Design, Build & Launch a Website: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 3. Information Architecture & Layout (1–2 days)

A clear Information Architecture (IA) is the backbone of any successful website. It defines how content is organised, how users navigate, and how search engines crawl your site. Before design begins, map out the structure.

3.1 Define the Goal

• Plan how content is organised and discovered.
• Align sitemap with user tasks and business goals.
• Build a structure that supports SEO and growth.

3.2 Sitemap Planning

• One-pager: Best for personal brands, events, or lean startups.
• Multi-page: Ideal for businesses needing service pages, product categories, or blogs.
• Group pages by user task (e.g., Learn → Blog, Act → Contact).
• Define canonical targets early to avoid SEO cannibalisation.

3.3 Navigation & URL Schema

• Navigation layers: Primary (main menu), secondary (sub-sections), footer, and utility links.
• Breadcrumbs: Improves findability and SEO.
• URL schema: Short, human-readable, hyphenated, and future-proof.
  Examples: /services/web-design, /blog/website-accessibility

3.4 Wireframes & Layout

• Start with homepage, about, services/products, and contact.
• Map user journeys → What should visitors do at each step?
• Create mock-ups in Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to validate flow before development.

3.5 Tools for Sitemaps & IA

• Octopus.do: Visual-first instant sitemap creation.

3.6 Outputs (Deliverables for This Phase)

• Final sitemap (with page IDs).
• URL plan & redirect list (for redesigns).
• Content model → fields per page type (e.g., title, description, CTA, media).
• Wireframes for key pages (homepage, about, services, contact).

💡 DBETA Insight: For startups, we recommend beginning with 3–5 essential pages (home, about, contact, services, blog). One consulting client grew organic leads by 40% in six months simply by launching a lean site with a blog focused on niche questions in their industry.

🔗 Pro Resource: NN/g Guide to Information Architecture — for planning navigation that works for real users.

Step 4. Content Strategy & Production (parallel; 5–15 days)

Design draws people in, but content is what convinces them to stay, trust, and act. Every headline, paragraph, and call-to-action should guide users through your story and toward your goals. The aim here is to create people-first content that is clear, persuasive, and search-friendly.

4.1 Voice & Tone

• Create a short style guide: heading length, reading level, words to avoid.
• Stay consistent: professional and corporate for B2B, playful and bold for consumer brands.
• Use the same voice across copy, microcopy, and CTAs to build trust.

4.2 Page Outlines & Structure

• Define H1–H3 structure per page.
• Add CTAs to guide the user journey.
• Include FAQs (schema-ready) for SEO and user clarity.
• Insert proof points → certifications, guarantees, awards.

4.3 Assets & Media

• Photography plan: real team, office, products, case studies.
• Icons & illustrations: consistent visual language.
• Case studies & testimonials: authentic proof that builds trust.
• Trust signals: privacy policies, accreditations, partnerships.

4.4 SEO Layer

• Assign a primary keyword per page.
• Add synonyms/related terms naturally.
• Map internal link targets to strengthen site structure.
• Create meta patterns (title, description, OG tags, schema).

4.5 Content Types to Include

• Headlines & Subheadings: Capture attention instantly.
• Body Copy: Inform, persuade, and build trust. Keep it benefit-driven and jargon-free.
• Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Clear, specific, consistent prompts to act (buy, book, contact).
• Blog/Resources: Evergreen content for SEO, authority, and thought leadership.

4.6 Best Practices

• Write for humans, optimise for search → clarity first, SEO second.
• Structure for scanning → bullets, short paragraphs, bold highlights.
• Keep content fresh → outdated copy erodes trust and rankings.
• Plan updates → review content quarterly for relevance and accuracy.

4.7 Outputs (Deliverables for This Phase)

• Approved copy deck per page (H1–H3, body, CTAs, proof points).
• On-page SEO sheet (titles, meta, OG, canonical, schema).
• Media shot list (photos, illustrations, with rights/credits).

💡 DBETA Insight: In a 2024 redesign for a consulting firm, shifting service page copy from features to client benefits doubled enquiry rate within 3 months. Users connected more when content spoke directly to their problems.

🔗 Pro resources:

• Google Search Central: Creating Helpful Content
• Nielsen Norman Group: Writing for the Web

Step 5. UX & Wireframes (2–4 days)

A well-designed website doesn’t just look good—it feels effortless to use. Strong UX keeps visitors engaged, boosts conversions, and directly impacts SEO. That’s why we start with wireframes: low-fi layouts that map flows and structure before adding visuals.

