No Placeholder Text
Also known as Lorem ipsum check · Dummy copy
Verifying that no lorem ipsum, TODO notes, or obvious dummy copy remains on the homepage or other key pages.
What it is
Placeholder text is filler copy, classic lorem ipsum, 'Headline goes here', or TODO markers, used during design that should be replaced with real content before launch. This check confirms none of it shipped to production.
Why it matters
Visible placeholder copy instantly undermines trust and signals an unfinished, low-quality site to visitors. It also gives search engines and answer engines meaningless content to index, weakening relevance and the chance of being cited.
How to verify
Browse the homepage and primary templates, and search the rendered HTML for tells like 'lorem', 'ipsum', 'TODO', or 'placeholder'. Check dynamic and templated sections, footers, and alt text where filler often hides.
How to fix
Replace every instance of lorem ipsum, TODO, and dummy copy with final, reviewed content. Add a pre-launch step that greps the build for placeholder strings so they cannot reach production.
Related terms
- Sampled Internal Links OKA representative sample of internal links resolves with HTTP 200 rather than 404 or other errors.
- Title tagThe <title> element in a page's <head> defines its canonical name, shown as the clickable headline in search results and as the browser tab label.
- Meta descriptionA <meta name="description"> tag that summarizes the page in one to two sentences and is often used as the snippet under the title in search results.
- Single H1 headingThe <h1> is the top-level heading that names the page's main topic; using exactly one gives the document a clear, unambiguous title for users, crawlers, and assistive technology.
Official references
External, opens in a new tab.
Put this into practice.
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