Website Launch Workflow
6-phase systematic launch process ensuring zero downtime, 100% checklist compliance, and flawless go-live
Every Detail Checked, Nothing Left to Chance
Our systematic checklist covers content, functionality, SEO, and technical infrastructure to ensure a flawless launch.
Content & Design
Ensure all content is finalized and design is pixel-perfect
- All copy reviewed and approved
- Images optimized and have alt text
- Logo and branding consistent
- Contact information accurate
- Privacy policy and terms of service published
- Footer links and copyright year updated
Functionality
Verify all interactive elements and features work correctly
- Contact forms submit successfully
- Email notifications working
- Navigation menus function properly
- Search functionality tested
- Payment processing (if applicable)
- User registration/login flows
SEO & Marketing
Optimize for search engines and tracking
- Google Analytics installed and tracking
- Google Search Console verified
- XML sitemap generated and submitted
- Meta tags on all pages
- Open Graph tags for social sharing
- Robots.txt configured correctly
Technical
Confirm technical infrastructure is production-ready
- SSL certificate installed and valid
- DNS records configured
- CDN setup and tested
- Error pages (404, 500) customized
- Database backups automated
- Monitoring and alerting configured
The 6-Phase Launch Workflow
Systematic, proven process that ensures every launch is smooth, secure, and successful.
Launch Process Flow
Pre-Launch QA → SEO Check → Performance → Security → Deploy → Monitor
Pre-Launch Checklist
Comprehensive quality assurance review of all pages, forms, links, and functionality to ensure everything works perfectly before going live.
What Happens
- • Test all pages for proper rendering and responsiveness
- • Verify all forms submit correctly and send notifications
- • Check all internal and external links for broken links
- • Test user flows and navigation patterns
- • Verify contact information and business details
- • Check browser compatibility (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- • Test on multiple devices (desktop, tablet, mobile)
- • Validate accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1)
Deliverables
- Pre-Launch QA Report
- Broken Link Analysis
- Cross-Browser Test Results
- Mobile Responsiveness Report
SEO Verification
Thorough SEO audit to ensure all meta tags, structured data, sitemaps, and search engine configurations are properly set up.
What Happens
- • Verify title tags and meta descriptions on all pages
- • Check Open Graph and Twitter Card metadata
- • Validate structured data (Schema.org markup)
- • Test XML sitemap generation and accessibility
- • Verify robots.txt configuration
- • Check canonical tags and URL structure
- • Validate Google Analytics and Search Console setup
- • Test social media sharing previews
Deliverables
- SEO Audit Report
- Meta Tag Verification
- Schema Validation Results
- Search Console Setup Confirmation
Performance Validation
Run comprehensive Lighthouse audits and performance testing to ensure the site meets performance standards and delivers excellent user experience.
What Happens
- • Run Lighthouse audits for all key pages
- • Verify Core Web Vitals scores (LCP, FID, CLS)
- • Test page load times on 3G and 4G networks
- • Check image optimization and lazy loading
- • Validate asset compression and minification
- • Test CDN configuration and caching headers
- • Verify font loading strategy
- • Check for render-blocking resources
Deliverables
- Lighthouse Performance Report
- Core Web Vitals Dashboard
- Network Performance Analysis
- Asset Optimization Checklist
Security Audit
Complete security audit to verify SSL certificates, security headers, and protection against common vulnerabilities before going live.
What Happens
- • Verify SSL certificate installation and validity
- • Check HTTPS enforcement and redirect rules
- • Validate security headers (CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options)
- • Test for common vulnerabilities (XSS, CSRF, SQL injection)
- • Verify form input validation and sanitization
- • Check for exposed sensitive data or files
- • Test rate limiting and DDoS protection
- • Validate backup and rollback procedures
Deliverables
- Security Audit Report
- SSL/TLS Verification
- Security Headers Checklist
- Vulnerability Scan Results
Go-Live Deployment
Carefully orchestrated deployment process handling DNS configuration, CDN setup, and production deployment with zero downtime.
