Launching a brand-new website or design overhaul can seem like quite a daunting task or it can appear extremely simple if you’re unaware of everything that could go wrong.

That is why a Quality Assurance or Launch Checklist is extremely useful.

It’s simply a list of checks and tests that need to be performed before or after the website has been deployed to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Let’s take a look at the checklist we use at White Peak Digital.

Content

  • All text is free of spelling errors
  • Page and content formatted on all pages
  • Placeholder content removed
  • All pages have content
  • Print stylesheet exists and tested
  • Favicon displays correctly (including retina)
  • Footer includes copyright statement
  • 404 page created
  • Privacy Policy included
  • Correct author is attributed to posts (as required)

SEO & Analytics

  • Page titles are descriptive and SEO friendly
  • All page titles are unique
  • Meta data included and appropriate
  • H1 tags used for page titles with only one per page
  • XML sitemap has been generated and added to root of website
  • robots.txt is generated and added to root of website
  • 301 redirects for existing website are prepared and in place (as required)
  • Website can be accessed by search engines (remove noindex and nofollow)
  • Google Analytics and relevant analytics / tracking tools installed

Social Media

  • Open Graph tags included across website? (including images where possible)
  • Social accounts integrated, linking to correct URLs and use API for integrations

Markup

  • HTML has passed validation (or known issues noted)
  • CSS has passed validation (or known issues noted)
  • Site links have been tested and resolve correctly
  • JavaScript is error free

Accessibility

  • Website meets appropriate level of WCAG compliance
  • ARIA Landmark Roles specified
  • Images use appropriate ALT text
  • Semantic headings and structure used
  • Links are clearly recognisable and have :focus state
  • Alternatives provided for users with JavaScript disabled
  • Associated label for all form controls
  • Colour contrast tested

Compatibility

  • Displays & functions correctly in IE11 (IE10 and IE9 optional)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Microsoft Edge
  • Displays & functions correctly in Firefox (Windows)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Firefox (Mac)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (Windows)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (Mac)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Safari (Mac)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Safari (iOS – Mobile)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Safari (iOS – iPad)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (iOS – Mobile)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (iOS – iPad)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (Android – Mobile)
  • Displays & functions correctly in Chrome (Android – Tablet)
  • Displays & functions correctly in stock browser (Android)
  • Displays & functions correctly on large resolutions

Functionality

  • Forms have been tested and processed correctly
  • Required fields have been tested
  • Review input validation (min / max lengths and character limits)
  • Forms send to the correct recipient
  • Forms have confirmation URL or event tracking so submissions can be tracked
  • Forms process correctly with JavaScript disabled
  • Website search and search results function correctly

Optimisation

  • Images have been optimised
  • CSS is minified and combined
  • JavaScript is minified and combined
  • Enable gzip compression
  • Ensure only necessary fonts, weights and character sets are installed
  • Run Google speed test and optimise accordingly (record results)
  • Run Web page test and optimise accordingly (record results)
  • Incorporate CDN and caching as required

Security

  • Secure areas are locked and not accessible by search engines
  • Default CMS login URL is changed
  • Default CMS username is changed
  • SSL Certificate is requested

Post Launch

  • Ensure site is visible to search engines
  • SSL certificates successfully installed
  • Images, media and links reference live URL
  • Webfonts integrated and working correctly on live site
  • 301 redirects are in place and working correctly
  • Generate a new sitemap.xml and upload to root
  • Site added to Google Webmaster tools and sitemap submitted
  • Analytics has been setup and integrated into website

That’s it, you’ve made it to the bottom of our Pre & Post Launch Checklist!

If you’re interested in finding out more about Brisbane web design projects then you should check out our post 7 Phases Of A Web Design Project.

If you have any questions about this launch checklist or your new website please feel free to get in touch with us anytime.

To your success,
Jackson