Everything looks fine on your computer. That doesn’t mean it works for everyone.
Half an hour now, versus unpleasant surprises later.
The basics
1. SSL works. The address starts with https and shows a padlock. And check that the http version redirects automatically.
2. Every link goes somewhere. Click each one in the menu and the footer. Empty or “#” links are the most commonly missed detail.
3. The forms send. Don’t just check that it says “sent” — check that the message actually arrived. In spam too.
4. The phone number is clickable. On a phone, a tap must start a call.
On a phone
5. Open it on a real phone, not just in developer mode. Scroll through everything.
6. Nothing runs off the screen. Check for horizontal scrolling — a sign that something is too wide.
7. The text is readable without zooming.
Speed
8. A PageSpeed test. If the mobile score is under 50, look at the images — they are almost always the cause.
For search
9. Every page has its own title and description. Not all the same, not empty. That is what people see in Google.
10. The website isn’t blocked. Open your-site.com/robots.txt. If it says Disallow: / — the website is invisible to Google. That is often left over from the development stage.
And in WordPress: Settings → Reading → the “Discourage search engines” box must be unticked.
Legal
11. A privacy policy if you have any kind of form. And consent in the form itself.
12. Accurate company details — name, address, tax number, contact details. For an online store, return terms too.
Straight after launch
- Search Console: add the website and submit a sitemap
- Analytics: check that it is measuring
- Make a backup of the clean version
- Google profile: add the link to the website
The thing everyone forgets
Open the website on mobile data, not over WiFi. That is how half of your visitors see it — and that is where the real speed problems show.
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