Table of Contents
- Pre-Launch Planning
- Mood Boards
- Mockups
- Content Strategy & Marketing Alignment
- Wireframes
- Site Development
- Website Quality Check & Testing
- Launch
- Conclusion
- Hire The Best Website Design Company in Australia
In a rapidly changing digital landscape, effective website design has become essential for engaging users and enhancing brand visibility. In 2025, businesses must ensure that their web design not only embodies their brand identity but also meets user expectations and search engine optimisation (SEO) standards.
This comprehensive Website Design Checklist for 2025 serves as your go-to guide for launching an engaging and user-friendly website that captivates your audience and ranks favourably in search results.
The checklist is divided into critical phases: Pre-Launch, Launch, and Post-Launch Maintenance. Each phase is vital to ensure your site is visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimised for search engines while also catering to user needs.
Pre-Launch Planning
When embarking on a new website project, thorough planning is essential. To create a standout site, analyse your competitors to identify market gaps that your website can fill. This pre-launch phase will guide you in designing a site that resonates with your target audience.
1. Ideation
Begin with ideation, outlining your website’s structure, page count, and design elements. Draft a customer journey map to pinpoint how users will convert or interact with your offerings.
2. Design Inspirations
Gather design inspiration from leading competitors and websites relevant to your industry. Capture screenshots and compile them into a visual reference document that will inform your design choices.
3. Swipe Book
Create a ‘swipe book’ by collecting visual inspirations from sites that you admire. This resource will serve as a valuable guide throughout the design process.
4. Animations vs Images vs Videos
Consider incorporating animations, images, and videos into your design. Collect samples that resonate with the brand’s aesthetic and keep them as references.
5. Identifying User Journey
Map out your users’ journey, detailing key pages they will interact with and their navigation paths. This step is crucial for creating an intuitive user experience.
6. Functionality on Site
Define the functionalities your website will offer. Decide on elements like videos, images, or interactive features that will enhance user engagement.
Mood Boards
After ideation, create mood boards to establish the visual identity of your website. These boards will help in determining colour schemes, font styles, and branding elements, ensuring consistency across your design.
7. Finalising Theme
Ensure a cohesive theme throughout your website. Mood boards will help you select design elements that reflect your brand’s identity.
8. Colour Tones & Fonts
Choose appropriate colour tones and fonts during this phase. Finalising these elements early will streamline the design process later.
9. Branding
Adhere to your branding guidelines throughout the design process. Ensuring a consistent theme, colour palette, and typography is essential for brand recognition.
Mockups
After finalising mood boards, create detailed mockups for each webpage. Use tools like Figma or Photoshop to design distinct layouts for your homepage and other key pages.
10. Understand Your Target Audience’s Reaction
Conduct A/B testing with your mockups to gauge audience reactions. Collect feedback to refine your designs and ensure they resonate with users.
11. Industry Best Practices
Adhere to industry best practices in your design. Familiarise yourself with common design elements that instill trust in users within your sector.
Content Strategy & Marketing Alignment
Develop a content strategy that aligns with your marketing objectives. Understand the types of content needed to promote your website effectively and enhance user engagement.
12. Number of Pages
Identify the core pages essential for showcasing your products and enhancing SEO. Both categories should be planned during the mockup stage.
13. Length of Pages
Establish the length of your pages based on user engagement needs. Ensure a balanced structure that guides users through the content.
14. Gated Pages/Demo Pages
Plan your gated content strategy to enhance lead generation. Identify key resources like white papers and demo pages to attract potential clients.
15. Popups/Notification Bars/Site Banners
Determine the marketing assets to integrate, including pop-ups and notification bars, to keep users informed about promotions and updates.
16. Page Designs & Folds
Plan the layout and sections of each page. Use placeholder text to visualise content placement for easier future development.
Wireframes
Once the mockups are complete, create wireframes to outline the final layout of the website. These will serve as a blueprint for development.
17. PSDs or Figma Files
Choose between PSDs or Figma files for your wireframes. Figma is preferred for its web development capabilities and collaboration features.
18. Mobile Responsiveness
Ensure your website is mobile-responsive. Test functionality across devices to guarantee a seamless experience for all users.
19. Functionality Setting
Clarify the functionalities of various site features to avoid complications later. Consult with stakeholders for input on desired functionalities.
20. Finalising File Types
Determine the file types you’ll use for images, videos, and animations. Opt for modern formats like WebP for optimal performance.
Site Development
With wireframes in hand, it’s time to commence site development, focusing on key aspects of layout and functionality.
21. Theme Development
Begin by developing the theme, which encompasses the overall layout and design elements for all pages.
22. Page Development
Start page development by establishing the theme elements, then design each page comprehensively.
Website Quality Check & Testing
Testing is crucial once the website is developed. Conduct checks to ensure speed, functionality, and overall performance.
23. Speed Testing
Perform speed tests to identify any performance issues. Address heavy elements that could slow down your site.
24. Functionality Testing
Reassess functionalities to ensure they are necessary and enhance the user experience without compromising speed.
25. User Journey Testing
Verify that the user journey aligns with your expectations. Test how users navigate your site and interact with its features.
26. Security Testing
Run security tests to identify vulnerabilities and ensure the website is secure against potential threats.
27. SEO & Marketing Testing
Check for SEO compliance and rectify any marketing errors before launch to ensure optimal performance in search rankings.
28. Compliance Testing
Conduct compliance tests to ensure your website adheres to necessary regulations and standards.
Launch
With testing complete, it’s time to launch your website. Prepare to tackle any glitches that may arise during the rollout.
29. Launching Website
Document any issues that occur during launch for follow-up during post-launch testing.
30. Post-Launch Testing & Phases
Continue testing post-launch to identify and resolve any emerging issues, typically within the first two months.
31. Quality Assurance
Conduct a thorough quality assurance check to address any identified issues before finalising the website.
32. Regular Site Monitoring
Once live, regularly monitor your website for user experience and performance to ensure ongoing success.
- Engage with Your Developer: If you’ve hired a web designer or developer, ask about their post-maintenance services.
- Utilise a 30 or 60-day post-maintenance period to track any issues.
- Track User Journey: Monitor user navigation for seamless experiences.
- Monitor User Experience: Regularly check for potential problems.
- Accessibility Checks: Ensure all touchpoints are functioning.
By adhering to these steps, you can maintain a successful website and enhance user satisfaction.
Conclusion
Congratulations on successfully launching your website! Now it’s time to focus on marketing your site, scaling your business, and generating revenue.
Hire The Best Website Design Company in Australia
If you’re seeking a top-tier website design agency in Australia, look no further. At WPPRO, we specialise in creating and developing websites that drive business success.
Get in touch with us today to kickstart your website project.
