PLANNING // LAUNCH CHECKLIST
Website Project Checklist: Get Ready to Build
Better website projects begin with a short, usable brief. Before selecting animation styles or layouts, collect the information customers will actually look for. This checklist helps business owners and creators move from scattered files to a launch-ready plan.
1. Define the audience and primary action
Write one sentence describing who the site is for and what they should do next. That action might be requesting a quote, making a booking, calling, visiting a shop, or buying a product. If there are several audiences, decide which path should be most obvious.
2. Choose the initial pages
Many projects can begin with a home page, a services or products page, and a contact page. Add a portfolio, FAQ, booking, or about page when it answers an actual customer question. Give each page one clear purpose rather than repeating the same sales text everywhere.
3. Gather your brand materials
Locate an approved logo, brand colors, correct business name, contact details, social links, and any existing style guidelines. Use the highest-quality original files available. Decide which photos and illustrations you have permission to publish.
4. Prepare factual page content
List the services you really provide, your service area, business hours, practical pricing information if public, and the process customers should expect. Write clear descriptions in everyday language. Invented claims, reviews, and service areas can damage credibility.
5. Confirm technical ownership
Document who controls the domain, DNS, web hosting, email, payment account, analytics account, and any external form tools. Decide whether the site needs a content controller and who will maintain it after launch.
6. Test before launch
Check phone layouts, text contrast, links, navigation, forms, checkout if applicable, alt text for meaningful imagery, loading stability, canonical URLs, and sitemap accuracy. Review the same site on a real phone as well as a desktop browser.
7. Prepare for ongoing discovery
Connect the site to an eligible search performance account, keep business listings accurate, and publish helpful material only when you have something meaningful to add. SEO is ongoing: check which pages are discoverable and which visitor questions remain unanswered.
Common questions
What should I send a website designer first?
Start with your business goal, proposed page list, logo, current site URL if there is one, contact information, and three examples of sites you find clear.
Do I need professional photos before launching?
Not always. Strong original photos help when product details, people, places, or visual quality drive purchasing decisions. Avoid publishing low-resolution placeholders.
Can I update the website after it launches?
Yes, but the method depends on the site architecture and agreed maintenance plan. Ask about editing access and ongoing support during planning.