Mar 18, 2026
The 10-Point Website Checklist for Belfast Business Owners
Make sure your website ticks every box with this essential checklist.
Whether you're about to launch a new website or you want to make sure your existing one is doing its job, this checklist covers everything that matters. No fluff — just the essentials that actually affect whether your website brings in business.
Print this out. Tick things off. Fix what's broken.
Design and First Impressions
[ ] Your website looks professional and current. Not cutting-edge trendy — just clean, modern, and trustworthy. If it looks like it was built before 2020, that's a problem.
[ ] It works perfectly on mobile. Not just "it sort of works" — it's easy to navigate, text is readable, buttons are tappable, and forms are usable on a phone.
[ ] It loads in under 3 seconds. Test at pagespeed.web.dev. If you're above 3 seconds on mobile, you're losing visitors.
[ ] Your brand is consistent. Same colours, fonts, and tone across every page. No mixing old and new logos.
[ ] Images are high quality and relevant. Real photos of your work, team, or premises beat generic stock photos every time.
Content and Messaging
[ ] A visitor understands what you do within 5 seconds of landing on your homepage. Don't make them scroll or click to figure out your core offering.
[ ] Your content speaks to the customer, not about you. Focus on their problems, their needs, and how you solve them. Not your company history.
[ ] Each page has a clear purpose and call to action. What do you want someone to do on this page? Make it obvious.
[ ] Your copy is free of jargon. Write like you're talking to a customer in plain English. If your mum wouldn't understand it, rewrite it.
[ ] You have a dedicated services/what-we-do page. Each service should be clearly explained with its own section or page.
Trust and Social Proof
[ ] You have at least 3 testimonials on your site. Real quotes from real customers with names (and ideally, businesses).
[ ] You show examples of your work. Case studies, portfolio items, before/after photos — whatever fits your business.
[ ] Your Google reviews are visible or linked. If you've got great reviews, show them off.
[ ] You display relevant certifications, awards, or memberships. Anything that builds credibility.
[ ] Your team is represented. Even a brief "about us" with a photo makes your business feel more human and trustworthy.
Contact and Conversion
[ ] Your phone number is visible on every page. Ideally in the header. Clickable on mobile.
[ ] You have a dedicated contact page. With your phone, email, address (if applicable), and a contact form.
[ ] Your contact form works. Test it yourself. Right now. You'd be amazed how many forms are broken and nobody notices.
[ ] There's a clear call to action on every page. "Get a Quote," "Book a Call," "Start Your Project" — whatever fits your business.
[ ] You make it easy to take the next step. Don't ask for too much information upfront. Name, email, brief message — that's enough to start a conversation.
SEO (Getting Found on Google)
[ ] Every page has a unique, descriptive title tag. Include your location and main keyword. "Web Design Belfast | Yarn Digital" not just "Home."
[ ] Every page has a meta description. The snippet people see in search results. Make it compelling.
[ ] You use headings (H1, H2, H3) properly. One H1 per page, with logical sub-headings. Don't just bold text — use actual heading tags.
[ ] Your business location is mentioned on key pages. Belfast, Northern Ireland, or whatever areas you serve.
[ ] You have a Google Business Profile. Claimed, verified, and fully completed.
[ ] Your site has an XML sitemap. Submitted to Google Search Console.
[ ] You're using Google Analytics and Search Console. If you're not tracking, you're guessing.
Technical Essentials
[ ] Your site has HTTPS (SSL certificate). Non-negotiable in 2026. Browsers flag non-HTTPS sites as "Not Secure."
[ ] All links work. No 404 errors, no dead pages. Check with a free broken link checker.
[ ] Images are optimised. Compressed for web without looking terrible. Use WebP format where possible.
[ ] Your site has a favicon. The tiny icon in the browser tab. Without one, you look unfinished.
[ ] You have a privacy policy. Required by law if you collect any personal data (contact forms count).
[ ] Your site is backed up regularly. Automated weekly backups at minimum. Know how to restore if something breaks.
Content Strategy
[ ] You have a blog or articles section. Even if you only post monthly, it helps with SEO and positions you as an expert.
[ ] Content is updated at least quarterly. Nothing says "we might be closed" like a blog post from 2022.
[ ] Your content targets keywords your customers actually search. Not industry jargon — real phrases people type into Google.
[ ] You link between your own pages. Internal linking helps users navigate and helps Google understand your site structure.
How to Use This Checklist
Don't try to fix everything at once. Start with the items that affect conversion first — calls to action, contact forms, mobile experience, and page speed. These have the most immediate impact on getting enquiries.
Then work through SEO, content, and trust signals. Think of it as an ongoing project, not a one-time task.
Want Us to Audit Your Site?
Prefer someone else to go through this for you? We run a free website audit for Belfast businesses — we'll check everything on this list and more, then give you a prioritised action plan.
