Short answer
Before a website goes live, check that every page has its own title and description, one clear heading, real contact details and images with alt text, that forms reach a person, and that search engines are allowed in. After launch, test again on a phone and confirm the sitemap and tracking work. A written list stops small mistakes reaching customers.
Why launch day goes wrong in small ways
Launch is usually rushed. The builder is tired, the owner wants it live, and settings from the building stage stay switched on. The most common result is not a disaster. It is a phone number with a typo, a form that goes nowhere, or a page that search engines were told to ignore.
A written checklist fixes this. Print it, tick it, and give it to someone who did not build the site.
Words on every page
- Each page has its own title, short enough to read in full in search results.
- Each page has a meta description that says what the visitor will find.
- Each page has one main heading, and the smaller headings follow in a sensible order.
- No leftover sample text from the template. Search the whole site for words you did not write.
- Spelling and names are checked, including the name of the business and its owner.
Images and files
- Every meaningful image has alt text that describes what it shows.
- Photos are resized before upload, so pages load quickly on mobile data.
- You own or have permission to use every picture, including any from a template.
- The small browser tab icon is set.
- Every download link, such as a menu or a brochure, opens the right file.
Contact details and forms
- Phone number, email and address are the same on every page and match your Google Business Profile.
- On a phone, tapping the number starts a call.
- Send a test message through every form. Confirm that the right person receives it, and check the spam folder too.
- The form shows a clear thank-you message after sending.
- Opening hours are correct, including any holiday changes.
Legal and trust pages
Most business sites need a privacy notice, and some need terms or a cookie notice, depending on what they collect and where the visitors live. Add an about page with real names and a real address. Rules differ by country and by industry, so this is not legal advice. Ask a qualified adviser what applies to you.
Behind the scenes: search and tracking
- Switch off any setting that asks search engines to stay away. Builders often keep it on during the build.
- Open the robots.txt file and read it. Make sure it does not block the whole site.
- Check that a sitemap exists, and submit it in Google Search Console.
- If web addresses changed in a redesign, set up a redirect from each old address to its new one.
- Make sure the analytics tag is on every page.
- Open the site with the secure address and check that no page shows a browser warning.
- Check that a missing page shows a friendly message with a link home.
The day after launch
- Open the site on a real phone, using mobile data and not your office Wi-Fi.
- Click every link in the menu and the footer.
- Send another test message through the main form.
- Watch the real-time view in your analytics while a friend visits.
- Run a site audit and fix the top items first.
- In the following weeks, check Search Console to see whether your main pages are being found.
Where AI Marketing Master fits
The website audit crawler checks titles, meta descriptions, headings, broken links, redirects, images without alt text, canonical tags, the sitemap and robots.txt, HTTPS and mobile basics. Run it right after launch, then work through the plain-English list of what to fix first.
What it does not do
- Menu names and settings differ between website builders, so this list says what to check and not where to click.
- The audit looks at public pages only. It does not test whether your forms reach the right inbox, so test those by hand.
- Legal pages depend on your country and business, and this checklist is not legal advice.
Questions people ask
How long before launch should I start checking?
Start the written list a week early, so there is time to fix what you find. If your website builder offers a private test copy, do the final pass there.
Should I hide the site from search engines while I build it?
It is sensible to hide an unfinished site. Write down how you did it, so you remember to switch it off on launch day.
What if my web addresses change in the redesign?
Map each old address to its new one and set up redirects. Without them, old links and bookmarks lead to error pages.
Who should test the forms?
Someone who did not build the site, on both a phone and a computer. The person who receives the enquiries should confirm that they arrived.
Is a sitemap required?
No, but it helps search engines find your pages, and Search Console can tell you whether it was read.
We only describe what the product really does today. Results depend on your business, your market and many things no tool controls.