So your new website is nearly ready to go live. The design looks sharp. The logo is behaving itself. The contact form does not explode when you press submit. Things are looking promising.
But before you proudly announce your shiny new site to the world, there is one important question. Have you actually checked everything?
For small and medium businesses in London, Kent and Sussex, launching a website without a proper checklist is a bit like opening a shop without a till. It might look lovely, but it is not going to work very well. Here is your practical, no nonsense small business website launch checklist to make sure your site is ready to impress Google and your customers.
More than half of your visitors will view your site on a mobile device. If your website only looks good on a desktop monitor the size of a small television, you have a problem.
Responsive web design is not a trend. It is the standard. For UK small businesses competing locally, a mobile friendly website is essential for both user experience and SEO.
If your website takes longer to load than it does to make a cup of tea, visitors will leave.
Website speed is a ranking factor and a conversion factor. Faster sites generate more enquiries. That is not marketing fluff. That is data.
If you are targeting competitive searches like web design London or SEO services Kent, you cannot afford a slow site.
You do not need a full scale SEO campaign on day one, but you absolutely need the foundations.
Launching without SEO basics is like printing 10,000 leaflets and forgetting to put your phone number on them.
For small business website launch tips, this is one of the most commonly overlooked steps.
It sounds obvious. It is not always obvious.
Submit multiple test entries. Check spam folders. Confirm notifications arrive quickly. You would be surprised how many businesses launch and then discover two weeks later that no enquiries have been coming through. Not because they are unpopular. Because the form was broken.
If you operate in the UK, you need:
This is particularly important for small businesses collecting customer data through forms or newsletters. Not glamorous. Absolutely necessary.
Click through your entire website as if you are a potential customer.
Strong internal linking improves user experience and supports SEO. It helps search engines understand your website structure. It also stops visitors feeling like they have wandered into a digital maze.
If you serve London, Kent or Sussex, say so clearly.
Local SEO for UK small businesses depends on clarity and consistency. Vague geography means vague rankings.
Before launch, confirm:
Website security protects your business reputation and customer trust. It also affects search rankings. No one wants their brand associated with browser warnings and alarming red screens.
Do you know what success looks like?
A professional website launch checklist always includes measurement. Without tracking, you are guessing. And guessing is not a strategy.
Do one last structured review:
This final pass prevents embarrassing mistakes. Such as launching with placeholder text that says Lorem Ipsum or accidentally leaving your developer's test phone number in the footer. It happens more often than you think.
For SMBs across London, Kent and Sussex, your website is often your first impression. It is your salesperson, your receptionist and your marketing department rolled into one.
A rushed launch creates long term problems. A structured launch builds momentum.
If you are preparing to launch a new site or redesign an existing one, following a professional small business website checklist can save time, money and a great deal of frustration.
And if you would rather not spend your evenings testing contact forms and inspecting meta tags, that is exactly what experienced web design and SEO specialists are for. Because while DIY is admirable, your website launch probably should not feel like assembling flat pack furniture at midnight.
If you would like help launching a high performing, SEO ready website in London, Kent or Sussex, Oasis Web Services can ensure everything works exactly as it should from day one.
Let our experienced team ensure your website is fully optimized and ready to impress. From SEO foundations to security configuration, we will make sure nothing is missed.