This started in my head, then migrated into #catchNotes, now is being stored here for my use, comments and suggested improvements.  I will be ticking off this list shortly for the new version of my latest site.

Website Pre-launch checklist

Copy

• Spelling & Grammar
• Tone of Voice  - consistent throughout
• External links (social media etc) - open in new windows
• Contact Forms, error checking and result page
• Standard content pages exist and are correct – About Us, Privacy, Terms & Conditions, etc

Code

• HTML Sitemap - exists and updates dynamically
• XML Sitemap - exists and updates dynamically
• HTML validates
• CSS validates

CMS

• Sitemaps submit to chosen Search Engines
• Backup Code & DB

Usability

• Logo – links to homepage
• Favicon / Apple touch icons – exist and display correctly
• Print style sheet - exists and works correctly
• Social sharing icons - exist and work correctly
• Search – works correctly and returns pages from the current site
• Site works without CSS
• Site works without Javascript

Checks

• Meta Keywords & Descriptions exist for all pages
• Error page – redirects gracefully and sends 404 header
• (c) Copyright contains a dynamic date
• Robots file exists
• Javascript (and other) library files switched to ‘min’ versions
• Google Analytics – included, validated (and tagged as new release)
• Previous URL’s redirect gracefully
• Turn OFF error reporting
• Page download times
• Multiple browser versions
• Multiple OS / hardware versions – mobile, tablet, etc..