5.1 Goal

Agree on layouts and critical flows early, so design and development focus on what matters: user journeys.

5.2 Wireframing Process

• Low-fi wires in Figma (or Sketch/Adobe XD) → mobile-first → tablet → desktop.
• Key flows to map:
  • Homepage → value proposition clarity
  • Service enquiry → CTA to form completion
  • Product → checkout process
  • Contact → direct conversion flow
• Accessibility baked in: logical heading order, visible focus states, touch targets >44px, meaningful link text.

5.3 UX Principles to Apply

• Navigation: Keep menus simple, with a flat structure (no more than 3 clicks to reach any page).
• Visual Hierarchy: Use bold headings, clear spacing, and consistent CTAs so users instantly know what’s most important.
• Page Speed: Target <2s load. Google data shows bounce rates increase by 32% when load time grows from 1s to 3s.
• Responsiveness: Design mobile-first. Over 60% of traffic is mobile, and Google ranks mobile-friendly pages higher.

5.4 Outputs

• Annotated wireframes with acceptance criteria.
• Click-through prototype of critical journeys.

💡 DBETA Insight: In one redesign for a consultancy, restructuring the navigation and trimming page load by 1.2 seconds boosted lead form completions by 28% in a single month—proof that UX and performance go hand in hand.

Step 6. Visual Design, Core Pages & Mobile (3–8 days)

Once the wireframes are approved, it’s time to translate them into a branded, accessible, mobile-first interface. This stage defines how your website looks, feels, and performs across all devices.

6.1 Goal

• Build a design system that reflects your brand identity.
• Create consistent, reusable UI components.
• Ensure accessibility, performance, and mobile-first responsiveness.

6.2 Design System

Colours → Use accessible palettes (contrast-checked).

• Red: Urgency/passion (Coca-Cola).
• Blue: Trust/calm (Microsoft).
• Green: Growth/sustainability (Spotify).
• Orange: Playful/creative (SoundCloud).
• Black/White: Luxury/minimalism (Chanel).

💡 DBETA Insight: We test palettes against audience expectations. A financial consultancy site performed better with trust-focused blue than with a trendy, playful palette.

🔗 Tool: Coolors for generating palettes.

Typography →

• Serif: Traditional/credible (Times New Roman).
• Sans-serif: Modern/clean (Montserrat, Open Sans).
• Script/Decorative: Elegant or bold (use sparingly).

💡 Best practice: Pair one headline font + one body font for clarity.

Components → Buttons, forms, cards, grids, pricing tables, testimonials, blog cards, footers.

Motion → Subtle, purposeful animations with reduced-motion fallback.

6.3 Imagery, Iconography & Brand Assets

• Consistency: Flat vs. 3D icons, illustration vs. photography (don’t mix).
• Authenticity: Real team, office, and client case studies (avoid generic stock).
• Optimisation: Compress images (WebP/AVIF), use responsive srcset.
• Logo: Prominent in header/footer, exported as SVG/PNG. Alt text: “Company logo.”
• Case study visuals: Before/after examples, product demos, process snapshots.

💡 DBETA Insight: Swapping stock photography for real team portraits increased on-page time by 34% for a consultancy client.

6.4 Core Pages Every Website Needs

• Homepage: Clear headline, engaging visuals, strong CTA.
• About Us: Story, mission, and team credibility.
• Contact: Lean forms (name, email, message), plus phone/social/map.
• Services/Products: Features, benefits, testimonials in structured layouts.
• Blog/Resources: Content hub for SEO + authority building.
• Privacy & Terms: GDPR/cookie compliance and user trust.

💡 DBETA Insight: Simplifying a six-field contact form to three increased submissions by 37%.

🔗 Resource: ICO UK Guidance on Privacy Notices

6.5 Accessibility Essentials

• Alt text: Descriptive attributes for every image.
• Keyboard navigation: Tab through menus, forms, and buttons without a mouse.
• Video/audio captions: Add subtitles, transcripts, or closed captions.
• Colour contrast: Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for body text.
• Forms & labels: Clear labels, error messages, not just colour cues.

💡 DBETA Insight: Fixing keyboard traps and adding labels in an e-commerce checkout reduced cart abandonment by 12%.

