Waiting for a new website is like waiting for the keys to a new office. It's an exciting moment, full of hopes for growth, new clients, and greater profits. Finally, the agency announces: "Ready! You can pick it up." It is at this moment, before euphoria takes over, that it's worth slipping into the role of a scrupulous inspector for a moment. The acceptance of the website is a crucial stage, determining whether your new online business card will be a solid tool for earning money or just a nice, non-functional image.

At Sinton Agency we understand perfectly that our clients are experts in their fields - they don't need to be IT specialists. That's why we've prepared this comprehensive guide, written in simple and understandable language. Step by step, we will guide you through the website acceptance process, so you have absolute confidence that the investment you made will bring the expected results. You don't need any technical knowledge for this. All you need is a moment of your time, our checklist, and a cup of coffee. Let's get started!

First Impression - Visual Consistency and Design Alignment

Before you start clicking on individual elements, look at the website as a whole. This is your first line of verification, which is visual assessment. Open the site on a large computer screen and ask yourself some basic questions. Is the overall appearance consistent with the graphic design you previously approved? Often, at the design stage, we work with static images, and only on a live site can you see how all the elements interact with each other. Pay attention to color schemes. Are the company colors accurately represented? Are the shades of blue, green, or gray the same as in your logo and marketing materials? The devil is in the details, and consistency builds a professional brand image.

The next step is checking typography, which means fonts. Are the same typefaces used for headers, texts, and buttons on all subpages? Are their sizes readable and aesthetically chosen? It is important that the text is easy on the eye without the need to squint. Also, check the quality of all graphics and photos. Are the photographs sharp and not looking blurry? Are the icons clear and stylistically matching? Low-quality graphics can ruin even the best project and make the site look cheap and unprofessional. Don't forget about the logo. Is it placed correctly (usually in the top left corner) and does clicking on it return to the homepage? This is the standard that internet users are accustomed to.

Functionality - Does Everything Work Properly?

Appearance is one thing, but the real test for a site is its functionality. Now it's time to start clicking! Your goal is to check every interactive element. Start with the main menu - navigation. Click through each link and each item in the dropdown menu. Do all links lead to the correct subpages? Does none of them return a 404 error (page not found)? This is an absolute foundation. If a user cannot find what they are looking for, they will leave your site in seconds.

Next, go to the forms - they are often the heart of the site, generating inquiries from customers. Find the contact form and fill it with test data. Check what happens after clicking the "Send" button. Does a thank you message appear? More importantly, did the test message reach your mailbox? Sometimes emails end up in the SPAM folder - it's worth verifying this before acceptance. If your site has more complex forms, such as newsletter sign-ups or service calculators, each of them must be tested in the same way. Also, pay attention to field validation - does the system alert you if you forget to enter an email address or phone number in the required format?

Now it's time for the other links on the site. Click on all the buttons ("Call to Action"), such as "Learn more," "See the offer," "Buy now." Browse blog posts or news content and check whether the links in the text work correctly. Don't forget about the social media links. Do the Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn icons lead to your company profiles? Also, check the site's footer - there are usually links to privacy policy and terms and conditions. Make sure these documents are attached and accessible to users.

A Mobile Site Is a Must - Testing Responsiveness

Today, most internet traffic occurs on smartphones. If your site doesn't work well on a phone, it's like your company is closed to more than half of potential clients. Therefore, testing responsiveness, which means how the site adapts to different screen sizes, is absolutely critical. You don't need specialized tools for this. Just take your smartphone and visit your new site's address. See how it looks. Is the text readable without the need to zoom in? Do the photos and graphics scale correctly and not go off the screen?

Try using the navigation. Does the menu turn into a so-called "hamburger" (three horizontal lines), and is it easy to navigate the site after clicking on it? Test clicking on buttons and links with your thumb. Are they big enough and spaced appropriately to easily hit them? This is very important from a usability perspective. Also, fill out the contact form on the phone. Is it convenient? Does the keyboard not cover important fields? View the page in both portrait and landscape orientation. Ideally, you should check it on several different phone models (e.g., Android and iOS) and on a tablet if you have the opportunity. Every detail counts for mobile user comfort.

