Launch QA checklist

How to use this

Run through this checklist twice: once before the client reviews the site, and once more right before and right after it goes live on their domain. Test on a real phone, not just a narrow browser window. Tick each item only when you have actually checked it, not when you think it is probably fine. Anything you skip, write down in the notes at the bottom with a reason, so it is a decision and not an accident.

This is not legal advice. The legal items below only check that the pages exist and are linked. What those pages must say depends on where the client operates, and the client should get qualified advice on the content.

Project details

Field	Value
Site	[domain.com]
Preview link	[URL]
Tested by	[Name]
Date	[Date]
Pass	[Client review / Launch / After launch]

Content

• Every page in the sitemap exists and is reachable from the navigation or footer
• No lorem ipsum, placeholder markers or "coming soon" sections are left
• Business name, address, phone and email are correct and the same on every page
• Opening hours are correct
• Prices, if shown, match what the client gave you
• Every review or testimonial is real and supplied by the client
• Spelling and grammar checked on every page
• The copyright year or date in the footer is correct
• Images are the client's own or properly licensed

Mobile and layout

• Checked on a real phone, held upright and sideways
• Checked at about 360px, 768px and 1280px wide
• No sideways scrolling on any page
• Text is readable without zooming
• Buttons and links are easy to tap and not crowded together
• The main call to action is visible on the first screen on a phone
• Phone numbers are tappable and dial the right number
• The menu opens, closes and every link works
• Checked in at least two different browsers

Links and navigation

• Every internal link works
• Every external link works and opens where expected
• Email links open a new message to the right address
• Map or directions link points to the right place
• The 404 page exists and links back home
• Redirects from old URLs work, if this replaces an older site

Forms

• Each form submits successfully
• A test submission arrived in the client's inbox, not spam
• Required fields show a clear error when left empty
• The success message appears after sending
• Spam protection is on
• The client knows where submissions go

Speed

• Ran the homepage and one inner page through a free page speed testing tool
• Images are resized and compressed
• No huge files load on the homepage
• Maps, videos and widgets do not slow the first view
• Recorded the scores here so you have a before and after: [ ]

Search basics

• Every page has a unique title and meta description
• One h1 per page, and heading levels in order
• Images have alt text
• Sitemap file exists and lists every page
• Robots file does not block the live site (check this one carefully at launch)
• Any "noindex" setting used on the preview is removed on the live site
• Local business details are consistent with the client's map listing
• Analytics is installed and recording a test visit

Accessibility

• Can use every page with only a keyboard
• Focus is always visible
• Form fields have labels
• Text has enough contrast against its background
• Page still works at 200% zoom
• Videos have captions, if there are any

Legal pages and notices

• Privacy policy page exists and is linked in the footer
• Cookie notice is in place, if the client's location and tools require one
• Any terms page the client requested exists
• Form pages link to the privacy policy

Domain, DNS and HTTPS (launch pass)

• Wrote down every existing DNS record before changing anything
• Email records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) were left untouched and email still works
• The domain and the www version both load the site
• One of them redirects to the other, so there is one main address
• HTTPS works with a valid certificate, with no browser warning
• Plain http addresses redirect to https
• No mixed content warnings in the browser console

After launch

• Checked the live site on a phone and a laptop
• Submitted one real test through each form on the live domain
• Analytics shows the visit
• Submitted the sitemap in the search engine's site tools, if you manage them
• Backup of the launched version saved
• Rollback steps written down and tested on the preview
• Told the client it is live, with the link

Notes

Item skipped or failed	Reason	Fix by
[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
[ ]	[ ]	[ ]