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Website checklist: must-haves before launch and audit
Small-business sites differ, but a base set repeats: the site must load fast, make sense on a phone, build trust, and lead to action.
Below: a grouped checklist (tech, brand, trust, content, conversion). Not everything from long 2018 lists is critical today (social widgets — only if you need them), and “doomed without item #37” is hyperbole: prioritize what breaks leads and SEO.
Brand, trust, and contacts
One visual system, logo, tidy palette, and your own quality images (no other people’s watermarks) support recognition.
Trust: About, address, map, entrance photo, hours, phone, email, contact form, privacy policy, and terms. For offline — how to find the door; for online — how to reach you fast.
Legal blocks (terms, copyright, affiliate disclosures) — by need and industry, not everything from the checklist at once.
Contacts in view:
- phone and messenger
- email or form
- address and map for an offline location
- business hours
Content and conversion
Home with a clear offer, understandable menu, landings for ads and demand, a services or catalog page, USP, and site search for a large assortment.
Social proof: reviews, awards, “press about us” — only real ones. FAQ, guides, blog, and video — if they answer audience questions.
CTA: one clear action button beats a scatter. Chat and subscribe — if someone replies and the email has value. Don’t replace a lead with a dozen widgets.
FAQ
Do I need all 50 items at once?
No. First cover speed, mobile, contacts, offer, and forms. The rest depends on the business model.
Is SSL required?
Yes for forms, payment, and trust. Without HTTPS, modern browsers and search treat the site worse.
Is a privacy policy required?
If you collect personal data — yes. Plus clear consent in forms.
Do I need Share buttons and social widgets?
Optional. Messenger, phone, and a working CTA matter more than a row of icons for show.
Do I need a cookie banner for every visitor?
It depends on your audience and the metrics or ads you use. For EU/UK audiences and some scenarios — yes; confirm with counsel.
Where should I start auditing an old site?
Mobile UX, speed, broken links and 404s, contacts, and whether landings still match your ads.
Launch near — and the site still misses speed, mobile, or a clear CTA?
We’ll prioritize tech, trust, and the path to a lead — without copying a literal “50 must-haves” list.
Discuss the task
