch.

Have your rollback plan ready. If something goes seriously wrong, we can restore from the backup taken before launch. Know how to reach us quickly. See When & how to request emergency support.

Common questions

What if we find a problem after launch?

Small issues (a broken link, a typo) can be fixed immediately. For something more serious, we can either fix it quickly on the live site or roll back to the pre-launch backup. Contact us immediately if something is seriously wrong.

How long before a launch should I start this checklist?

Start the pre-launch review at least 48 hours before the intended launch time. This gives you time to catch and fix issues without rushing. For a major redesign, allow a full week of pre-launch review.

Who is responsible for the launch checklist?

We handle the technical items. You (or your designated team member) are responsible for reviewing and approving the content items: prices, copy, team bios, and so on. Only you know if the content is correct.

What is a rollback?

A rollback means restoring your site to the state it was in before the launch, using the backup we took immediately beforehand. It's our insurance policy. See Restoring your site from a backup.

Go deeper: if your launch is tied to an event, Your trade show is in eight weeks: get the website ready on our main site works back from the show date.

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