🔗 Resources: WCAG 2.2 Guidelines, Gov.uk Accessibility Regulations, WAVE Tool

6.6 Mobile Design Essentials

• Tap-friendly CTAs: Buttons ≥44x44px (Apple HIG).
• Sticky navigation & back-to-top: Keeps key actions within reach.
• Responsive images: Use srcset for device-appropriate loading.
• Readable text: Minimum 16px body font; avoid forced zoom.
• Mobile-friendly forms: Larger inputs, fewer fields, auto-fill enabled.

💡 DBETA Insight: Adding a sticky CTA button on mobile increased bookings by 22% in the first month for a service site.

6.7 Testing Across Devices

Don’t assume your site works just because it looks fine on your laptop.

💡 DBETA Insight: We run both lab tests (DevTools, BrowserStack) and field tests (Hotjar, Clarity). Lab tests catch technical issues, while field tests reveal friction points real users face.

6.8 Outputs

• Figma component library with mobile-first designs.
• Export rules (SVG icons, AVIF/WEBP images).
• Core pages signed off with approved copy + visuals.
• Accessibility audit completed (WCAG 2.2 baseline).
• Mobile prototypes tested across devices.

Step 7. Front-End Implementation (5–15 days)

With the designs approved, it’s time to bring them to life in code. The goal here is to produce pixel-perfect, performant, and accessible templates that look great across devices and score highly on performance tests.

7.1 Goal

• Code responsive, SEO-friendly templates.
• Maintain accessibility from the ground up.
• Optimise for performance, speed, and long-term scalability.

7.2 Front-End Best Practices

HTML

• Use semantic landmarks: <header>, <nav>, <main>, <aside>, <footer>.
• Correct heading hierarchy (<h1> → <h2> → <h3>).
• Descriptive link text (avoid “click here”).

CSS

• Use component-driven approaches: BEM or utility-first (Tailwind style).
• Generate critical CSS for above-the-fold content.
• Minify, purge unused rules.
• Optional: add dark mode support via prefers-color-scheme.

JavaScript

• Build with progressive enhancement (site works without JS).
• Avoid render-blocking scripts; load with defer or type="module".
• Code-split where possible for lighter bundles.
• Handle interactions with accessibility in mind (ARIA live regions, focus management).

7.3 Assets & Delivery

Image & Asset Optimisation

• Optimise images: AVIF/WEBP with responsive srcset.
• Use SVG icons in a sprite for fast loading.
• Preload hero images & critical fonts for better LCP (Largest Contentful Paint).

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN isn’t just for enterprises — it’s a must-have for performance, SEO, and security. It caches your site across global servers and serves visitors from the location nearest to them.

• Benefits: Speed, SEO boost, reliability, security, and global reach.
• Popular Providers: Cloudflare (free tier, CDN + security), Akamai (enterprise-grade), Amazon CloudFront (AWS), Fastly (real-time caching), KeyCDN (pay-as-you-go).

💡 DBETA Insight: We deploy CDNs on nearly all projects. For one retail brand, enabling Cloudflare CDN cut global load times by 45%, directly improving both SEO rankings and mobile conversions.

🔗 Pro resource: Google PageSpeed Insights — test how a CDN impacts your site’s performance.

7.4 Accessibility

• Full keyboard navigation support.
• Visible focus states (no outline: none).
• ARIA attributes only when native HTML isn’t enough.
• Proper form labels & clear error messaging.

7.5 Performance

• Lazy-load non-critical media.
• Use preconnect, dns-prefetch, and preload for critical assets.
• Fonts: font-display: swap.
• Aim for Lighthouse 90+ scores (Performance, Accessibility, SEO, Best Practices).

7.6 Outputs

• Accessible, responsive templates ready for CMS/framework integration.
• Performance-optimised front-end scoring 90+ in Lighthouse.
• Clean component structure (CSS + JS) for easy maintenance.

💡 DBETA Insight: On one retail project, optimising image formats and deferring scripts reduced page load by 1.6 seconds — improving both Google rankings and conversions within the first month.

🔗 Pro resources:

• W3C Markup Validation Service
• W3C CSS Validation Service

Step 8. Back-End / CMS Integration (3–10 days)

Once the front-end templates are ready, it’s time to connect them to your chosen CMS or framework. This is where you make content editable, secure, and scalable.

8.1 Goal

• Enable non-technical users to manage content safely.
• Ensure routing/URLs match your SEO plan.
• Harden the site with security best practices.

