Launching a website is a significant milestone for any organization or business. However, before the website goes live, it is crucial for project managers to perform a comprehensive set of checks to ensure that everything is in order. These checks help to identify and rectify potential issues, ensuring a smooth and successful website launch. In this article, we will explore the top 10 checks that project managers must perform before taking a website live.
Table of Contents
Content Review:
Project managers should thoroughly review all website content to ensure accuracy, relevancy, and proper formatting. They need to verify that the text is free from grammatical errors, typos, or factual inaccuracies. Additionally, checking for broken links and ensuring consistent branding across all pages is vital.
Cross-Browser Compatibility:
A crucial check is to verify that the website functions correctly across different web browsers and versions. Project managers should test the website on popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer, ensuring that it maintains its design integrity and functionality throughout.
Responsiveness and Mobile Compatibility:
With the increasing use of mobile devices, project managers must ensure that the website is responsive and mobile-friendly. They should test the website on various screen sizes and resolutions, ensuring that the content adapts smoothly and is easily accessible across different devices.
Functionality Testing:
Project managers need to perform thorough functionality testing to ensure that all interactive elements, such as forms, buttons, and navigation menus, work as intended. They should test form submissions, data validation, and error handling to provide a seamless user experience.
Performance Optimization:
Website performance plays a crucial role in user experience and search engine rankings. Project managers should check the website’s loading speed and optimize it for faster performance. This includes compressing images, minifying code, and leveraging caching techniques to reduce page load times.
SEO Readiness:
To maximize online visibility, project managers must ensure that the website is optimized for search engines. They should verify that meta tags, titles, headings, and URLs are properly optimized with relevant keywords. Additionally, generating and submitting an XML sitemap to search engines is essential for indexing the website’s pages.
Security Measures:
Protecting sensitive user data and maintaining a secure website is of utmost importance. Project managers should ensure that the website has an SSL certificate, encrypting data transmission, and safeguarding user privacy. They should also check for vulnerabilities and implement security measures to mitigate potential risks.
Accessibility Compliance:
Websites must be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Project managers should verify that the website adheres to accessibility guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). This involves checking proper use of alt tags, adequate color contrast, and keyboard navigation functionality.
Integration and Compatibility:
If the website integrates with third-party services or applications, project managers should verify the seamless functioning of these integrations. They need to test payment gateways, CRM systems, email marketing tools, and other plugins or APIs to ensure smooth operation and data synchronization.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT):
Before taking the website live, project managers should involve end-users in the UAT process. This allows real users to test the website, providing valuable feedback on its usability, functionality, and overall user experience. Addressing any issues identified during UAT helps ensure that the website meets users’ expectations.
Launching a website successfully requires careful planning, meticulous testing, and thorough checks by project managers. The top 10 checks mentioned above cover essential aspects such as content, compatibility, functionality, performance, security, accessibility, integration, and user feedback. By performing these checks diligently, project managers can significantly reduce the chances of encountering issues or errors after the website
