Site Launch Workshop / GUIDE
A website launch check you can actually complete
Test tasks, ownership and recovery before announcing the new site.
Choose three visitor tasks
Write down the three things a first-time visitor should accomplish. For a service business these may be understanding the offer, finding coverage information and contacting the operator. Test each task from the homepage without relying on a search box or knowledge of the site structure.
Test the contact route
Send a realistic test inquiry containing no sensitive personal information. Verify that it reaches the intended inbox and that any acknowledgement contains the correct next step. Check spam folders and reply from the receiving account. If the site uses an email link, confirm that the address is visible to visitors who do not have a mail application configured.
Inspect small screens and keyboard use
Open menus, enter form values and follow links at a narrow screen width. Use Tab to move through controls and confirm focus stays visible. A label should explain what an input needs; placeholder text alone disappears when someone types. W3C provides a useful starting point for labeling form controls.
Confirm ownership and recovery
List the registrar, hosting account, source location and administrator responsible for each service. Keep a backup outside the live folder and try restoring it to an isolated location. A backup file that has never been opened is an unverified recovery plan. Record the steps someone else would need to follow.
Approve evidence, then announce
Use the downloaded acceptance worksheet to record the tester, date, result and correction for each item. Recheck failed tasks after a fix. Announce the website only when critical contact and recovery tasks work. Analytics and ad-network approval are separate checks; neither is a substitute for a functioning site.
Primary references
Checked November 12, 2026. Consult the current original guidance for context.
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples are constructed for explanation, not reported client results. Corrections are welcome.