8.2 Core Integration Tasks

• Content types: Pages, posts, services, FAQs, testimonials.
• Routing & permalinks: Match your URL plan; set 301 redirects for legacy URLs.
• Security: Input validation, escaping, CSRF tokens, rate-limit forms, auth where needed.
• Internationalisation (i18n): Language switchers, hreflang, canonical rules.
• Permissions: Define editor vs admin roles to avoid errors.
• Seed content: Load initial pages/posts for testing and workflow checks.

💡 DBETA Insight: When migrating a client to WordPress, mapping content fields directly to templates reduced their editing time by 40%. A good CMS setup isn’t just technical — it makes day-to-day publishing faster.

8.3 Outputs

• CMS fields mapped to front-end templates.
• Role-based permissions configured.
• Secure, SEO-aligned back-end ready for content population.

🔗 Pro resources:

• Debugging PHP Code: Best Tools and Techniques

Step 9. SEO Engineering (1–2 days)

SEO isn’t just about keywords — it needs to be engineered into the codebase. This step ensures your site is crawlable, indexable, and ready to perform from day one.

9.1 Goal

• Build technical SEO into templates, not as an afterthought.
• Ensure search engines can crawl and understand your content.
• Create strong foundations for content and link-building strategies later.

9.2 Key SEO Engineering Tasks

Meta & Open Graph

• Dynamic <title> and <meta description> per page.
• Default fallbacks if fields are empty.
• Open Graph/Twitter cards for social sharing previews.

Schema Markup

• Organization (brand details).
• BreadcrumbList (improves CTR and navigation).
• LocalBusiness (for local SEO).
• Product / Service (if relevant).
• FAQ (boosts visibility in SERPs).
• Article (for blog posts).

Validate in Google’s Rich Results Test.

Sitemaps & Robots

• Generate XML sitemap(s) → Pages, Posts, Products.
• Configure robots.txt → allow/disallow as needed.
• Clean parameter rules (avoid duplicate crawling from query strings).
• Block staging; allow only production to index.

Internal Linking

• Bake in contextual linking between related content.
• Add related content blocks (blog posts, services, case studies).
• Ensure consistent anchor text strategy.

9.3 Outputs

• Validated structured data.
• Indexed staging blocked; production indexable.
• XML sitemap and robots.txt tested in Google Search Console.
• Templates with built-in SEO hooks (meta fields, schema slots, link modules).

💡 DBETA Insight: On one B2B site, adding schema (FAQ + BreadcrumbList) increased organic CTR by 21% in 2 months. Technical SEO can unlock visibility without writing a single new blog.

Step 10. Compliance & Legal (0.5–1 day)

A website that ignores compliance risks fines, lawsuits, or lost trust. In the UK/EU especially, you must meet GDPR, accessibility, and transparency requirements before launch.

10.1 Goal

• Launch safely within the UK/EU context.
• Protect your users’ data and your business legally.
• Provide clear, accessible policies and statements.

10.2 Key Compliance Tasks

GDPR (Data Protection)

• Cookie consent: Must block non-essential cookies/scripts until consent is given.
• Privacy & cookies policy: Explain what you collect, why, and how users can opt out.
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs): Sign agreements with vendors handling data (e.g., email platforms, CRMs).

👉 Tools to Manage Consent:

• Cookiebot: Widely used, scans site for cookies and blocks until consent.
• OneTrust: Enterprise-grade consent & compliance platform.
• Complianz (WordPress plugin): Easy cookie/GDPR compliance setup.
• Osano: Developer-friendly GDPR/CCPA compliance solution.

Accessibility Statement

• State the standard you meet (WCAG 2.2 AA).
• List known exceptions or limitations.
• Provide a contact route for reporting accessibility issues.

Policies & Transparency

• Terms of Service: Define site usage.
• Refunds & Returns: Required for e-commerce.
• Company details: Company number, VAT, and registered office (a legal requirement in the UK/EU).

10.3 Outputs

• Published privacy, cookies, and terms policies.
• Accessible cookie consent banner deployed (compliant with GDPR/ICO).
• Accessibility statement live on site.
• Signed DPAs with key processors (hosting, analytics, marketing tools).

💡 DBETA Insight: We always recommend keeping domain registration, hosting, and cookie consent tools separate. This avoids vendor lock-in and makes switching providers simpler if regulations or business needs change.

🔗 Pro resources:

• EU GDPR Portal
• WCAG 2.2 Standards

Step 11. Quality Assurance (2–4 days)

A launch is only as strong as the checks behind it. QA ensures your website works for real users in real conditions, not just in your designer’s browser. It’s about shipping with confidence — catching issues before your visitors do.

