Website launch checklist: what to check before you go live
A site can look finished and still fail on launch day. This checklist covers what we check before a site goes live, in Arabic and English.
Layout and language
1. Right-to-left layout works everywhere
Check that Arabic pages read from right to left, that menus, forms and tables mirror correctly, and that arrows and icons point the right way. Look at the site on a phone as well as a desktop.
2. Each page declares its language
Every page sets its language (lang="ar" or lang="en"). Each page also links to its counterpart in the other language with matching hreflang links.
Speed and stability
3. Images are sized for where they appear
Serve images at the size they are shown, in a modern format where the browser supports it. Give each image its width and height, so the page does not jump while it loads.
4. Fonts do not hold the page back
Load web fonts so the text appears at once, and check that Arabic and Latin text both look right in the fonts you chose.
Forms and contact
5. Every field has a label
Screen readers and phones depend on labels. Check the form on a phone, that the confirmation message appears, and that the email arrives in your inbox rather than in spam.
6. Messages reach a person
Send one message through each form, and confirm who receives it and how quickly they reply.
Search and sharing
7. Titles, descriptions and the sitemap are set
Every page has its own title, description, one main heading and a canonical link. The sitemap should list the pages you want found, and robots.txt should not block anything important.
8. Shared links look right
Share each main page in a messaging app or on social media, and check the image, title and description that appear.
Measurement and safety
9. Analytics respects consent
Confirm that analytics records visits, and that cookie and consent choices are respected, as your local rules require.
10. Backups and a way back
Keep a copy of the previous version, and know how to restore it before launch day. Check the domain, the HTTPS certificate and their renewal dates.
Questions for your developer
- Who owns the domain, the hosting and the email account, and where are the logins kept?
- How do we go back to the previous version if the new one fails?
- Who fixes a problem on a Friday evening, and how fast?
- Has a native speaker reviewed the Arabic copy before launch?
- Which pages will be indexed, and how are new pages added?
Ask us the same questions about your site
We build Arabic and English websites and web portals for businesses in Jordan. Put these questions to us, and ask for written answers.
This checklist is general guidance. Your own requirements may add more checks.