Prepare a website handover with clear acceptance criteria, account ownership, editor training, documentation and post-launch review.
A website project is not complete when the homepage looks right on one laptop. Before a new site is handed over, the team needs to confirm that priority journeys work, content owners can make routine changes and the business can manage its accounts, updates and support. A structured handover turns a launch into an operation the client can actually own.
Agree what “ready” means before launch
Create acceptance criteria for the pages and functions that matter. Check service pages, navigation, enquiry forms, search, account areas, payment or booking flows and confirmation messages where relevant. Include mobile layouts, accessibility checks, supported browsers and expected content. A shared checklist helps distinguish a polish request from a defect that blocks a user task.
Confirm that the site’s content is final and approved. Check page titles, descriptions, headings, image alternatives, copyright permissions, legal notices and contact details. Remove placeholder text and test every important link. If content will be translated, identify which language versions are complete and who owns later updates.
Prepare the live environment carefully
Confirm domain and DNS ownership, hosting access, certificates, email routing, analytics, consent settings and backups. Check that forms reach the correct destination and that notifications are sent from an address the business controls. Review redirects, canonical tags, sitemap and robots settings. Make sure staging content is not accidentally available for indexing after launch.
Record the deployment steps and a rollback route. Agree who can make the final release decision, how issues will be reported and how the team will respond if the live site has a critical problem. Keep a backup before changing production and verify that restoration instructions are available to an authorised owner.
Train the people who will manage the site
Show editors how to update pages, replace images, publish an article, review enquiries and check basic reports. Use a real task rather than a tour of every admin menu. Provide short instructions for common jobs and explain which changes should go through a developer to avoid breaking templates or integrations.
Transfer accounts and access in a controlled way. The business should own the domain, hosting and analytics accounts, while suppliers receive only the access required for support. Share credentials through an appropriate secure method, not in a plain email or public document. Document who to contact for technical support and how urgent issues are handled.
Document what was built
A useful handover package can include a site map, integration list, deployment notes, backup process, plugin or dependency inventory, content templates and design assets. Explain any known limitations and the correct procedure for changing them. If the site uses custom software, document key data flows, permissions and external services.
Explain recurring costs and renewal dates. Hosting, domains, email, licences and third-party tools may renew separately. The client should know which services are necessary, who pays for them and what happens if a subscription is cancelled.
Review after launch
Schedule a short post-launch review after real customers have used the site. Check analytics, errors, form delivery, support messages and mobile usability. Separate launch defects from new feature requests and prioritise issues by impact. Keep a list of improvements with an owner rather than trying to solve everything in one rushed release.
A good handover leaves the business able to operate the site and ask for informed help when needed. Europe Software Agency’s Web Design & Development service can plan launch, training and post-launch support as part of the project: https://europesoftware.net/service.php?key=legacy-7.
Agree on a short support window after launch and clarify what is included. Distinguish a defect in the agreed scope from a new feature request, and provide a route for reporting each. Review the handover materials with the client’s site owner to confirm they can locate the necessary accounts, instructions and contacts. Do not close the project until the people responsible for day-to-day work know how to get help.
Capture the final site version, the date of launch and the locations of approved assets. If the client later changes suppliers, this record gives the incoming team a clear starting point. Store the handover information in a place the business controls, and keep the supplier’s contact details available for agreed support. A well-documented launch reduces avoidable dependency and helps the site remain maintainable as the business changes.