The 10-point checklist to run before you launch your website

1. Test every link. Broken navigation is the fastest way to lose a visitor's trust — click through every page and button yourself.

2. Check your site on a real phone, not just a resized browser window. Most first visits to a small-business site happen on mobile.

3. Make sure there's an obvious way to contact you — a phone number, email, or booking button above the fold, not buried in a footer.

4. Proofread your copy out loud. AI-generated or not, typos and awkward phrasing are the first thing visitors notice.

5. Add real photos where you can. Stock imagery gets you live fast, but real photos of your work or your team build more trust over time.

6. Confirm your business name, hours, and address match what's on Google and your social profiles.

7. Set up a way to capture leads — a form, a chat widget, or a booking flow — so traffic converts into something you can follow up on.

8. Check your page loads fast. Slow sites lose visitors before the content even renders.

9. Add your privacy policy and terms if you collect any personal information or take payments.

10. Share the link with one person outside your business and watch them use it without guidance — you'll immediately see what's confusing.