Website Specialist

Website QA Checklist

Needs review — This SOP contains our content but has not been verified by Nick. Treat as a working draft until marked Live.

SOP: Website Pre-Launch Quality Assurance (QA)

Last Updated: 2026-03-31 Version: 1.0 Tier: Pre-Launch QA Checklist

Purpose

This SOP defines all required quality assurance checks that must be completed before a website is fully launched. The goal is to ensure every Tekton Growth website meets standards for usability, accuracy, performance, accessibility, and professionalism. QA is the final gate before launch — this is the last chance to catch critical issues before the site goes live to clients and search engines.

When to Use This SOP:

Before any website launch (custom WordPress, Squarespace, GHL)
After major revisions post-launch
Quarterly security/functionality spot-checks

Owner: Website Specialist Timeline: 1-2 full days per website, typically Week 4-5 of build project

Section 1: Link Validation (Highest Priority)

Broken, missing, or incorrect links are unacceptable on live client websites. This is the most critical QA check and will be tested on launch day by Google crawlers.

Visual Link Highlighting via Browser DevTools

STEPS:

Open the website in your browser (use staging or pre-launch environment)
Open DevTools:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + I
- Mac: Cmd + Option + I
Navigate to the Console tab
Paste this JavaScript link-highlighting script:

document.querySelectorAll('a').forEach(link => {
  link.style.outline = '2px solid red';
  link.style.backgroundColor = 'rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.15)';
});

Press Enter

Result: All clickable elements (links, buttons, text links) will visually highlight with red outlines and backgrounds. The highlights persist on the page even if you close DevTools.

Manual Verification Process

STEPS:

On every page of the website:
- Run the link-highlighting script above
- Hover over each highlighted link
- Observe the destination URL in the bottom-left corner of the browser
- Verify the link points to the correct page
Check for common link issues:
- “Book a Consultation” button links to Contact page (or booking integration)
- Service buttons link to corresponding service pages (not homepage or wrong service)
- Internal links are relative URLs or use the correct domain
- External links open in new tab if intended
- No broken links (404 errors)
- No placeholder or ”#” links
- Phone number links are clickable (tel: protocol)
- Email links work correctly (mailto: protocol)
Document findings:
- Screenshot broken/missing links
- List each broken link with expected destination
- Create Task Tracker note for fixes

QC Checklist — Links

Section 2: Website Speed Testing

Designers are not responsible for advanced performance optimization, but must flag critical performance issues before launch.

Tools to Use

GTmetrix (https://gtmetrix.com/)
- Comprehensive performance analysis
- Waterfall view showing where time is spent
- Actionable recommendations
- Run from US data center to match typical client location
Google PageSpeed Insights (https://pagespeed.web.dev/)
- Real user data (if available)
- Mobile and desktop scores
- Core Web Vitals assessment
- Lab data from Chrome’s Lighthouse engine

Performance Benchmarks to Monitor

Critical (Must Fix Before Launch):

Page load time: <3 seconds (target)
Core Web Vitals: All three metrics in “Good” range
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): <2.5 seconds
- FID (First Input Delay): <100 milliseconds
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): <0.1
No red/failing grades on GTmetrix
No accessibility violations (WAVE tool)

Warning (Flag to SEO Specialist, fix post-launch if needed):

Page load time: 3-5 seconds
Some Core Web Vitals in “Needs Improvement” range
Yellow/orange warnings on GTmetrix

Acceptable (No action needed):

Page load time: <5 seconds
All Core Web Vitals green
Mostly green performance scores

Performance Testing Steps

STEPS:

Test Homepage:
- Go to GTmetrix (https://gtmetrix.com/)
- Enter homepage URL
- Select US data center
- Run test (wait 1-2 minutes)
- Screenshot results
- Note any red/failing grades
Test All Primary Pages:
- Repeat GTmetrix for each main page:
  - Service pages (test 2-3)
  - About page
  - Contact page
  - Blog page (if applicable)
Run Google PageSpeed Insights:
- Go to PageSpeed Insights
- Enter homepage URL
- Run mobile test
- Run desktop test
- Screenshot results
- Note Core Web Vitals status
Analyze Results:
- Are there critical issues? (red grades, failing Core Web Vitals)
- Are there patterns? (images too large, CSS not optimized, etc.)
- Can you identify quick wins? (optimize images, enable caching)
Escalation Decision:
- Critical issues (red grades, failing Core Web Vitals): Flag to SEO Specialist for fixing before launch
- Minor issues (yellow warnings): Log in Task Tracker, can be fixed post-launch
- No critical issues: Clear for launch, log baseline scores for future monitoring

