Why Check Content Before Launch
After website development, technical testing usually focuses on functionality, but content issues often surface only after launch. Problems like typos, broken images, links pointing to old pages, or confusing section categories directly impact visitors' first impressions and add to maintenance costs. Spending an hour or two going through a checklist before launch is far more efficient than fixing issues after going live.
What to Prepare Before Checking
Before starting, compile a list of all page URLs on your website. For a new site, export the section and page list from the backend. For a redesign, prepare a mapping of old URLs to new URLs for easy verification. Additionally, have a browser and a notepad or spreadsheet ready to record any issues found.
First Round: Text Content Review
Text is the core of website content. Focus on the following areas:
- Typos and grammar errors: Read through key pages (homepage, product pages, About Us, Contact) page by page, paying special attention to titles, navigation, and button text. Ask a colleague who wasn't involved in the build to review as well—they're more likely to spot errors you've overlooked.
- Information accuracy: Verify that contact details such as address, phone, email, and business hours match the latest information. If contact details appear on multiple pages, check each one.
- Content completeness: Ensure every section has content—no empty sections. For example, a "News" section with no articles or a "Products" section with no images makes the site look unfinished.
- Titles and descriptions: Check that each page's title and meta description are filled in and relevant. While not every page needs them, important pages (homepage, products, about) should have them.
Second Round: Image and Media Review
Image issues are often overlooked but have a direct visual impact. Check the following:
- Images display correctly: Open pages with images to confirm they load without broken icons. If there are many images, sample key pages.
- Image clarity: Ensure images aren't blurry when zoomed in, especially product photos and team pictures. Blurry images reduce credibility.
- Image size and loading speed: Large image files slow down page loading. Use browser developer tools to check file sizes; generally, keep single images under 200KB, though it depends on the purpose.
- Alt text: Important images should have alt attributes so text appears if the image fails to load, and it helps search engines understand the image content.
Third Round: Link and Navigation Review
Broken links confuse visitors and hinder search engine crawling. Key points:
- Internal links work: Click all navigation menus, footer links, and in-content links to ensure no 404 errors. For larger sites, use online tools or sample manually.
- External links point correctly: Verify that external URLs have no typos and lead to existing pages.
- Anchor links function: If the page uses anchors (e.g., "Back to Top"), ensure they jump to the correct position.
- Navigation hierarchy is clear: Can visitors reach any page within two clicks from the homepage? Are section names intuitive? For example, choose between "Support" and "Help Center" based on your audience's habits.
Fourth Round: Section and Structure Review
Section structure affects scalability and SEO. Check:
- Overlapping sections: Are sections like "News" and "Company Announcements" too similar, causing confusion for content publishers? Merge or clearly differentiate them.
- Depth of hierarchy: Aim for no more than three clicks from homepage to content. If deeper, consider flattening.
- Breadcrumb navigation: Ensure breadcrumbs display correctly to help users understand their location.
- URL structure: If URLs contain meaningless numbers or parameters, consider using pinyin or English words, provided the site supports pseudo-static URLs.
Final Review Before Launch
After completing the above checks, compile a list of issues and fix them one by one. Reopen relevant pages to confirm fixes. If time allows, simulate a visitor's journey from the homepage, browsing the entire site to assess flow.
In the week following launch, monitor the backend for 404 errors and visitor feedback, addressing new issues promptly. Website content maintenance is an ongoing effort—launch is just the beginning.
