Launching a website is the moment everything gets tested at once. Miss one thing (a broken form, no SSL, blocked from Google) and you can lose leads or rankings from day one. This website go-live checklist walks through everything to check before and after you launch, grouped so you can work through it and go live with confidence.
How to use this go-live checklist
Work top to bottom. The pre-launch checks stop problems before they happen; the launch-day and post-launch checks confirm everything works once you are live. Tick each item off. For a big site, assign owners so nothing slips.
Pre-launch: content and design
- All pages are complete, with no placeholder or “lorem ipsum” text
- Content is proofread for spelling, grammar, and accuracy
- Contact details, hours, and address are correct everywhere
- Images are optimised (compressed, correct size) with alt text
- Branding is consistent (logo, colours, fonts)
- Legal pages are in place (privacy policy, terms, PDPA notice)
- The 404 error page is friendly and helpful
Pre-launch: technical
- Hosting is ready and can handle your expected traffic
- The domain is set up and pointing correctly
- An SSL certificate is installed and the site runs on HTTPS
- The site loads fast (test Core Web Vitals and page speed)
- The site works on all devices and browsers (mobile, tablet, desktop)
- All links work, with no broken links or 404s
- All forms work and send to the right inbox
- Redirects are set up (especially if replacing an old site)
- A backup system is in place
Pre-launch: SEO
- Every page has a unique title tag and meta description
- One clear H1 per page, with a logical heading structure
- URLs are clean and readable
- An XML sitemap is ready to submit
- robots.txt allows the site to be crawled (remove any “discourage search engines” setting)
- No important pages are set to noindex by mistake
- Schema markup is added where relevant (Organisation, LocalBusiness, FAQ, Product)
- Google Analytics and Search Console are set up
- Open Graph and social preview tags are in place
Pre-launch: security and compliance
- HTTPS is enforced across the whole site
- Admin logins use strong passwords and limited access
- Software, themes, and plugins are updated
- A security plugin or firewall is active
- Forms are protected against spam
- PDPA-compliant consent and privacy notices are in place
- Cookie consent is handled where needed
Launch day
- Remove the “discourage search engines” setting so Google can index the site
- Point the domain to the live site and confirm it loads
- Confirm HTTPS works with no mixed-content warnings
- Test the key journeys live: navigation, forms, checkout, and payment
- Submit the XML sitemap in Google Search Console
- Request indexing of key pages
- Check the site on mobile once live
Post-launch: monitor and maintain
- Monitor Search Console for coverage and indexing issues
- Check Analytics is recording traffic correctly
- Watch for broken links and 404s in the first weeks
- Confirm forms and enquiries are arriving
- Monitor site speed and uptime
- Set a schedule for backups and updates
- Plan ongoing content and SEO
Common go-live mistakes to avoid
- Launching with search engines blocked, so Google never indexes the site.
- No SSL or mixed content, which shows a “not secure” warning.
- Broken forms, so enquiries silently disappear.
- No redirects from the old site, losing rankings and traffic.
- Slow, unoptimised pages that lose visitors immediately.
- No analytics or Search Console, so you are launching blind.
Frequently asked questions
What is a website go-live checklist?
A website go-live checklist is a list of everything to check before and after launching a site, covering content, technical setup, SEO, security, and post-launch monitoring, so nothing important is missed on launch day.
What should I check before launching a website?
Complete, proofread content; a fast, mobile-friendly, secure (HTTPS) site; working links and forms; SEO basics (titles, sitemap, indexing enabled); analytics and Search Console; and legal and PDPA pages.
What is the most common launch mistake?
Going live with search engines blocked (the “discourage search engines” setting still on), so Google never indexes the site. Always remove it and submit your sitemap on launch day.
Do I need to submit my sitemap to Google after launch?
Yes. Submit your XML sitemap in Google Search Console and request indexing of key pages, so Google finds and ranks your site sooner.
How long does it take to launch a website?
The build takes weeks to months; the go-live itself is a day or two of final checks and switching over. This checklist keeps that switch smooth.
The bottom line
A smooth launch is not luck; it is a checklist. Work through the pre-launch, launch-day, and post-launch checks above, and you go live with a fast, secure, indexable site that works on every device, with nothing broken and nothing missed. Then keep monitoring in the first weeks, because launch is the start, not the finish.
Launching a new site and want it done right? Talk to MediaPlus Digital about web design and development and claim a free RM300 consultation.