11.1 Goal

• Validate that the site is functional, accessible, performant, and accurate.
• Test across browsers, devices, and edge cases.
• Fix regressions before launch.

11.2 QA Focus Areas

Functional Testing

• Test all key flows (checkout, lead forms, bookings).
• Validate edge cases (invalid inputs, timeouts, network loss).
• Check error states (404, 500, form errors).
• Ensure empty states are styled and helpful (e.g., “No blog posts yet”).

Accessibility Testing

• Manual keyboard navigation across menus, modals, and forms.
• Screen reader smoke test (NVDA, VoiceOver).
• Colour contrast checks against WCAG 2.2 AA.
• Confirm focus states and skip links are working.

Performance Testing

• Run Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights (mobile focus).
• Test with WebPageTest for real-world conditions.
• Fix regressions in Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS).

Cross-Browser & Device Testing

• Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions).
• Devices: iOS Safari, Android Chrome, iPadOS.
• Test in responsive modes for small/large screens.
• Tools: BrowserStack, LambdaTest, Blisk.

Forms & Integrations

• Validate input fields and error messages.
• Test autoresponders, CRM/Email hooks.
• Ensure spam protection (honeypots, reCAPTCHA, rate-limiting).

Content QA

• Spelling, grammar, and readability checks.
• Verify alt text, metadata, and structured data.
• Test 404/500 pages.
• Validate all internal/external links.

11.3 Outputs

• QA test plan + bug tracker (e.g., Jira, Trello, or Notion).
• Sign-off checklist (linked to Launch plan).

💡 DBETA Insight: On a SaaS project, manual keyboard testing revealed a modal trap that automated tools missed. Fixing it improved both accessibility compliance and conversion rate — proving QA isn’t just about avoiding bugs, it’s about creating a smoother user journey.

Step 12. Content Load & Editorial Review (1–3 days)

Dummy text and placeholder images only get you so far. This step is about loading real content, media, and metadata into the site — and then reviewing it with a fine-tooth comb. It’s the last polish before launch.

12.1 Goal

• Populate the CMS with real content and media.
• Ensure everything is accurate, consistent, and SEO-ready.
• Approve the staging site with production-like data.

12.2 Content Population

• CMS population: Pages, posts, services, and blog entries filled with approved copy.
• Media upload: Optimised images/videos with alt text and captions.
• Internal links: Follow SEO/internal linking plan; avoid orphan pages.
• Meta fields: Titles, descriptions, OG/Twitter images per page.
• Schema-ready content: FAQs, reviews, and case studies marked up.

12.3 Editorial Review Checklist

• Accuracy: Facts, stats, and product/service details are correct.
• Consistency: Voice, tone, and terminology match the brand guide.
• Readability: Headings are clear; paragraphs scannable.
• Trust signals: Testimonials, case studies, and certifications included.
• Error-free: Spelling/grammar checked with tools like Grammarly or Hemingway.
• Links tested: Internal/external links all functional.
• Compliance check: Privacy, accessibility statements, and company details published.

12.4 Outputs

• Fully populated staging site with production-like data.
• Approved by stakeholders with tracked feedback (e.g., Google Docs, Notion, or CMS comments).
• Content freeze before launch (no last-minute rewrites that could break design).

💡 DBETA Insight: On one consultancy project, populating the staging site early revealed that service-page copy was too long for the layout. Trimming paragraphs and adding collapsible sections not only fixed design issues but improved mobile engagement by 18%.

Step 13. Web Security & DevOps (1 day)

Once your hosting foundation is in place, it’s time to lock things down. Security isn’t just an afterthought — it’s a core part of the website’s infrastructure and ongoing maintenance. A strong security setup protects user data, builds trust, and prevents downtime caused by hacks or bad deployments.

13.1 Goal

• Harden the server and application against common threats.
• Secure communications, credentials, and sensitive data.
• Establish monitoring, backup, and rollback processes.

13.2 TLS, DNS & Firewalls

• TLS/SSL: Apply and renew certificates automatically (Let’s Encrypt, Cloudflare, DigiCert).
• Enforce HTTPS: Use HSTS preload and redirect all traffic to secure URLs.
• DNS Security: Use CAA records and DNSSEC where supported to prevent spoofing.
• Firewalls: Apply WAF and rate limiting (Cloudflare, ModSecurity, or host-based).

