Website Launch Checklist: Complete Guide Before Going Live

Website Launch Checklist: Complete Guide Before Going Live

By Michael Turner

February 28, 2025 at 01:10 AM

A complete website launch requires careful planning and attention to detail. Follow these essential steps to ensure your site is ready for visitors and search engines.

Design and Branding

  • Set your site title and upload a logo
  • Review style settings (fonts, colors, spacing)
  • Add privacy policies and cookie banners if needed
  • Upload a custom favicon

Page Content

  • Create an engaging homepage
  • Organize navigation menus logically
  • Proofread all pages for errors and placeholder text
  • Verify URL slugs match page titles
  • Set up mobile designs for Dynamic Editor pages
  • Keep page sizes under 5MB for faster loading
  • Add custom 404 error page

Images and Media

  • Add featured images to all pages
  • Include social media sharing images
  • Verify image links work correctly
  • Check image quality and formatting
  • Fix any cropping issues

Technical Setup

  • Configure custom domain
  • Set primary domain if multiple exist
  • Test all forms and verify submissions
  • Check social media and third-party integrations
  • Set up custom email (optional)
  • Add language translations if needed

SEO Optimization

  • Write unique SEO descriptions for each page
  • Follow complete SEO checklist guidelines
  • Submit site to Google Search Console

E-commerce Setup

  • Add payment processor
  • Configure tax rules
  • Set up shipping options
  • Test complete checkout process
  • Verify product details and pricing
  • Disable test mode
  • Customize checkout experience
  • Prepare launch promotions

Pre-Launch Checks

  • Remove page passwords
  • Disable "Coming Soon" page
  • Update collaborator permissions
  • Test on multiple devices and browsers
  • Set up analytics tracking

Post-Launch Marketing

  • Share site on social media
  • Enable email marketing
  • Add promotional features
  • Sync with social shopping platforms
  • Monitor analytics and visitor behavior

Special Page Types

Blog Pages:

  • Publish initial posts
  • Configure comment settings
  • Add tags and categories
  • Set author information
  • Adjust posts per page

Event Pages:

  • Review landing page
  • Verify event details
  • Add supplementary content

Portfolio Pages:

  • Style portfolio layouts
  • Add project subpages
  • Include additional sections

Remember to continuously update and refine your site after launch based on visitor feedback and analytics data.

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