Launching your first business website can feel overwhelming—but with a clear checklist, you can avoid costly mistakes and ensure your site is professional, functional, and built to grow with your business.
1. Planning & Strategy
☐ Define your website’s purpose (branding, lead generation, e-commerce, portfolio, etc.)
☐ Identify your target audience and what they expect from your site
☐ Research competitors’ websites for design and feature inspiration
☐ Decide the type of website you need (corporate site, e-commerce store, portfolio, blog, or hybrid)
☐ Plan your website structure (Home, About, Services/Products, Blog, Contact, etc.)
2. Domain & Hosting Setup
☐ Choose and register a short, brand-friendly domain name
☐ Select a reliable hosting provider (consider speed, uptime, and support)
☐ Get an SSL certificate (HTTPS) for secure browsing
☐ Set up professional business email (e.g., name@yourbusiness.com)
3. Design & User Experience
☐ Choose a modern, responsive theme/template (mobile-friendly is a must)
☐ Keep branding consistent (logo, colors, fonts)
☐ Ensure navigation is simple and intuitive
☐ Optimize for accessibility (contrast, text size, alt text for images)
☐ Use professional, high-quality images and visuals
4. Content Essentials
☐ Write a clear, compelling homepage with value-driven messaging
☐ Create an “About Us” page to build trust
☐ Add service/product pages with benefits and CTAs
☐ Include testimonials, reviews, or case studies for credibility
☐ Publish at least 2–3 blog posts/resources (for SEO and authority)
☐ Proofread for grammar, clarity, and professionalism
5. Technical Setup
☐ Install WordPress (or chosen CMS) and configure it properly
☐ Set up SEO plugins/tools (e.g., Yoast SEO, Rank Math)
☐ Optimize site speed (caching, image compression, CDN)
☐ Ensure mobile responsiveness across devices
☐ Implement security measures (firewall, anti-malware plugins, backups)
6. SEO & Analytics
☐ Research and use keywords relevant to your business
☐ Add meta titles, descriptions, and alt text for images
☐ Create a sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console
☐ Set up Google Analytics (GA4) for traffic tracking
☐ Optimize URLs (short, keyword-friendly)
7. Legal & Compliance
☐ Add Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages
☐ Include a Cookie Policy/Consent banner if targeting EU users (GDPR compliance)
☐ Display contact information clearly (address, phone, email)
☐ Ensure ADA/WCAG compliance for accessibility
8. Conversion & Lead Generation
☐ Add clear CTAs (Call-to-Actions) across pages
☐ Set up lead capture forms (newsletter, inquiries, quote requests)
☐ Integrate with CRM or email marketing tools (Mailchimp, HubSpot, etc.)
☐ Add live chat or chatbot for real-time support (optional but useful)
9. Testing Before Launch
☐ Test website speed on tools like Google PageSpeed Insights
☐ Check for broken links and 404 errors
☐ Test all forms, checkout process (if e-commerce), and email integrations
☐ Check cross-browser compatibility (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox)
☐ Verify responsiveness on mobile, tablet, and desktop
10. Post-Launch & Maintenance
☐ Set up regular backups (daily or weekly)
☐ Monitor uptime and performance
☐ Update plugins, themes, and WordPress regularly
☐ Continue publishing fresh content
☐ Monitor SEO rankings and refine strategy
☐ Collect user feedback for improvements