13.3 Security Headers

Modern browsers support headers that stop many attacks before they start:

• Content-Security-Policy (CSP): Control allowed scripts, images, and styles.
• Subresource Integrity (SRI): Verify external assets haven’t been tampered with.
• X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff → Prevent MIME confusion.
• Referrer-Policy: Limit how much user data is shared across sites.
• Permissions-Policy: Restrict browser features (e.g., camera, geolocation, clipboard).

13.4 Authentication & Access Control

• Use unique, strong admin passwords (avoid “admin”, “root”, or reused credentials).
• Restrict login URLs and enable 2FA on all accounts with write access.
• Use SSH keys instead of passwords for server access.
• Disable directory listing and restrict access via .htaccess.

13.5 Backups, Monitoring & Rollback

• Backups: Schedule daily automated backups and store off-site (retain 7–30 days).
• Monitoring: Enable uptime + error alerts (UptimeRobot, Pingdom, or Cloudflare Analytics).
• Rollback: Keep versioned releases so you can revert instantly if an update fails.

13.6 Log Auditing & Updates

• Enable access and error logs — review weekly for anomalies.
• Run server and CMS updates regularly (OS patches, PHP/Node, dependencies).
• Use dependency scanners (e.g., Dependabot, npm audit, Composer audit) to detect risks.

13.7 Outputs

• Security checklist complete (headers, HTTPS, firewall, 2FA, backups verified).
• Runbook documentation for incident response and recovery.
• Monitoring dashboard live (logs, uptime, SSL expiry, backup status).

💡 DBETA Insight: Smart security is proactive, not reactive. Automate as much as possible — from SSL renewals to daily backups — so you spend less time firefighting and more time improving.

Step 14. Analytics & Marketing Setup (0.5–1 day)

If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Analytics setup ensures you know how your site is performing from the very first visitor. Done right, it not only tracks traffic but shows you what’s working — and what isn’t.

14.1 Goal

• Track key metrics and conversions.
• Ensure SEO visibility in search engines.
• Provide actionable insights for ongoing marketing.

14.2 Core Setup

Google Tag Manager (GTM) + GA4

• Event tracking for conversions (forms, CTA clicks, bookings, checkout).
• Custom dimensions for deeper insights (e.g., logged-in vs guest users).
• GA4 linked with Google Ads if running paid campaigns.

Search Console & Bing Webmaster Tools

• Verify ownership.
• Submit XML sitemaps.
• Monitor indexing issues, Core Web Vitals, and coverage errors.

Heatmaps & Session Replay (optional, consent-aware)

• Tools like Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity, or FullStory.
• Analyse user behaviour (scroll depth, rage clicks, drop-offs).
• Must respect GDPR (only enabled after consent).

Marketing Integrations

• Connect CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive).
• Hook up email marketing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo).
• Enable social pixels (Meta Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, TikTok Pixel).

14.3 Outputs

• KPI dashboard with core metrics (traffic, conversions, bounce rate, top pages).
• Launch date annotated in analytics (so post-launch changes can be tracked).
• Stakeholder access to GA4/GSC dashboards.

💡 DBETA Insight: For one client, adding form event tracking via GTM revealed that 30% of leads were dropping at the final step due to a validation error. Fixing it improved completed enquiries by 19% in one month — proof that analytics isn’t just numbers, it’s conversions.

Step 15. Pre-Launch Checklist (same day)

The last line of defence before going live. This is where you double-check that your site is secure, indexable, compliant, and polished.

15.1 Goal

• Eliminate launch risks.
• Ensure SEO, security, and compliance are correct.
• Ship with full stakeholder confidence.

15.2 Pre-Launch Checks

SEO & Indexing

• Canonical URLs correct (pointing to preferred domain).
• noindex removed for production.
• 301 redirects live for legacy → new URLs.
• Open Graph & Twitter previews validated.

Forms & Emails

• All forms deliver and store correctly.
• Transactional emails tested.
• Email authentication verified (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

Compliance & Legal

• Cookie banner functions correctly:
  • Blocks non-essential tags until consent.
  • Records consent logs.
• Privacy policy, terms, and accessibility statement live.

User Experience & Design

• 404 and 500 error pages styled with helpful links.
• On-site search works (if included).
• Favicons & app icons present; PWA manifest configured.
• Accessibility spot checks: focus states, colour contrast, reduced motion.

Performance & Stability

• Mobile performance: LCP, CLS, INP within budget.
• Backups taken prior to switch-over.
• Rollback plan confirmed and documented.

