What should I check before launching a website?

At minimum: every form sends to the right inbox, old URLs redirect, robots.txt and noindex tags from staging are removed, analytics is recording, the sitemap is submitted and the site works on a real phone.

How do I keep my rankings when I launch a new site?

Keep URLs the same where you can, set up 301 redirects for every URL that changes, keep the content that ranks, and submit the new sitemap in Google Search Console.

How long after launch will Google index my site?

It varies from days to weeks. Submitting a sitemap and requesting indexing for key pages in Search Console usually speeds it up.

Is my progress saved?

Yes, in this browser’s local storage. Nothing is sent to me, and you can reset the list at any time.

Website launch checklist

This is the checklist I run before any website goes live, from redirects and forms to analytics, accessibility and AI crawlers. Tick items off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back to it.

How to use it

Work through one group at a time, ideally on the live domain just before or after launch.
Tick each item when you have checked it, not when you think it is done.
Use the notes under each item for what to look for.
Come back after a week and recheck the analytics and Search Console items.

Why it matters

Most launch problems are small and invisible: a contact form that sends to an old address, a staging rule that blocks Google, old URLs that now return 404 errors and lose years of search history overnight.

None of them are hard to fix. They are just easy to miss when everyone is focused on how the site looks. A checklist turns launch day from hopeful into routine.

The list is grouped in the order I work through it: content first, then forms and tracking, then search, then speed and accessibility, then the newer AI search checks.

Good to know

Redirects first
If you are replacing an old site, map every old URL to its new home before launch. It is the single biggest protector of existing rankings.
Test as a stranger
Use a private window on your phone, on mobile data. That is how most visitors will see it.
Saved locally
Ticks are stored in this browser only. Clearing site data resets the list.

FAQ