AI search is reshaping what a well-optimized website actually needs.

My complete web project launch checklist includes a dedicated section on GEO and AI optimization alongside all the fundamentals: strategy, design, performance, accessibility, SEO, security, and post-launch planning. Every client project we take on runs through this checklist.

If you want your website launch to be polished, purposeful, and built to perform, bookmark this checklist as a smart starting point for your project workflow.

Tip: the best time to work through it is in the early strategy and planning stage, before you make a single design decision.

1. 🧱 Foundation & Strategy

• [ ] Goals & success metrics: What must this site achieve? Define KPIs upfront.
• [ ] Target audience: Who are they? What devices do they use?
• [ ] Information architecture: How content is structured, grouped, and navigated.
• [ ] Content strategy: Who writes the copy? Are assets ready? Assign an owner.
• [ ] Scalability: Can CMS, hosting, and components handle growth?

2. 👩🏼‍🎨 Design Phase

• [ ] Brand consistency: Type, color, tone, imagery: one cohesive system.
• [ ] UX & user flows: Can users find what they need? Are CTAs clear?
• [ ] Visual hierarchy: Does the eye know where to go first, second, third?
• [ ] Responsiveness: Designed well at every breakpoint, not just "shrunk."

3. 🧑🏼‍🦽‍➡️ Accessibility

• [ ] WCAG 2.1 AA compliance as the baseline standard