Startup Landing Page Checklist: 25 Items Before Launch

Why most startup landing pages fail

Founders spend weeks on product and hours on the landing page. The page launches with vague copy, missing proof, broken mobile layout, and no analytics. Visitors arrive, do not understand the offer, and leave.

This checklist covers 25 items across messaging, design, technical setup, and measurement. Run through it before every launch — whether you built with Zovaty builder or another tool.

Messaging and copy (items 1–7)

1. Headline states the outcome, not the feature

2. Subheadline explains how in one sentence

3. Primary CTA is visible above the fold

4. Three benefit bullets with specific proof points

5. Social proof: logos, testimonials, or user count

6. FAQ section addresses top three objections

7. Copy passes the "so what?" test on every section

Design and UX (items 8–14)

8. Mobile layout tested on three screen sizes

9. Page loads in under 3 seconds on 4G

10. Images compressed with the image compressor

11. Consistent typography — max two font families

12. CTA button contrasts with background

13. No horizontal scroll on mobile

14. Favicon and OG image set for social sharing

SEO and discoverability (items 15–19)

15. Unique title tag (50–60 characters)

16. Meta description (150–160 characters)

17. H1 matches primary keyword intent

18. Internal links to pricing, docs, and blog

19. Preview with SERP preview tool

Technical setup (items 20–23)

20. Analytics installed and firing (verify in dev tools)

21. Form submissions tested end-to-end

22. SSL certificate active (HTTPS)

23. 404 page exists with navigation back

Launch readiness (items 24–25)

24. Five people in target audience reviewed the page

25. Run a website audit and fix critical issues

Writing CTAs that convert

Weak CTAs say "Submit" or "Learn More." Strong CTAs say "Start free trial," "Get the template," or "Book a 15-minute demo." Match CTA text to the visitor's stage — awareness CTAs offer value; decision CTAs reduce friction.

Use the AI call-to-action generator to draft variants, then A/B test the top two.

Related Zovaty tools

AI landing page copy generator — hero and feature copy

AI website builder — generate and edit pages

Website audit — pre-launch scan

FAQ schema generator — rich search results

Conclusion

A landing page is a conversion instrument, not a design portfolio. Run this 25-item checklist before every launch. Fix messaging first, then design, then SEO. Ship, measure, iterate.

Above-the-fold psychology

Visitors decide within 3–5 seconds whether to stay or leave. Above-the-fold content must answer three questions instantly: what is this, who is it for, and what should I do next. Every element above the fold — headline, subheadline, CTA, hero image — must serve one of these answers.

Remove navigation clutter above the fold on campaign landing pages. A single CTA outperforms multiple competing actions. Save full navigation for your homepage, not paid traffic destinations.

Types of social proof that convert

Customer logos work when the brands are recognizable to your audience. Testimonials work when they include full name, role, and company. Metrics work when they are specific ("2,400 teams" not "thousands of users"). Case study links work for high-consideration purchases. Use the proof type your audience trusts most.

What to A/B test first

Test headline variants before testing button colors. Test CTA copy before testing page layout. Test social proof placement before testing image choices. The highest-impact tests change messaging, not cosmetics.

Conversion metrics to track from day one

Track visitor-to-signup rate, signup-to-activation rate, and activation-to-paid rate separately. A landing page converting 5% of visitors to signups is excellent. If only 10% of signups activate, the problem is onboarding — not the landing page.

Set up funnel visualization in your analytics tool on launch day. Retroactive funnel setup loses data you cannot recover.

Legal and compliance pages

Privacy policy is required if you collect any personal data including email addresses. Terms of service protect your liability. Cookie consent banners are required in the EU. Generate initial drafts with AI tools like the AI privacy policy generator and have legal review before publishing.

Trust signals beyond testimonials

Security badges, uptime statistics, compliance certifications, press mentions, and investor logos all build trust. Display only legitimate signals — fake badges destroy credibility if discovered.

For early-stage startups without customer logos, emphasize founder credentials, open-source contributions, or relevant work history.

Post-launch behavior analysis

Install heatmap tools to see where visitors click, scroll, and drop off. Rage clicks indicate broken elements. Dead clicks suggest non-interactive elements that look clickable. Scroll depth reveals whether visitors reach your CTA.

International landing page considerations

Multi-language landing pages need hreflang tags, translated meta descriptions, and culturally appropriate proof points. Machine translation requires human review before publish.

Landing page copywriting principles

Write at eighth-grade reading level for consumer products. Use short sentences. One idea per paragraph. Replace jargon with plain language unless your audience is technical.

Every section should pass the 'so what?' test. If a visitor reads a section and cannot explain why it matters to them, rewrite or remove it.

Use the AI landing page copy generator for first drafts, then edit ruthlessly for specificity and proof.

Summary: landing page launch essentials

Clear headline. Visible CTA. Social proof. Mobile tested. SEO metadata set. Analytics firing. Five user reviews completed. Website audit passed. Ship, measure, iterate.