15.3 Outputs

• Signed-off pre-launch checklist.
• Backups stored securely and verified.
• Stakeholder approval to proceed with DNS switch.

💡 DBETA Insight: On one migration project, a missed redirect caused a 20% drop in organic traffic overnight. The issue was fixed quickly, but it underlined why pre-launch SEO checks (redirects, canonicals, indexability) are non-negotiable.

Step 16. Launch (1–2 hour window)

This is the moment all preparation comes together. A smooth launch is about minimising risk, ensuring stability, and switching traffic with zero surprises.

16.1 Goal

• Go live without downtime.
• Ensure search engines and analytics reflect the new site.
• Document the launch for future reference.

16.2 Launch Steps

Preparation

• Freeze content & code on staging to avoid last-minute edits.
• Lower DNS TTL at least 24h before launch for faster propagation.
• Confirm rollback plan is ready (staging environment or backup snapshot).

Go-Live Switch

• Point DNS to production servers (or flip environment flag if using blue/green deployment).
• Purge caches/CDN to ensure new assets load immediately.
• Validate SSL/TLS certificates are active.

Post-Switch Smoke Test

• Check critical user flows: homepage → contact form, checkout, login, search.
• Confirm redirects, canonical tags, and robots.txt are correct in production.
• Test site speed on mobile (LCP, CLS, INP).

Search & Analytics

• Submit updated sitemap(s) to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
• Use “Fetch/Inspect” in GSC for homepage + priority pages.
• Annotate launch date in GA4 (and other dashboards).

16.3 Outputs

• Production site live with zero downtime.
• Confirmed smoke test results logged.
• Launch annotated in analytics + dashboards.
• Stakeholders notified of successful launch.

💡 DBETA Insight: For one e-commerce launch, lowering DNS TTL in advance cut switchover lag from 4 hours to under 15 minutes. This meant the site was live globally before peak shopping hours — proving that small infra steps can make or break a launch.

Step 17. Post-Launch Monitoring (24–72 hours)

A launch isn’t complete until the site has been monitored under real traffic conditions. The first 1–3 days reveal issues you won’t see on staging.

17.1 Goal

• Verify technical stability.
• Confirm SEO/indexing.
• Monitor user behaviour for early friction points.

17.2 Checks to Run

Technical Stability

• Monitor server error logs (500s, PHP/Node crashes).
• Check browser console for JS errors.
• Confirm form submissions deliver correctly (and send notifications).
• Fix mixed-content warnings (HTTP assets on HTTPS pages).
• Verify image paths after migration.

SEO & Indexing

• Validate sitemap fetch in Google Search Console and Bing.
• Spot-check key pages with “Inspect URL” in GSC.
• Monitor 404s and stray redirects in logs and GSC coverage report.
• Check Core Web Vitals (field data, not just lab tests).

Social & Metadata

• Share test URLs on LinkedIn, Facebook, X → ensure Open Graph/Twitter cards display correctly.
• Confirm favicons and app icons render across devices.

User Behaviour

• Review bounce rate, scroll depth, and early heatmap/session replay data.
• Monitor conversions (form fills, checkout, bookings).
• Compare performance vs projections (e.g., enquiry rates).

17.3 Outputs

• Post-launch QA report with logged issues + fixes.
• Indexing status report from GSC/Bing.
• First 72h analytics snapshot (traffic, engagement, conversions).

💡 DBETA Insight: For one B2B client, post-launch GSC monitoring caught a sitemap error that would have left 40% of service pages unindexed. Fixing it within 48 hours prevented a major ranking loss — proof that monitoring is as important as launch itself.

Step 18. Ongoing Care & Growth (weekly/monthly)

A website isn’t a one-off project — it’s a living asset. Without updates, performance drops, security risks grow, and SEO stalls. Ongoing care ensures your site stays fast, safe, and relevant.

18.1 Goal

• Maintain security and stability.
• Keep content fresh and engaging.
• Drive long-term growth through optimisation.

18.2 Technical Care

Weekly/Monthly

• CMS/plugin updates (WordPress, Shopify apps, etc.).
• Dependency updates (npm, Composer, etc.).
• Security patches applied promptly.
• Test backup restore process (don’t just assume it works).

Quarterly

• Review hosting/server performance.
• Re-run accessibility audits (WCAG compliance can drift).
• Check logs for brute-force attempts or anomalies.