What Happens
- • Update DNS records and configure nameservers
- • Configure CDN and edge caching rules
- • Deploy production build to hosting environment
- • Verify environment variables and configurations
- • Test SSL certificate on production domain
- • Flush DNS cache and verify propagation
- • Configure monitoring and alerting systems
- • Create deployment rollback plan
Deliverables
- Deployment Checklist
- DNS Configuration Report
- CDN Setup Documentation
- Production Verification Results
Post-Launch Monitoring
Continuous monitoring of errors, performance metrics, and search engine indexing to catch and resolve issues immediately after launch.
What Happens
- • Monitor error logs and exception tracking
- • Track real user performance metrics
- • Verify Google Search Console indexing status
- • Monitor uptime and availability
- • Check form submissions and conversions
- • Track Core Web Vitals trends
- • Monitor security alerts and threats
- • Review user feedback and bug reports
Deliverables
- Post-Launch Monitoring Dashboard
- Error Tracking Report
- Search Indexing Status
- 24-Hour Performance Summary
Launch Success Criteria
Measurable goals that define a successful launch and ensure your site is production-ready.
| Metric | Before Launch | Target | Business Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site Availability | Offline | 99.9%+ uptime | Reliable user access, professional reputation |
| Lighthouse Performance Score | Untested | ≥ 90 | Fast load times, better SEO rankings |
| SSL/Security | Not configured | A+ rating | User trust, data protection, SEO boost |
| SEO Readiness | Incomplete | 100% compliant | Search engine visibility, traffic growth |
| Mobile Responsiveness | Variable | 100% devices | Better mobile UX, wider audience reach |
| Broken Links | Unknown | Zero | Professional image, better SEO |
Launch Best Practices
Industry best practices and lessons learned from hundreds of successful website launches.
Soft Launch First
Launch to a small test group before full public announcement to catch any remaining issues in a real-world environment.
Time It Right
Launch during business hours (Tuesday-Thursday morning) so your team is available to address issues immediately.
DNS TTL Reduction
Lower DNS TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes) 24 hours before launch for faster propagation of DNS changes.
Backup Everything
Create complete backups of the old site and new site before making any changes. Test restoration procedures.
Monitor Closely
Intensively monitor for the first 48 hours after launch. Have team members on call to respond to issues.
Gradual Rollout
Consider using feature flags or canary deployments to roll out changes gradually and reduce risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the website launch process take?
The complete launch workflow takes 2-3 hours, depending on site complexity and any issues discovered during pre-launch checks. Simple sites (5-10 pages) take closer to 2 hours, while complex sites (e-commerce, custom functionality) may take 3+ hours. This includes all phases from pre-launch QA through initial monitoring.
What if we discover critical issues during pre-launch?
If critical issues are discovered, we pause the launch, document the issues, fix them, and restart the launch checklist. Minor issues can be logged for post-launch fixes. We never compromise on launch quality—it's better to delay a few hours than launch with problems.
Will there be any downtime during deployment?
Zero downtime deployments are standard. We use DNS switching, CDN caching, and blue-green deployment strategies to ensure your old site remains accessible until the new site is fully deployed and verified. Users experience seamless transition.
What agents are involved in the launch workflow?
Five specialized agents coordinate the launch: qa-engineer (testing), seo-strategist (search optimization), performance-scout (speed validation), security-engineer (security audit), and devops-engineer (deployment and monitoring). Each focuses on their area of expertise.
How do you handle DNS propagation delays?
We reduce DNS TTL to 5 minutes 24 hours before launch, use CDN edge caching to serve the new site immediately, and verify propagation across multiple global locations. Most users see the new site within 5-15 minutes of deployment.
What happens if something goes wrong after launch?
We have rollback procedures ready to restore the previous site within minutes. Post-launch monitoring catches issues immediately. Our team monitors intensively for the first 48 hours and can respond within minutes to any problems. All deployments include a tested rollback plan.
Ready to Launch Your Website?
Get expert guidance through every phase of the launch process. We'll ensure your site goes live smoothly with zero downtime and 100% confidence.