Website pre-launch checklist for your HugoFox sites
Launching your new HugoFox site is exciting, but a quick pre-launch run-through ensures everything looks perfect and works flawlessly for visitors.
That's why we've created this simple checklist to catch the easy-to-miss details before you press Go Live.
◻ Preview your site design
Use the grey magnifying glass to preview your site without customisations, and the yellow magnifying glass to see it with them applied. This side-by-side view reveals styling quirks that appear only after settings are saved.
Check through to make sure you're happy, and then make any tweaks now because it’s faster than fixing live pages later.
◻ Confirm colour accessibility
Custom colours should be on-brand and readable. This might mean selecting a slightly darker or lighter tone of your brand colours to ensure accessibility.
Check every combination of text on background, aiming for WCAG AA contrast as a minimum. It's not just about how it looks on your screen, but also about how others will see it on theirs, including those with visual impairments.
Tip: Free online contrast checkers make this super simple; you can find these online from companies like WebAim.
If anything fails, adjust the palette in Website (Customise) until it passes, and every visitor can read your content comfortably.
◻ Choose your domain name
Every HugoFox site launches with a free sub-domain (hugofox.com/community/your-name-here), but you may prefer a custom address without “hugofox” visible.
A clear, memorable URL boosts credibility and search rankings. You can connect existing domains or buy new ones which we can help you with, find out more in our Domains guide.
Every Parish Council can have a .gov.uk domain completely free with HugoFox; learn how in the parish council .gov.uk domain guide. We'll take care of everything for you, so you can just focus on creating the perfect website.
◻ Publish fresh news and events
Search engines love active websites. Aim for at least two news articles and one event before launch to help your new site index quickly.
Short on ideas? Announce the website itself, highlight upcoming meetings, or share a community success story. Once live, keep posting regularly to maintain momentum for both your community and search engine rankings.
◻ Verify image permissions
Make sure you have the right to use every photo, logo and graphic on your website, especially pictures featuring people. If in doubt, swap the image or obtain written permission.
Important: unauthorised images can lead to takedown requests or legal fees. It can be tempting to quickly search for an image and use it, but without the proper legal permissions you're opening yourself up to unecessary trouble and stress.
◻ Proofread every page
Read each page aloud (or use your browser’s reader) to catch spelling, grammar and tone issues. This might sound strange, but when reading normally your brain can fill in gaps that aren't there which only become aparent when reading aloud.
Watch for inconsistent capitalisation, missing commas and accidental American spellings. A final polish reinforces professionalism and trust.
◻ Check contact details and maps
In My Account > Profile, confirm phone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses are up to date and the best choices for each page.
Submit a test enquiry form to ensure certain messages arrive at the right inbox to avoid any potential missed communications when your site is live.
◻ Review user permissions
Open My Account > Users to see who can edit which pages. Each page has its own tick-box which you'l need to double-check.
Remove former staff and add new editors now to avoid frantic access requests on launch day. Keep this section up to date to ensure everything runs smoothly on your website and only those who you want to have access to each page, have it.
◻ Update opening hours and page order
Accurate opening hours save callers and walk-ins from wasted trips. Display special holiday schedules too to avoid confusion and unnecessary questions clogging up your inbox.
Next, drag and drop pages in Website > Pages until the navigation feels intuitive and customer friendly. Your most valuable content should never be more than one click away.
◻ Set up payment and go live
If you’re on Bronze Charity, payment is never required. Everyone else should add payment details in My account > Payment so the site stays online after the 30-day free trial, see the payment setup guide for step-by-step help on how to do this.
When every item above is ticked off, press Go Live and celebrate! You can track visits instantly in Statistics, and Silver or Gold plans unlock even deeper real-time insights.
Congratulations, you've just launched your site!
A careful pre-launch checklist means your HugoFox site opens its doors polished, compliant and ready to impress your community.
Need a hand? Contact our support team.