Content Is King - Check Every Word and Image

Agencies often work with text provided by the client or so-called "lorem ipsum" - placeholder texts. Your task at the acceptance stage is to ensure that all final content has been correctly implemented. Thoroughly read every paragraph on every subpage. Look for typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes. Even a small error can undermine your professional image in clients' eyes. Check if all headlines and subheadings are in place and correctly format the text, dividing it into logical, easy-to-digest sections.

Ensure no placeholder texts remain. Carefully review the entire site for phrases like "here will be a service description" or "photo for replacement." This is a common oversight that looks very unprofessional. Check contact details - address, phone number, email, tax ID. Are they 100% correct? If you run a local business, for example, in Łódź or Warsaw, correct address information and an integrated Google map are key to attracting local customers from your area. Check if the map on the site points to the correct location. Also, ensure all product, team member, or project photos are in the right places and display in good quality.

SEO Basics - The Foundation of Your Visibility on Google, ChatGPT, and Search Engines

You don't need to be an SEO expert to check some key elements that have a huge impact on how your site is "seen" by the Google search engine. These are the so-called SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) basics that a good agency should take care of during the website creation stage. The first element is the page title (meta title). This is the text you see on the browser tab at the very top and as the main clickable headline in Google search results. Each subpage should have a unique, meaningful title describing its content and containing your company name. For example, for a subpage with an offer for garden design in Poznań, a good title would be: "Garden Design Poznań - Professional Services | Company Name".

The second element is the page description (meta description). It's a short text visible under the title in search results that should encourage the user to click. Check if your key subpages (main, offer, contact) have these descriptions prepared. You can do this by typing in Google site:yourdomain.com - you'll see how Google indexes your subpages. Also, pay attention to the structure of headings in the content. The text on the page should be hierarchically arranged. The most important title on the page is the H1 header (there should be one per subpage), followed by less important ones like H2, H3, etc. This helps Google robots understand the topic of your site. Ask the agency whether it took care of these basic elements.

Technical and Administrative Issues - Taking Control

The last stage of acceptance involves formalities and taking full control over your new tool. This is an extremely important part that many entrepreneurs forget. First, make sure you receive all necessary access data from the agency. This primarily refers to the login and password to the website's admin panel (the so-called CMS, such as Framer or Webflow). It's the system that allows you to edit content yourself, add new blog posts, or change photos. Ask the agency for a short training session on using the most important functions. You should feel comfortable performing simple tasks like editing a phone number or adding news.

Check if the site has an SSL certificate installed. It's that small padlock next to the address in the browser that ensures the connection is encrypted and secure. Today, it is an absolute standard, and sites without SSL are marked by browsers as "insecure," which deters users. Also, ask about linking analytical tools, most often Google Analytics and Meta Pixel. It's a system that will allow you to track site traffic: how many users visit it, where they come from, which subpages are the most popular. Without this data, you're in the dark.

This is directly related to the issue of cookies and GDPR compliance. Almost every modern site uses "cookies" - small files stored on the user's computer, which serve, among other things, to operate analytics. According to the law (GDPR), you must inform visitors about this fact and obtain their explicit consent to use them. Check if your new site has a visible information banner about cookies. It is crucial that it is not just an information bar, but a system that actually asks for consent (e.g., with "I Agree" / "Accept All" buttons) and allows managing these consents. Also, ensure the site has a linked (usually also available in the footer), easily accessible Privacy Policy that details what data you collect and how. Neglecting this aspect can lead to legal problems, which is why it's one of the mandatory points for verification.

Finally, make sure what is covered under warranty and technical support after site acceptance. A good agency, like Sinton, remains a partner for its clients and offers support even after the project is completed.

Thoroughly reviewing the site before final acceptance is an investment that pays off. It gives you peace of mind and confidence that your new website is ready to conquer the internet and attract new clients. Remember, the agency is your partner, and providing feedback at this stage is natural. The mutual goal is to create a site that both parties can be proud of.