Beginner level · Module 5: Publishing a Website · Lesson 3 of 3
The Launch Checklist
Check a website for speed, accessibility, content and search basics before telling anyone about it.
In this lesson you will
- Optimise images and check page weight
- Run a launch checklist covering performance, accessibility and SEO basics
Key concepts
image compression and formatsLighthousetitle and meta descriptioncross-device testing
The lesson
Images are usually the heaviest part of a page. Resize them to the size actually displayed, compress them and use modern formats such as WebP; a 4 MB phone photo can often become 150 KB with no visible difference.
Run Lighthouse in DevTools with mobile settings. It reports performance, accessibility, best practices and SEO problems with explanations of how to fix them.
Check every page's <title> and meta description, test all links and forms, try the site on a cheap phone and a slow connection, and ask someone else to use it while you watch.
Step by step
- Resize and compress every image.
- Run Lighthouse and fix the top issues.
- Check titles, descriptions and links.
- Test on a phone with a slow connection.
Launch checklist for a small organisation's website
The checks to run before announcing a new site — the ones most often forgotten are the ones users notice first.
Shrink the images
Resize to the displayed size and compress (WebP where possible). A 4 MB photo often becomes about 150 KB.
Check on a real phone
Open every page on an inexpensive phone over mobile data. No sideways scrolling, readable text, tappable buttons.
Run Lighthouse (mobile)
Fix the top performance, accessibility and SEO issues it reports, then run it again.
Test every link and form
Click every link; submit every form with good and bad data and confirm messages arrive where they should.
Write titles and descriptions
Each page gets a unique <title> and meta description that says what the page offers.
Confirm HTTPS and the address
The padlock shows, http:// redirects to https:// and the final URL is the one you will print on posters.
Result
A site that loads quickly on phones, works for everyone, can be found in search and does not embarrass the organisation on day one.
Practice activity
Complete the launch checklist for the organisation website and record the before-and-after Lighthouse scores.
Expected result: A checklist with every item addressed and improved scores recorded.
Check your understanding
-
What is usually the heaviest part of a web page?
Show answer
Images.
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What does Lighthouse check?
Show answer
Performance, accessibility, best practices and SEO.
Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.