The launch checklist: 12 things to check before your website goes live

Most websites aren't let down by their design. They're let down by the last mile: a missing padlock, a phone number you can't tap, a photo that takes eight seconds to load on mobile data. None of it is hard to fix — it's just easy to miss when you're excited to launch.

Here's the checklist we'd go through before pressing publish. Twelve checks, grouped into four parts, each with what to look for.

The basics

1. Your domain, with the padlock

Your site should open on your own domain, with the padlock in the address bar. Check both versions — with and without www — and make sure one leads to the other. A “Not secure” warning is the fastest way to lose a visitor's trust.

2. It works on a phone

Most of your visitors will arrive on a phone, so test on yours. Can you read the text without zooming? Are buttons big enough to hit with a thumb? Does anything make the page scroll sideways? And can people call you with one tap, instead of copying your number?

3. It loads fast

Images are the usual culprit. A photo straight from a camera can weigh several megabytes — on mobile data, that's seconds of a blank screen, and the moment many people go back. Resize images to the size they're actually shown at, and use a modern format.

Trust

4. Your details are right — everywhere

Your business name, address, phone number and opening hours should be identical on your website, your Google Business Profile and any directory you appear in. Mismatches confuse customers and search engines alike.

5. Real photos and real proof

Stock photos look like stock photos. Show your place, your work and your team — and put reviews where people make their decision, not hidden on a separate page.

6. One clear next step on every page

Book, call, order, ask. Every page should make the next step obvious, and it should be the same step you want most.

Legal

7. A privacy policy

If your site collects anything — a contact form, a booking, a newsletter signup, visitor statistics — you almost certainly need a privacy policy that says what you collect, why, and for how long.

8. A legal notice, where the law asks for one

In Germany and Austria, businesses need an Impressum: your name, address, contact details and, where they apply, your register entry and VAT number. Many other countries ask for similar company details on commercial websites. Check what applies where you're based.

9. A cookie banner only if you need one

In the EU, cookies that track visitors need consent first — that's what the banners are for. But if your statistics work without cookies, you may not need a banner for them at all. Fewer banners, happier visitors.

This is a checklist, not legal advice. If you're unsure what applies to your business, ask someone qualified.

Be found

10. A title and description for every page

The title is the blue line people click in search results; the description is the text under it. Keep titles under about 60 characters and say what you do and where: “Physiotherapy in Leipzig-Plagwitz” beats “Home”.

11. Tell Google you exist

Add your site to Google Search Console — it's free and shows which searches you appear for. If you serve customers locally, claim your Google Business Profile and link it to your new site.

12. A preview image for sharing

When someone shares your link on WhatsApp or LinkedIn, a good preview image makes it look intentional. Around 1200 × 630 pixels works almost everywhere.

After you press publish

Launching isn't the end of the checklist. In the first week:

• Send yourself a test through every form, and check the entry arrives.
• Watch your statistics — where visitors come from, and which pages they leave from.
• Keep a version you can return to, so a later change never puts your working site at risk.

How Firelent helps

If you build with Firelent, a lot of this is set up for you. SSL comes with your domain. The privacy policy and legal notice are written from your business details and stay in sync when they change. Visitor statistics work without cookies, page titles and descriptions start from your business details, and every version of your site is saved.

The rest — your photos, your proof, your next step — is the part only you can bring. For the full walkthrough, see the landing page guide in our docs.