QC Checklist — Performance

GTmetrix tested on all primary pages
Google PageSpeed Insights run on homepage (mobile + desktop)
No red/failing grades blocking launch
Core Web Vitals all green (or minimal yellow)
Page load time <3 seconds (target) or <5 seconds (acceptable)
Results documented with screenshots
Critical issues escalated to SEO Specialist
Baseline performance scores logged for future monitoring

Section 3: Spelling & Grammar Review

Live websites must be free of spelling and grammar errors. Errors damage credibility and signal unprofessionalism.

Review Process

STEPS:

Navigate to each page individually
Select all visible text on the page:
- Windows: Ctrl + A
- Mac: Cmd + A
Copy the text:
- Windows: Ctrl + C
- Mac: Cmd + C
Paste into Claude (or your preferred AI tool)
Use this prompt:

Check this entire webpage's copy for spelling or grammar errors.
Flag any issues and give me the correct spelling or grammar to use in place of it.
Ignore reviews and testimonial sections unless clearly incorrect.

Review flagged errors:
- Verify each issue reported
- Decide if it’s a true error or a stylistic choice
- Fix true errors in WordPress/Squarespace/GHL editor
- Document each fix in Task Tracker

Review Guidelines

IMPORTANT: Use judgment when reviewing feedback:

AI-generated copy is usually clean but must still be verified
Ignore testimonial or review text unless clearly incorrect
Fix all true spelling or grammatical errors
Ignore minor stylistic suggestions (e.g., “use ‘furthermore’ instead of ‘also’”)
Keep brand voice consistent (don’t let AI change client’s intended tone)
Verify technical terms are spelled correctly for the industry

QC Checklist — Spelling & Grammar

All pages reviewed (homepage, services, about, contact, etc.)
Spelling errors corrected
Grammar errors corrected
Brand voice preserved
No placeholder or draft text present
All fixes logged in Task Tracker

Section 4: Mobile Responsiveness & Visual Checks

Every site must display correctly and function properly across all device sizes.

Device Preview via DevTools

STEPS:

Open DevTools:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + I
- Mac: Cmd + Option + I
Toggle device toolbar (mobile view):
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + M
- Mac: Cmd + Shift + M
Test multiple screen sizes:
- Mobile (375px — iPhone SE)
- Mobile (390px — iPhone 12)
- Tablet (768px — iPad)
- Desktop (1024px+)

Mobile Verification Checklist

Verify on each device size:

Visual Quality Check

Before marking site as launch-ready:

General Visual Quality:

Images are clear, professional, and on-brand
No placeholder or low-quality images
Colors match brand guidelines
Typography hierarchy is clear (headings vs. body text)
Spacing is consistent throughout
Button styling is consistent

Page-Specific Quality:

Homepage: Hero section compelling, clear value proposition visible
Service pages: Visual hierarchy guides reader to CTA
About page: Team photos professional and on-brand
Contact page: Forms prominent and easy to use
Blog/resources: List formatting readable and scannable

Brand Consistency:

Logo displayed correctly on all pages
Brand colors used consistently
Brand fonts applied throughout
Brand voice matches client guidelines

QC Checklist — Mobile & Visual

Section 5: Form Testing

All forms must be functional, properly configured, and correctly integrated with lead capture systems.

Form Testing Steps

STEPS:

Identify all forms on the website:
- Contact form
- Newsletter signup
- Appointment/booking form
- Quote request form
- Any other forms
Test each form:
- Fill out all required fields
- Test optional fields (should not block submission)
- Test form validation (required fields should show error if empty)
- Submit the form
- Verify confirmation message appears
- Check email inbox for submission notification (if configured)
Verify form submissions are captured:
- If using Formspree, Zapier, or third-party tool: verify submission logged
- If using GoHighLevel: verify lead created in CRM
- If using WordPress form plugin: verify submission in database
- Test spam filtering (CAPTCHA should work if present)
Test edge cases:
- Submit without filling required fields (should show error)
- Submit with invalid email format (should show error)
- Submit very long text (should accept without truncation)
- Submit special characters (should handle properly)
Document results:
- Screenshot each form
- Log submission test results in Task Tracker
- Note any errors or issues found

Form Configuration Checklist

Section 6: Image Verification

All images must be optimized, properly formatted, correctly named, and accessible.

