Launching a new site is exciting, and excitement makes people skip the boring final checks. Here's the short list worth running before you flip the switch.
Core function
- Every page loads with no errors
- Every link goes somewhere (no dead ends)
- Forms actually submit and you receive the message
- Checkout completes end to end with a real test order
Mobile
- Everything is readable without zooming
- Buttons are easy to tap
- Nothing overflows or overlaps on a phone
Speed
- Pages load in a couple of seconds, not ten
- Images are sized sensibly, not giant files
Trust and polish
- No placeholder text left in ("lorem ipsum," "coming soon")
- Contact info is correct
- Legal pages (privacy, terms) exist and link properly
Search basics
- Page titles and descriptions are set
- The site isn't accidentally blocking search engines
The one people forget
Test as a stranger would — different device, different network, not logged in. "It works for me" is the most expensive sentence in web development.
Run this before every launch and redesign. If you'd rather have a second, independent set of eyes do it thoroughly, that's what a QA audit is for.