Website launch checklist

The checks a website should pass before launch, and the criteria for Sprocket Rocket certification.

Use this checklist to make sure your website meets every criterion before launch. It is also the checklist we use to review sites for certification.

Marketer

Fill out every form on the page with a test submission. Check that it shows the correct inline message or redirect, and that the autoresponder is delivered
Check that error messages work and make sense
When testing a form, check the form submissions and the CRM to confirm it logs correctly
Submit the form on multiple devices and operating systems

Proofread all content
Review copy for spelling, content, or formatting errors
Check for incorrect punctuation, particularly apostrophes, quotation marks, and hyphens or dashes
Make sure spelling and grammar are consistent
Check that each page is skimmable
Make sure images are properly labeled and have alt text
Verify CTA language is consistent
Confirm important buttons are set up as HubSpot CTAs
Check the footer for {{ year }}, the company name, and a Privacy Policy linked to the correct page

Set up heat maps and screen recordings
Set up Google Analytics: find the tracking code, confirm it with the client, and install it on the new site
Set up Search Console
Check Google tags to make sure analytics isn't double firing or double counting leads

Click through every link in the main navigation
Click every link on every page, and make sure external links open in a new window
Make sure the logo links to the home page
Make sure audio and video files work properly
Check that the favicon loads
Run key pages through Pingdom and optimize images and videos (under a 2 second load and 4 MB)
Check PageSpeed Insights scores (mobile 70, desktop 80)
Make sure the footer links to the home page
Verify social media links open in a new tab

Test the site on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile
Check these breakpoints: ≥1400px, ≥1200px, ≥992px, ≥768px, ≥576px, and under 576px
Test the preview in BrowserStack on all major operating systems and browsers, including mobile
Check how modules stack on mobile. Does the order make sense, and is there enough spacing between sections?

Navigation and footer are correct
The blog subscribe form works
Listing: topic links work, pagination works, and featured images display properly
Post: easy to read, author, date, and tags are present, every post has an offer, and inline links are obvious
Post: related or next post (if applicable)
Comments work (if applicable)

Test the URL through Content Staging for Core Web Vitals scores in Google's PageSpeed Insights
Make sure Google AMP is off for the blog
Check the blog search results page, confirming the layout and links are on brand