Before a corporate website officially goes live, the homepage is the first page users see. Many teams discover issues like incomplete content, broken buttons, mobile display misalignment, or missing basic SEO settings only at the last minute. This article focuses on real-world scenarios in corporate website building and operations, listing the most common pre-launch homepage issues to help operations teams identify problems early and minimize post-launch adjustments.
1. Navigation and Structure Issues
The homepage's navigation structure and entry points directly determine whether users can quickly find the information they need. Common pre-launch issues include:
- Navigation links pointing to blank or error pages, without a proper 404 page redirect;
- Primary categories not classified or with unclear logic, making it hard for users to understand the business scope;
- Dropdown menus with too many levels that cannot expand properly on mobile devices;
- Missing basic sections like "About Us," "Contact Us," or "Services," or these sections having empty content.
It is recommended to click every link in the navigation before launch to ensure each section has actual content and correct paths.
2. Content and Page Structure Issues
Homepage content directly conveys core business information. Common issues include:
- Company introduction, core products, or service descriptions being too brief or outdated;
- Vague or generic statements without specific business details or case studies;
- Unauthorized or low-resolution images, banners, or logos that harm brand image;
- Missing or incorrect contact information, addresses, or emails;
- Typos or inconsistent formatting (e.g., mismatched fonts, sizes, or colors).
It is recommended that a content owner read through the homepage text line by line, and have another person cross-check for accuracy.
3. Functionality and Interaction Issues
The homepage often includes interactive components like search bars, live chat, form submissions, and click-to-call buttons. Pre-launch checks should include:
- Whether form submissions are received and if auto-replies or prompts are set;
- Whether live chat links point to an active customer service system or contact method;
- Whether the search function returns results correctly, with friendly prompts for no results;
- Whether button and link click areas are large enough and responsive.
It is recommended to test each interactive function on real mobile phones and computers, and verify that data is recorded properly.
4. Mobile and Compatibility Issues
Mobile browsing is now mainstream, but homepage display on phones and tablets is often overlooked:
- Text overlapping, image distortion, or buttons being obscured on mobile screens;
- Navigation not adapted for mobile (e.g., collapsible menus or bottom navigation);
- Slow loading speeds that affect user experience and search engine rankings;
- Inconsistent display across different browsers (Chrome, Safari, WeChat built-in browser).
It is recommended to test on multiple devices and browsers, and optimize images and scripts based on page load speed data.
5. SEO Basic Settings Issues
The homepage is the highest-weight page on a website. At a minimum, check the following before launch:
- Whether the homepage TKD (title, keywords, description) is set and aligns with the company's positioning;
- Whether there are duplicate or empty meta tags;
- Whether the URL is set to static or pseudo-static (e.g., www.example.com), avoiding parameters;
- Whether the robots.txt file blocks search engines from crawling the homepage (it should allow crawling);
- Whether a sitemap has been submitted and includes the homepage.
It is recommended to use SEO tools or browser plugins to simulate a search engine crawler and check how the homepage is indexed.
6. Other Common Oversights
- Whether the ICP filing number and public security filing number are placed and linked to the relevant government websites;
- Whether compliance pages like privacy policies and user agreements are live and linked from the homepage;
- Whether an SSL certificate is installed and the homepage is forced to use HTTPS;
- Whether analytics codes (e.g., Baidu Analytics, Google Analytics) are deployed and verified to be working.
Summary Recommendation: Prepare a pre-launch checklist covering content, functionality, mobile compatibility, SEO, and compliance. If possible, arrange an internal testing round with colleagues and record feedback. After launch, continuously monitor traffic data and make timely adjustments to homepage details.