Quick answer
Before launching a trade website, confirm: phone is tap-to-call on mobile, services and areas are listed clearly, photos and reviews are live, contact form works, page titles include trade and location where natural, and the site loads in under 3 seconds on 4G. Pettifer Works includes this checklist in every trade site from £250.
Who this applies to
UK trades preparing to launch a new site or audit an existing one before investing in Google Ads or local SEO.
Main explanation
A checklist stops you launching with broken forms, missing accreditations, or pages Google cannot index. Work through content, technical, and local SEO items before sharing the URL on vans, cards, and your Google Business Profile.
Pre-launch checklist
- Phone number visible and tap-to-call on every page
- Services listed with clear descriptions
- Areas covered section naming towns you serve
- Photos of recent work (with permission)
- Reviews or link to Google Business Profile
- Accreditations and insurance badges where applicable
- Contact form tested — emails arrive correctly
- Google Maps embed on contact page
- Privacy policy if you collect form data
- SSL active — site shows padlock in browser
- Page titles include trade + location where natural
- Site loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
Comparison table
| Check | Content | Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Contact paths | Phone, form, map | Form delivers to correct inbox |
| Trust | Reviews, photos, badges | Images compressed for speed |
| Local SEO | Areas covered, service pages | Titles, descriptions, headings set |
| Mobile | Readable text, large tap targets | Core Web Vitals acceptable |
| Legal | Privacy policy | HTTPS enabled |
Common mistakes
- Launching before testing the contact form
- Forgetting to update your Google Business Profile with the new website URL
- Using one generic page title on every page
- Uploading full-resolution phone photos that slow the site
Recommended next step
Our web design for trades page covers what we build in — use it as a benchmark, then compare pricing or build a package for your trade and postcode areas.