18.3 Growth Activities

Quarterly

• Content audit → prune outdated posts, refresh evergreen content.
• Add new case studies, testimonials, and FAQs.
• Build or refine internal linking structure.

Continuous

• A/B test key pages (home, services, product pages).
• Improve copywriting and CTAs based on conversion data.
• Expand schema (FAQ, HowTo, Product, Review).
• Collect and publish customer reviews to reinforce trust.

18.4 Reporting

Monthly KPI dashboard covering:

• Traffic & top landing pages.
• Enquiries/conversions.
• Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP trends).
• Bounce rate & engagement.

Annotated with key changes (campaign launches, redesigns, SEO updates).

18.5 Outputs

• Updated and secure website (tested monthly).
• Content growth plan with priorities per quarter.
• KPI dashboard delivered to stakeholders.
• Documented actions & fixes in maintenance log.

💡 DBETA Insight: For one retail client, switching from “ad-hoc updates” to a structured quarterly content + SEO review lifted organic traffic by 38% in six months. Small, consistent improvements outperformed one-off redesigns.

Deliverables Summary

A clear deliverables list helps keep the project on track and ensures stakeholders know exactly what to expect at each stage. Below is the consolidated summary of outputs across the full project lifecycle.

• Project brief & KPIs
• Sitemap, URL plan, content model
• Copy deck & asset list
• Wireframes + prototype
• UI kit & page designs
• Repo + CI/CD + environments
• Front-end templates (accessible, performant)
• CMS integration & roles
• SEO (meta, schema, sitemaps, robots)
• Compliance (GDPR, policies, accessibility statement)
• QA pack (test plan, bug list, sign-off)
• Runbook (deploy, rollback, backup)
• Analytics & dashboards
• Launch & post-launch reports

Roles & RACI (lightweight)

A lightweight RACI model clarifies who does what during the project. It prevents overlap, ensures accountability, and keeps communication flowing smoothly.

• Responsible: Designer (wires/UI), Developer (Front-end/Back-end), SEO, Project Manager.
• Accountable: Product Owner / You.
• Consulted: Legal, Brand, Accessibility specialist (as needed).
• Informed: Stakeholders.

Timeboxed Template (typical SME site, ~4–6 weeks)

A structured timeline helps keep delivery on track while allowing space for iteration. Below is a typical schedule for an SME website project, balancing strategy, design, build, and launch.

• Week 1: Mission, strategy, IA, SEO plan, wires.
• Week 2: UI design + content drafting.
• Week 3–4: Build (FE/BE), CMS integration, SEO engineering.
• Week 5: QA, content load, performance & accessibility fixes.
• Week 6: Legal/compliance, analytics, launch, post-launch tuning.

Bonus: Non-negotiables (quick reference)

These are the baseline standards every project must meet — essential for accessibility, performance, compliance, and long-term stability.

• Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA, keyboard-only UX, clear focus styles.
• Performance: LCP < 2.5s, CLS < 0.1, INP < 200ms (mobile).
• Compliance: GDPR-compliant consent; policies visible in footer.
• Security: Security headers + regular updates/backups.
• SEO foundations: Dynamic, validated schema; clean internal linking.

FAQs

Conclusion: From Launch to Long-Term Success

Designing and launching a website is no longer just about pushing pixels — it’s about building a fast, secure, user-centred experience that grows with your business.

Across these 18 steps, you’ve seen how every layer matters:

• Foundation → Choosing the right domain, hosting, CMS, or framework.
• Planning & Strategy → Defining goals, audiences, and architecture that match your 12–18 month roadmap.
• Design & Build → Translating strategy into accessible design systems, performant front-end code, and secure CMS integration.
• Optimisation → Baking SEO, analytics, and compliance into the codebase from day one.
• Launch & QA → Rigorous testing, pre-launch checklists, and careful DNS switching.
• Growth → Continuous care, content updates, and performance improvements that keep your site competitive.

A great website is never “finished.” It’s a living platform that requires ongoing updates, monitoring, and optimisation. With the right process, you don’t just launch a site — you create a digital asset that attracts, converts, and earns trust over time.

💡 DBETA’s Takeaway: The most successful sites we’ve built are those treated as long-term investments, not one-off projects. Strategy, design, SEO, compliance, and care all work together to deliver results that compound month after month.

🎯 Next Step: Whether you’re starting fresh or scaling an existing site, follow this framework — or partner with a team like DBETA — to make your website a true growth engine.