In short
Before launch, a business website needs clear content about what you do, a layout that works on phones, fast-loading pages, search basics, genuine trust signals and, if it collects personal information, a privacy policy.
A website does not need to be large to be effective. It needs to answer a visitor’s first questions quickly and make the next step obvious. Use this checklist before you launch.
1. Clear content
- What you do — stated in the first screen, in plain language.
- Who you help — the customers or industries you serve.
- How to contact you — phone, WhatsApp and email that work with one tap on a phone.
- A page for each main service — so each can be found and understood on its own.
2. Works well on phones
Most visitors arrive on a phone. Check that text is readable without zooming, buttons are large enough to tap and forms are easy to complete.
3. Speed
Large images are the most common cause of slow pages. Images should be compressed and sized for the screen they are shown on.
4. Search basics
- A unique, descriptive title and description for each page
- One main heading per page
- A sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
- Images with descriptive alternative text
5. Trust
Use real information only. Genuine testimonials and examples of work build trust; invented figures and stock claims damage it.
6. Legal pages
If your website collects personal information through a form, it needs a privacy policy that accurately describes what you collect and how it is used.
Before you launch
- Test every button, link and form
- Submit a test enquiry and confirm you receive it
- Check the site on at least one Android and one iPhone
- Set up analytics so you can see what visitors do