Launching fast is easy; launching something that converts is the real trick. This MVP website checklist nails the essentials so you can go live in days, not months, without padding the site with “nice-to-have” pages that dilute focus. We’ll walk you through the seven must-have pages/features for a first release on WordPress + Elementor, show where proof belongs, and cover the technical hygiene (SEO, mobile, speed, and security) that keeps you out of trouble. When you’re ready to go from list to live, you can plug this into our 10-Day MVP build process.
1) Home page that explains value in 5 seconds
Goal: Pass the blink test. Above the fold, a visitor should know what you do, who it’s for, and the next step without scrolling.
Layout we recommend (Elementor):
Hero (single focus): One benefit-driven headline, a crisp supporting line, and one primary CTA (e.g., Book your flight today). Avoid secondary CTAs in the hero; they’re escape hatches.
Immediate proof strip: Right below the hero, place 3–6 trust signals, client logos, a short testimonial clipped to 2–3 lines, or a simple outcome metric (“A seamless way to book a flight”).
Outcome visuals, not glamour shots: A before/after visual, a mini KPI chart, or a 10-sec product GIF. No autoplay video, no sliders.
Acceptance criteria:
Headline answers what + who + why now.
Exactly one CTA above the fold.
LCP ≤ 2.5s on mobile; hero image ≤ 150KB (WebP/AVIF), width/height set to prevent CLS.
Navigation: 5 items max; highlight Services and Contact.
Elementor tips:
Use the Container layout, set global typography and spacing once, and prefer a single variable font. Keep the hero image as a background only if it’s tiny; otherwise, use an <img> inside the hero container so the browser can calculate dimensions and lazy-load properly.
2) About page that builds trust (not your life story)
Goal: Establish credibility in under two minutes.
What to include:
Why us (1–2 short paragraphs): Your promise boiled down (e.g., We’re your company partner).
Faces + credentials: Founder photo, one-line bios, relevant certifications or mentions.
How we work: A simple 3-step process with expectations, response times, and what happens after someone books.
Proof jumps: Inline links to case studies, testimonials, or portfolio items.
Elementor tips:
Skip full-bleed banners. Use a tidy two-column layout with a compact hero. Compress portraits to ≤70KB, and use the Image Box or Icon List widgets for process steps.
3) Services/Offer page with one primary CTA
Goal: Make the next step obvious and low-friction.
Content blocks that convert:
Offer summary: What’s included in your flight bonus package?
Deliverables checklist: Pages, templates, integrations (GA4, Search Console), email capture, cookie banner, backups.
Pricing signal: A starting price or bracket + what moves it up (extra integrations, custom animations).
Objection-killing FAQ: Timelines, revisions, handover, support, and how change requests work.
CTA placement:
Repeat the same primary CTA 2–3 times (e.g., Book Your Flight Today). If you need a secondary action, use a low-commitment “Get a 15-min consult”, not a second purchase button.
Elementor tips:
Build the deliverables as a reusable “Offer Card” section so you can drop it onto other pages. Add a sticky bottom CTA on mobile (Elementor Pro → Theme Builder → Single Page) to keep the next step within thumb reach.
4) Proof section (testimonials, case studies, logos) placed above the fold
Goal: Let others sell for you.
Proof types that work on day one:
Testimonial blocks: 2–3 sentences each, with a headshot, full name, company, and (if available) a result metric.
Mini case studies: Problem → Approach → Result in 90–150 words.
Logo wall: 6–12 logos, muted color, lazy-loaded.
Placement rule:
On Home and Services, proof belongs before feature lists. People trust people more than product claims.
Elementor tips:
Avoid sliders for the first version. A static grid is faster, clearer, and better for Core Web Vitals. Use object-fit: contain to prevent logo distortion and set fixed widths/heights to avoid layout shift.
5) Contact that actually converts (form + Calendly + map)
Goal: Make starting a conversation effortless for qualified leads and impossible for bots.
What to include:
Short form: Name, email, one qualifier (budget range or timeline). That’s it.
Calendar embed: Let qualified prospects self-book a discovery call.
Location cues: City/region and (for local SMBs) a small, non-blocking map.
Confirmation: A thank-you message that restates when they’ll hear back (e.g., We reply within one business day).
Anti-spam hygiene:
Use reCAPTCHA v3 or hCaptcha, add a honeypot field, and throttle multiple submissions. Server-side validation is non-negotiable.
