Free resource
The Website Launch Checklist
24 practical checks we run on every project before calling it live, free, no strings attached.
Before you brief anyone
- Write down your #1 business goal for the site, bookings, sales, leads, or credibility. It decides everything else.
- List every page you actually need. Most SMEs need 5–7, not 20.
- Gather your logo, brand colors, and any existing photos or videos.
- Decide who owns the domain and hosting account, never let it sit in a developer's personal account.
- Set a real launch date and share it with whoever is building the site.
Domain, hosting & security
- Buy your own domain (.co.ke or .com) under your own account, not a shared one.
- Confirm SSL (the padlock/https) is active before launch, never take card or M-Pesa payments without it.
- Set up automatic backups, ask how often and where they're stored.
- Get admin access to your own hosting/CMS login, not just a preview link.
- Check the site loads in under 3 seconds on a normal 4G connection.
Payments & business tools
- Test every payment method live (M-Pesa, card) with a real small transaction before announcing the launch.
- Confirm order/payment confirmation emails actually arrive, check the spam folder too.
- Add a way to capture leads even from visitors who don't buy, a contact form or WhatsApp button.
- Set up your Google Business Profile and link it from your site, most local searches check this first.
Content & SEO
- Give every page a unique title and description, not "Home | Home".
- State your physical location and service area in the text, not just on a map. It helps local search.
- Test the site on an actual phone, not just a laptop, most East African traffic is mobile.
- Add 2–3 real client testimonials before launch, not placeholder quotes.
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console the day you go live.
Post-launch (first 30 days)
- Check analytics weekly, know where visitors come from and where they drop off.
- Respond to every enquiry within a few hours, slow replies lose East African leads fast.
- Ask your first 3 customers for a review or testimonial.
- Get your support/maintenance terms in writing, who fixes what if something breaks.
- Revisit pricing and copy after 30 days based on what visitors actually ask about.
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