A sleek design might impress, but if key details slip through the cracks, it won’t matter for long. Before you launch your new website, there’s one last thing to do: make sure it’s actually ready.
Going live is a big moment. You’ve put in the time, the effort, the approvals, but launching without checking the basics is like taking off without a flight check. These final steps help you slow down, catch what matters, and launch with confidence, so your site not only looks the part but performs exactly how you need it to from day one.
When you’ve spent weeks, or even months, building a site, it’s tempting to rush the final stretch. But launch day is more than just a milestone. It’s the moment your work becomes public, and how it’s received depends on how well the details hold up.
Taking a breath before going live gives you space to shift from building mode to quality mode. It’s your opportunity to look at the site through a visitor’s eyes, catch anything out of place, and ensure everything aligns with the experience you intended to deliver.
Security matters. An active SSL certificate keeps your site running over HTTPS, protects user data, and reassures visitors they’re in the right place. Without it, browsers may slap a big “Not Secure” warning on your homepage, and no one sticks around for that.
If you don’t have SSL set up yet, Let’s Encrypt is a trusted, free option used by millions of websites.
You need to know what’s working and what’s not. Google Analytics is one of the most widely used tools for tracking how people find and interact with your site, it gives you visibility into traffic, engagement, and drop-off points. It’s like night vision for your website, once you turn it on, you’ll wonder how you went without it.
Not a fan of Google? Adobe Analytics is another trusted, enterprise-grade platform used by major brands, and Clicky is a more user-friendly option that’s popular for smaller teams and simpler dashboards.
For a quick start, check out Google’s setup guide or explore Clicky or Adobe to see which platform fits your needs.
Once your site is live, it’s a good idea to submit it to popular search engines and directories like Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. This helps your content get indexed faster and ensures people can actually find you when they search.
If you’re using WordPress, a plugin like Yoast SEO can make the process even easier. It helps structure your content behind the scenes, titles, descriptions, sitemaps, so search engines know exactly how to read and rank your pages.
If your form doesn’t send, your leads don’t either. Fill it out yourself and make sure the submission actually lands in your inbox. If it doesn’t, the issue might be with how your site handles email behind the scenes.
We could write a whole series on the joys of email deliverability (but we’ll spare you). That said, SendGrid is a reliable email service that works with most websites to make sure messages land in the inbox, not the spam folder.
If you’re using WordPress, WP Mail SMTP is a popular plugin that connects your site to SendGrid (or another provider) and improves email delivery. Just make sure your DNS settings are correctly configured, things like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC need to be in place, or your messages might get blocked or flagged as suspicious. These tools and settings handle the messy stuff in the background so you don’t have to become your own IT department just to get a contact form working.
Pretend you’re visiting your site for the first time. Click through every page, test every link, and make sure menus work the way they should. Typos, broken links, and placeholder text are small things that leave a big impression, just not the one you want.
To scan for broken links, we recommend using WC3 Link Checker.
When everything looks good, double-check that your domain is pointed correctly and your hosting is live. No one likes launching to a “Site can’t be reached” screen.
To confirm setup, try WhatsMyDNS.
Launching a website is a big moment, but it’s not the time to wing it. Slowing down to double-check the essentials helps you avoid costly mistakes and launch with confidence. Broken links, missing forms, and sluggish performance looks bad sends users running. A quick final review protects your brand and makes sure your site is actually ready to do its job.
To make it easier, we’ve put together a free, downloadable checklist you can print, share, or keep by your side on launch day. And if you're stuck or just want a second set of eyes, we’ve got you. Helping teams get this stuff right is what we do best.
Download the checklist or reach out if you want a hand.
Ready to learn more about how the Archetype SC team can enhance your organization’s digital experience? Call Joseph Bonanno at 843-283-7200 to schedule a consultation today!
We provide IT solutions and services to empower our clients to focus on growing their core business and their employees.
E-mail: info@archetypesc.com
Phone: (843) 353-2929
Address: 1012 38th Avenue N, Suite 301, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