Elementor tips:
Elementor Forms + a lightweight CAPTCHA add-on is enough for v1. Save submissions to the database and send them to your CRM/ESP with a single integration, not three overlapping plugins.
6) Legal & compliance basics (Privacy, Terms, Cookie)
Goal: Be compliant enough to ship, then iterate as you grow.
Minimum set for launch:
Privacy Policy: What you collect (forms, analytics), where it’s stored, processors you use (email/analytics providers).
Terms of Use: Copyright, acceptable use, and liability.
Cookie banner + preferences: Load non-essential scripts (analytics/ads) after consent in applicable regions.
Accessibility basics: Color contrast, focus states, keyboard nav, and descriptive alt text.
Elementor tips:
Avoid heavyweight CMPs that tank CLS. Lightweight banners with a static height and a clear “preferences” link are friendlier and faster.
7) Blog stub ready for traction (categories, templates, no lorem ipsum)
Goal: Be ready to publish without blocking launch.
What a “stub” includes:
Blog index template and single post template (author box, related posts, share).
Categories mapped to your content cluster (e.g., Travel Tips & Flight Hacks).
Two posts queued: Headlines + outlines are fine on day one; publish within 14 days.
Email capture: A simple inline form below each post.
Editorial guardrails:
No generic “Welcome to our blog” posts. Lead with a practical how-to or a customer story. Keep images compressed and pre-sized; avoid full-width GIFs on mobile.
Bonus: Tech & SEO hygiene for a 10-day launch (WordPress + Elementor)
Performance (Core Web Vitals):
LCP: Keep the hero lean, preload the hero image, and host fonts locally. Target ≤ 2.5s on mobile.
CLS: Set explicit width/height for images and embed boxes; avoid layout-shifting banners. Target ≤ 0.1.
INP: Limit render-blocking JS, defer non-critical scripts, and avoid heavy sliders/widgets. Target ≤ 200ms.
Plugin posture:
Fewer is faster. Start with: Elementor (+ Pro if needed), caching/performance (e.g., LiteSpeed or similar), image optimization (WebP/AVIF), security basics, and one analytics integration. Add only when there’s a measurable need.
SEO setup (day one):
GA4 + Search Console connected.
XML sitemap auto-generated;
robots.txtallows crawling of public pages.One H1 per page; unique titles and meta descriptions.
Internal links stitched between Home ↔ Services ↔ Proof ↔ Contact ↔ Blog.
FAQ schema on Services where applicable.
404 and thank-you pages with clear next steps.
Security & maintenance:
Force HTTPS, keep WordPress and plugins updated, daily offsite backups, and basic firewall rules. Use roles with the principle of least privilege and enable two-factor auth for admins.
Where this MVP website checklist fits in your strategy
Your MVP website isn’t your forever site; it’s your first conversion engine. Treat it like a product: ship the smallest thing that communicates value, proves credibility, and collects signals. As you collect data search queries, scroll depth, call bookings, move selectively: expand Services, add deeper case studies, and layer in content that answers real questions your audience is asking.
Want the full strategy behind what to build next and when to scale beyond the seven essentials? Dive into our MVP website development guide (pillar) for prioritization frameworks, experimentation cadence, and post-launch roadmaps. When you’re ready to turn this plan into a live site in two weeks or less, our 10-day service will handle the build.
Frequently asked questions
What pages should an MVP website include?
Home, About, Services/Offer, Proof (testimonials/case studies/logos), Contact, Legal (Privacy, Terms, Cookie), and a Blog stub. That’s the smallest set that balances credibility, clarity, and conversion.
I don’t have testimonials yet. What can I use for proof?
Use pilot results, before/after metrics, quotes from beta users, or even progress signals (e.g., “50+ preorders,” “Backed by X”). Replace with client testimonials as soon as you have them.
Do I really need a blog at launch?
You need the framework at launch so publishing doesn’t become a new mini-project. Ship the templates and categories now; publish the first posts within two weeks.
How do I keep Elementor fast on mobile?
Use Container layout, limit global fonts, compress images (WebP/AVIF), avoid sliders, and defer non-critical JS. Audit plugins monthly and delete what you don’t need.
What about multilingual or e-commerce?
If they’re not critical to validating demand in the first 30–60 days, defer. Add them once you have signal and a clear hypothesis for how they’ll move revenue or qualified leads.
Ready to turn this checklist into a live, conversion-ready site?
We’ll set up the seven pages, wire in proof, configure analytics, and ship with CWV-friendly, mobile-first Elementor templates.