Here at RocketWP we put sites ‘live’ for our agency and developer clients every week. Over time we believe we have built a robust checklist to ensure that everything works and that the end client is happy with their new site. Our checklist varies depending on the end client and their individual website so it’s not a one site fits all. However, if you use it as the basis for your own launch check list you should mitigate any issues.
Pre Launch Checklist
Post Launch Checklist
Pre Launch Checklist
Content
- Remove dummy content – ensure its all replaced with ‘real’ content or deleted completely
- Images – make sure all placeholder and/or stock images are swapped out or removed
- Typo’s – proofread the site, make sure everything is spelt correctly.
- Buttons – check every link works, especially download and CTA buttons
- Menus – check all the menus work and flow correctly
Design
- Layout – makes sure the pages are laid out correctly, avoid large blocks of text.
- Add a favicon
- Optimize images
- Resize images
- Check site in all major browsers
- Check site on mobile devices
- 404 Page
- Logo to home
Forms
- Check forms collect correct information and submit correctly
- Form Notifications – check the right email address(es) are set
- Ensure GDPR compliance
- Email Integration – if the form integrates with MailChimp or similar ensure the right information is going to the right list and check any autoresponders are working correctly.
Social
- Check social profiles are set correctly
- Add Facebook tracking pixel
- Check sharing buttons all work as expected
- Check social feeds to and from the site work
Legal
Since 2007 the UK Companies Act requires that all companies registered in England and Wales display certain information on their website.
- Full Limited company name, e.g RocketWP Limited (if your trading name is not the same as the Limited company name then it should be displayed as Limited Name trading as)
- Location of registration e.g. England & Wales
- Registered Number
- Registered Address
- VAT Number (if registered even if not a company)
- Any other registration details as required, e.g. FSA registration number
- Contact details
- Name
- Address (if not the same as the registered address)
- Telephone number
- Email address
Policies
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Acceptable Use Policy
SEO
- All page and post descriptions set
- Create site map
- All image descriptions and ALT text set
- Titles and headers (H1) all present and correct
- Set site title and tag line
E-Commerce
- Check dummy products removed
- Check dummy/test orders removed
- Check dummy/test customers removed
- Check all products are correct
- Check cart abandonment process
Post Launch Checklist
- Migrate website to live hosting
- Update IP if necessary
- Check site is working correctly
- Check all premium plugins licensed correctly
- Check all links work (remember to turn off the staging site)
- Check all images display correctly
- Install SSL
- Submit site map to search engines – Google / Bing / Yandex
- Connect Google Analytics
- Check Google Maps display correctly
- Configure Security plugin
- Configure backup plugin or service
- Test backup
- Configure Caching plugin
- Check speed – GTMetrix / Pingdom
- Check admin email
- Check Time Zone
- Check Language
- Check date format
- Check site title
- Check Site tag line
- Check Discussion / Comment settings
- Check email settings
- Setup redirections (if replacing an old site)
- Turn indexing on
- Update passwords
- Set strong admin password
- Store in a password manager
- Ensure 3rd party accounts removed
- Add to Care Plan or send WMG
- Check e-commerce
- Check payment gateways are switched to live
- Test payment gateways
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