New-product launch website checklist
A step-by-step checklist to prepare, launch, and follow up on a new product or service added to your website.
Adding a new product or service to your website is exciting — and easy to rush. A quick checklist saves you from launching with a broken payment link, an unoptimized image that loads slowly, or a page that's live but not yet announced. This guide covers everything from building the page to monitoring results after launch.
Quick summary
Before launching a new product or service page: write and review the copy, optimize your images, test all links and payment flows, and confirm integrations work. On launch day: publish the page, send your email announcement, and share on social. After launch: monitor for errors, check form submissions, and iterate based on what you see. A checklist prevents the most common launch mistakes.
How to use this checklist
Work through the stages in order. Some tasks can be delegated — the columns below indicate who usually handles each area.
Each stage has its own section below. The checklist items use checkboxes so you can print this page or copy the list into a ClickUp task.
Stage 1: Build (4 weeks before launch)
This is the foundation stage. Nothing else works if the page itself is not solid.
Page content
- The product or service has a dedicated page — not just a mention on your homepage
- The page has a clear, descriptive title (not just "New product" — use the actual name)
- The main description explains what the product does and who it is for, in plain language
- Features or benefits are listed clearly — bullet points work well here
- Pricing is stated clearly, including any variables (size, tier, add-ons)
- There is a clear call to action: a "Buy now" button, an "Enquire" form, or a "Book a call" link
- Any applicable shipping information, download instructions, or service delivery details are included
- Any applicable return or refund policy is linked or stated
Images & media
- At least one high-quality image represents the product or service accurately
- All images have been compressed for the web — large image files slow your page down. See How to compress images
- All images have descriptive alt text — this helps screen readers and search engines. See Alt text explained
- If there is a product video, it is properly embedded (not uploaded directly to WordPress unless it is very short)
- No placeholder images remain on the page
Image file sizes matter
A single uncompressed photo from a modern smartphone can be 8–12 MB. On a web page, images should typically be under 200 KB. Use a free tool like Squoosh (squoosh.app) to compress your images before uploading. Large images are one of the most common reasons a new product page loads slowly.
SEO basics
- The page has a unique, descriptive title tag — the text that appears as the headline in Google results
- The page has a meta description — the short summary that appears under the headline in Google results
- The page URL is clean and descriptive (e.g.
/products/handmade-soy-candlenot/page?id=2847) - The page is not set to "noindex" (which would hide it from search engines) — check with us if you are unsure
Stage 2: Test (1–2 weeks before launch)
Before anything goes public, test everything thoroughly.
Copy review
- Spelling and grammar have been proofread — read it out loud if possible
- All prices are accurate and match any other place prices are listed (invoicing system, brochures, etc.)
- No placeholder text remains (search the page for "Lorem ipsum," "TBD," or "DRAFT")
- The page reads well on a phone — have someone scroll through on their mobile device
Links & integrations
- Every button on the page goes to the right place
- If there is a "Buy now" or payment button: test the full purchase flow in test mode. Add to cart → checkout → payment → confirmation email
- If there is a form (enquiry, booking, waitlist): submit a test entry and confirm the notification arrives in your inbox
- If you use a CRM or email marketing tool (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.): confirm that test submissions appear in the right list or trigger the right automation
- Check that any discount codes or promotional pricing are configured correctly
Performance & design
- The page loads in a reasonable time — you can test this at PageSpeed Insights (free)
- The page looks correct on desktop
- The page looks correct on mobile — do a real check on an actual phone, not just a resized browser window
- No images are broken, blurry, or pixelated
Ask a colleague or trusted friend to test the purchase or enquiry flow. Fresh eyes catch things you have become blind to. Give them the URL and ask them to go through the process as if they were a real customer.
Check what happens after the action is taken. Where does the customer land after purchasing? After submitting a form? The thank-you page and confirmation email are part of the experience.
Stage 3: Launch day
Keep it simple. Have your content ready before the day so you are just pressing buttons, not writing under pressure.
Publish the page
- The page is published and publicly accessible (not in draft mode or behind a password)
- Confirm the URL works — visit it in a private/incognito browser window to see what a logged-out visitor sees
- Submit the new URL to Google Search Console so Google indexes it faster. See What is Google Search Console?
- If relevant: link to the new product page from related existing pages on your site (cross-linking helps both visitors and search engines)
Announce it
- Send your email announcement — your email marketing list if you have one, or a direct email to key clients
- Post to social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook — wherever your audience is)
- Update your homepage if the new product warrants a featured spot
- Consider adding the product to your site's navigation if it is a core offering
Time your announcement carefully
Send your email blast at a time when your audience is likely to read it. For most businesses, Tuesday–Thursday mornings tend to perform well. Avoid sending on the day before a major public holiday. Your email tool will often show you the best time based on past performance.
Stage 4: Post-launch (first 2 weeks after launch)
A launch is not the end of the work — it is the beginning of learning.
Monitor
- Check Google Analytics (or your analytics tool) for traffic to the new page — is it receiving visitors?
- Log in to your payment processor and confirm that real transactions are appearing correctly
- Check your contact inbox or CRM for any enquiries that have come in via the new page
- Review any bounce rate or engagement data on the new page — are visitors reading it and clicking, or leaving immediately?
Fix & improve
- Note any questions customers ask in early enquiries — these often signal gaps in your page copy
- If the page is not converting as expected, consider: Is the price clearly stated? Is the call to action prominent? Is the value proposition clear above the fold (visible without scrolling)?
- Update copy based on real feedback — launching is not the same as finishing
Common questions
Related guides
- Pre-launch checklist for a big update
- Seasonal website checks
- How to compress images
- Alt text explained
- How online payments work
- Website analytics, explained
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