WINDSOR-ESSEX WEBSITE GUIDE | OCTOBER 2026

Small business website launch checklist

A polished home page is not the finish line. Before a Windsor-Essex business announces a new site, test whether customers can complete the important task, whether the business controls its accounts, and whether the site can be maintained after launch.

How to use this: Check each item only after someone has tested it. The checklist stays in this browser and is not transmitted. It is a practical handoff aid, not legal, accessibility or security certification.

0 of 18 checks complete.

Ownership and handoff

Domain control: the business can sign in to the registrar, and renewal contact and payment details are current.
Hosting and administrator access: at least two authorized people know where the site is hosted and how to reach support.
Exit package: the handoff identifies code, content, images, licences, analytics and any services that stop when the developer relationship ends.
Recurring costs: hosting, domains, plugins, email, forms and maintenance are listed with renewal dates.

Customer journey

Primary action: a new visitor can find and complete the main action, such as calling, requesting a quote, booking or buying.
Real-device test: navigation, text, forms and tap targets work on a small phone without sideways scrolling.
Business facts: phone, email, hours, service area and location details match the information customers receive elsewhere.
Error path: invalid and missing form fields produce clear messages without erasing completed work.
Confirmation: the visitor gets an unmistakable success message, and the business receives the lead or order.

Accessibility and content

Keyboard pass: every link, button and form control can be reached and used with a keyboard, with a visible focus indicator.
Images and headings: informative images have useful text alternatives, decorative images are ignored, and headings follow the page structure.
Zoom and contrast: content remains usable when enlarged, and text does not disappear against its background.
Human testing: automated checks are supplemented by keyboard, screen-reader and user testing appropriate to the project.

Security and operations

HTTPS and updates: every public page uses HTTPS, and responsibility for platform, dependency and security updates is written down.
Least data: forms collect only information the business needs, state what happens to it, and route it to approved accounts.
Recovery: backups exist where the platform requires them, and a named person knows how restoration would be tested.

Search and measurement

Crawlable pages: important public pages load without a login and have descriptive titles, one clear main heading and a self-referencing canonical URL.
Sitemap and measurement: the canonical public URLs appear in the root XML sitemap, and ownership of search and analytics accounts is documented.

Plan a launch review

Record evidence before accepting the launch

A checked box should point to something someone actually tested. Use this record to separate unresolved failures from tasks that are complete.

Test, result, reviewer and remaining action

This evidence field is not saved or sent. Copy it into your project record before leaving. Do not enter customer details or credentials.

For account ownership and recovery responsibilities, use the website handoff worksheet.

What the official guidance adds

Ontario's accessibility guidance recommends automated and manual assessment, assistive-technology testing, feedback from people with disabilities, and a maintenance plan. Which AODA requirements apply depends on the organization and content, so confirm obligations instead of treating a checklist as compliance proof.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security recommends using OWASP ASVS requirements for secure websites and making the appropriate level a contractual requirement when work is outsourced. Search setup is narrower: Google describes a canonical link as a strong canonicalization signal and sitemap inclusion as a weaker, supporting signal. Neither means a page is indexed or ranked.

Need to compare proposals before launch? Use the Windsor-Essex web developer comparison and quote worksheet.

Sources checked October 11, 2026: Ontario accessibility guidance · Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · Google canonical guidance · Google sitemap guidance.