Website Checklists for South African Businesses
Every checklist we publish, in one place. Use the launch checklist and the prepare-your-build list for a new site, the POPIA and security checklists to protect visitors' information, and the maintenance checklist to keep a live site healthy. Three of them are interactive tools; the rest are sections of our guides that you can print.
Planning and launching a website
Start here if you are about to build a new site or replace an old one.
- Guide (print the page)
What to prepare before your website build
The logo, text, photos, contact details and examples of sites you like to gather before a designer starts.
Read the checklist - Interactive tool, printable
Website launch checklist
Tick off domain, email, forms, POPIA, SEO basics, speed and backups before you go live, then print the list.
Open the tool
POPIA, security and site health
Check that the site protects visitors' information and stays safe once it is live.
- Guide (print the page)
POPIA website compliance checklist
What POPIA expects from your forms, privacy notice, cookies, newsletter, Information Officer and hosting, in plain language.
Read the checklist - Interactive check
POPIA website checker
Scans a page for the POPIA basics visible from outside: HTTPS, a privacy policy link, consent wording and trackers.
Open the tool - Interactive check
Website health check
Checks HTTPS, security headers, titles and meta tags, robots.txt, the sitemap, and SPF and DMARC email records in one go.
Open the tool - Guide (print the page)
WordPress security checklist
Ten steps to make a WordPress site harder to hack, from updates and two-factor login to off-server backups, plus a monthly routine.
Read the checklist
Running your website
The routine work that keeps a site fast, secure and bringing in enquiries.
Hosting and domains
For choosing a host, moving your site or moving your domain without losing email.
- Guide (print the page)
Choosing web hosting: the nine checks
Server location, renewal price, backups, resource limits, support and the other checks to make before you buy hosting.
Read the checklist - Guide (print the page)
Website migration checklist
Step by step from recording your DNS and backing up to testing the new copy, switching DNS and keeping the old hosting for a while.
Read the checklist - Guide (print the page)
Domain transfer checklist
What to confirm before transferring a .co.za or .com: registrant email, expiry date, recent changes and transfer codes.
Read the checklist
Online stores
For WooCommerce shops selling to South African customers.
How to use these checklists
- Pick the one for the job in front of you. Each checklist is short on purpose. You do not need to work through all of them at once.
- Write down who does each item. Many items, such as updates, backups and renewals, fall between you, your designer and your host. A checklist only helps if each line has a name next to it.
- Turn the routine ones into calendar reminders. The maintenance and security checks work best as recurring weekly or monthly appointments.
- Re-check after big changes. Run the launch checklist and the health check again after a redesign, a hosting move or a domain transfer.
- Ask for help where it is quicker. If a check fails and you are not sure why, our website maintenance service covers updates, backups and fixes, and our website design dos and don'ts explain what to look for in a new site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which checklist should I start with?
If you are planning a new site, start with what to prepare before your website build, then use the website launch checklist before going live. If your site is already live, run the website health check and then set up the maintenance checklist as a routine.
Can I print these checklists?
Yes. The website launch checklist has its own print option. The other checklists are part of guides, so use your browser's print or "save as PDF" option on that page.
Do these checklists make my website POPIA compliant?
No checklist can do that on its own. They cover the website side of POPIA, such as your privacy notice, consent and HTTPS, but compliance also depends on how your business handles information offline. Treat them as general guidance, not legal advice, and speak to a lawyer if you process sensitive information.
Rather have us work through the checklist?
Tell us what you need, from a new site to ongoing maintenance, and we will send a clear written quote.