Image Format & Naming Verification

Required Format:

All images must be WebP format (no PNG or JPG on live site)
If PNG/JPG found: convert immediately using squoosh.app and re-upload

Naming Convention (for SEO & organization):

Format: location_GBP-category_main-service_business-name.webp
Example: austin_plumbing-services_emergency-plumbing_acme-plumbing.webp
Check Media Library for properly named images
Rename improperly named images before launch

Image Alt Text Verification

All images must have alt text:

STEPS:

In WordPress Media Library, review each image
Verify alt text is present and descriptive
Alt text should describe the image (not keyword stuff)
Example alt text:
- ✅ Good: “Emergency plumber responding to burst pipe in residential home”
- ✅ Good: “Owner portrait, local plumbing business”
- ❌ Bad: “plumber plumbing services Austin TX”
- ❌ Bad: “image” or blank

For WordPress:

Go to Media Library
Check each image’s alt text field
Update missing or poor alt text
Save changes

For Squarespace/GHL:

Use native image editor
Add alt text before publishing
Verify on live site

Hero Image & Featured Image Verification

Homepage hero image loads quickly
Hero image dimensions correct (no stretching)
Hero image is high-quality and on-brand
All service page hero images present
Featured images on blog posts present and relevant

QC Checklist — Images

All images are WebP format (no PNG/JPG on live site)
All images properly named (location_category_service_business.webp)
All images have descriptive alt text
No missing or broken images
Image file sizes optimized (no uncompressed images)
Hero images load without delay
Images display correctly on all device sizes
Images are on-brand and professional
No placeholder or low-quality images remain

Section 7: Plugin & Security Verification

All plugins must be installed, active, and configured correctly. Security must be verified before launch.

WordPress Plugin Stack Verification

Required Plugins (must be installed and active):

All-in-One WP Migration (with Google Drive extension)
Duplicate Page
Easy Updates Manager
Elementor (+ Pro with Tekton Growth license)
Royal Elementor Addons
Unlimited Elements for Elementor
WPCode Lite (with tracking scripts installed)
Yoast SEO
Really Simple Security

Development Plugins (must be REMOVED before launch):

WP Optimize (remove immediately before going live)
Any debugging or staging plugins

Verification Steps:

Go to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins
Verify each required plugin is active (green checkmark)
Check for any inactive plugins (delete if not needed)
Check for outdated plugins (should be auto-updated via Easy Updates Manager)
Verify WP Optimize is NOT active on live site
Test one plugin functionality: WPCode (verify tracking scripts present)

Security Check

STEPS:

SSL Certificate:
- Visit website URL
- Verify green lock icon in browser address bar
- Click lock → Certificate info should show valid certificate
- Certificate should be for correct domain
Security Plugin (Really Simple Security):
- Log into WordPress
- Go to Really Simple Security
- Verify setup wizard completed
- Verify default settings (file permissions, firewall)
Firewall Status:
- Check Really Simple Security dashboard
- Verify no security warnings or alerts
- Verify login page is protected

QC Checklist — Plugins & Security

Section 8: Header & Footer on All Pages

Headers and footers must appear consistently on every page and be functional.

Header Verification

STEPS:

Navigate to each page on the website
Verify header appears on every page
Check header elements:
- Logo displays correctly and links to homepage
- Navigation menu present and functional
- All menu links working
- Mobile menu (hamburger) functional on mobile devices
- Header styling consistent across pages
- No broken images or missing elements

STEPS:

Scroll to bottom of each page
Verify footer appears on every page
Check footer elements:
- Business name/logo present
- Contact information (phone, email) correct
- Social media links functional
- Copyright year current
- All footer links working
- Footer styling consistent across pages
- Copyright statement present and accurate

Section 9: SSL & Security Status

SSL certificate ensures data encryption and is critical for client trust and SEO.

