So you’re finally getting ready to launch your website! Before you make it available for public viewing, make sure you’ve inspected and tested every single feature and page on the website to make sure it functions smoothly and is ready for the world.

Having a functional, aesthetically pleasing website is crucial to your firm’s brand. This pre-launch testing phase helps you prevent any issues that could reflect poorly on firm and damage that brand. If you attempt to rush through the process of web development and publishing, this could result in features not working properly, or a site that simply doesn’t look right or navigate well.

Here are a few of the most important elements of your website you need to test before your website goes live to the public.

  • Images: Check every page on your website to make sure all of the images load properly and that they’re optimized for fast load times. It’s especially important you check any animations (if applicable) to make sure they’re functioning and not crashing upon opening the page. Check on both desktop and mobile devices, as sometimes images can show up strangely on mobile devices if not properly optimized.
  • Links: All of the links on your website should function properly and take users to the intended destination. Broken links make websites look extremely unprofessional, so test every single one before you open up your site to the public.
  • Responsiveness: At this point, every single website needs to be a responsive design optimized for both desktop and mobile use. Your website should look natural and function correctly and efficiently on computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones.
  • Content: Go back and read through all of the content on your website carefully before it opens up to make sure it reads well and that there are no typos or errors. It’s very common for typos to break through the cracks because sometimes all it takes is a fresh set of eyes to review the content and catch errors. Therefore, consider having someone who did not write the content handle the content review.
  • Visuals: Does the layout of the site make sense? Is it easy for people to find the information they need to access? Are there short headlines, clear headers and other elements that break up the content? Do you have clear call to action sections and contact forms? Make sure the design and visuals on the site are all looking pristine before you allow traffic to your website.

By following this checklist, you’ll ensure your website exudes professionalism and will be ready for public viewing.