SSL Verification

STEPS:

Visit website URL in browser
Look for green lock icon in address bar
Click lock icon → “Certificate” or “More Information”
Verify:
- Certificate is valid (not expired)
- Certificate is for correct domain
- Issued by recognized Certificate Authority (Let’s Encrypt, DigiCert, etc.)
- No warnings or errors
If no green lock:
- Check domain DNS settings (HTTPS enabled)
- Check hosting configuration (SSL certificate installed)
- Check for mixed content (some assets loading over HTTP)
- Escalate to hosting provider or SEO Specialist

Security Headers

STEPS:

Use online tool: https://securityheaders.com/
Enter website URL
Verify results:
- No critical warnings (F grade)
- A or B grade acceptable (C grade flag to SEO Specialist)

QC Checklist — SSL & Security

Green lock icon displays in browser address bar
SSL certificate valid and not expired
Certificate issued for correct domain
No mixed content warnings (all assets over HTTPS)
Security headers checked and acceptable (A/B grade)
No security warnings or browser errors

Complete QA Checklist (Master)

Use this master checklist to verify all QA sections are complete before marking the site as launch-ready:

Section 1: Link Validation

Link highlighting script tested on all pages
No broken links found
All internal links point to correct pages
All external links functional
CTA buttons link to correct destinations
Phone and email links clickable

Section 2: Performance Testing

GTmetrix run on all primary pages
PageSpeed Insights run (mobile + desktop)
Core Web Vitals acceptable
Page load time <5 seconds
No critical performance issues blocking launch
Baseline scores documented

Section 3: Spelling & Grammar

Section 4: Mobile Responsiveness

Section 5: Form Testing

All forms tested and functional
Confirmation messages work
Form submissions captured
Validation working (required fields)
Spam protection enabled

Section 6: Image Verification

Section 7: Plugins & Security

Section 8: Header & Footer

Header appears on all pages
Navigation menu functional on all pages
Footer appears on all pages
Contact info in footer correct
All footer links working

Section 9: SSL & Security

Green lock icon displays
SSL certificate valid
No mixed content warnings
Security headers acceptable

QA Sign-Off & Launch Readiness

WHEN ALL SECTIONS PASS:

Create QA report in Task Tracker documenting all checks passed
Screenshot evidence of critical tests (GTmetrix, PageSpeed, link validation)
Note any minor issues found and fixed
Log all fixes applied
Confirm with CSM: “Website is QA-approved and ready for launch”
Schedule launch window (48-hour pre-launch for final technical setup)

IF CRITICAL ISSUES FOUND:

Document all issues in Task Tracker
Create list of fixes needed
Estimate time to fix
Communicate timeline to CSM
Rerun QA section after fixes applied
Update QA sign-off when issues resolved

Version Control:

v1.0 (2026-03-31): Initial QA SOP, includes link validation, performance testing, spelling review, mobile testing, form testing, image verification, plugin/security checks, header/footer verification, SSL checks

Website QA Checklist

SOP: Website Pre-Launch Quality Assurance (QA)

Purpose

Section 1: Link Validation (Highest Priority)

Visual Link Highlighting via Browser DevTools

Manual Verification Process

QC Checklist — Links

Section 2: Website Speed Testing

Tools to Use

Performance Benchmarks to Monitor

Performance Testing Steps

QC Checklist — Performance

Section 3: Spelling & Grammar Review

Review Process

Review Guidelines

QC Checklist — Spelling & Grammar

Section 4: Mobile Responsiveness & Visual Checks

Device Preview via DevTools

Mobile Verification Checklist

Visual Quality Check

QC Checklist — Mobile & Visual

Section 5: Form Testing

Form Testing Steps

Form Configuration Checklist

Section 6: Image Verification

Image Format & Naming Verification

Image Alt Text Verification

Hero Image & Featured Image Verification

QC Checklist — Images

Section 7: Plugin & Security Verification

WordPress Plugin Stack Verification

Security Check

QC Checklist — Plugins & Security

Section 8: Header & Footer on All Pages

Header Verification

Footer Verification

QC Checklist — Header & Footer

Section 9: SSL & Security Status

SSL Verification

Security Headers

QC Checklist — SSL & Security

Complete QA Checklist (Master)

Section 1: Link Validation

Section 2: Performance Testing

Section 3: Spelling & Grammar

Section 4: Mobile Responsiveness

Section 5: Form Testing

Section 6: Image Verification

Section 7: Plugins & Security

Section 8: Header & Footer

Section 9: SSL & Security

QA Sign-Off & Launch Readiness