Before launching your site, review this essential checklist to ensure everything is ready for visitors and search engines.

For pre-launch feedback, set up a site password to share with colleagues.

Essential Design Elements

• Set your site title and add a logo (logos replace titles, but titles appear in search results)
• Review style elements (fonts, colors, spacing) for brand consistency
• Consider adding a cookie banner if privacy is important
• Upload a custom favicon for browser tabs

Page Content Review

• Configure homepage to make a strong first impression
• Organize navigation menus in logical order
• Proofread all pages for typos, broken links, and placeholder text
• Check URL slugs for consistency with page titles
• Set mobile layouts for sites using Intuitive Editor
• Ensure collection pages maintain consistent styling

Keep page sizes under 5MB for optimal loading speed. Consider adding:

• Members-only content or course pages
• Custom 404 error page
• Additional pages visitors might expect

Image Optimization

• Add featured images and social sharing images to all pages
• Verify image links lead to correct destinations
• Check image quality and formatting
• Review image cropping on all banners

Domain and Integration Setup

• Add and configure custom domain
• Set primary domain if using multiple
• Test all form submissions
• Verify social media links and custom code
• Consider Google Workspace for custom email
• Add language selector through Weglot if needed

SEO Optimization

Ensure each page has:

• SEO description
• Proper meta tags
• Optimized content structure

Store and Billing Setup

For online stores:

• Connect payment processor
• Configure tax rules
• Set up shipping options
• Test checkout process
• Review product details and pricing
• Disable test mode

For customer service:

• Add contact forms
• Set up form storage
• Customize email notifications
• Configure checkout options

Launch Preparation

• Remove page passwords
• Disable "Under Construction" page
• Update collaborator permissions
• Submit to Google Search Console
• Test on multiple devices and browsers
• Set up analytics tracking

Post-Launch Promotion

• Share site with network
• Enable social sharing
• Follow SEO best practices
• Use email marketing tools
• Implement promotional features
• Connect with social commerce

Additional Checklist for Specific Pages

Blog Pages:

• Create initial content
• Configure comments
• Set up categories and tags
• Adjust post display settings
• Configure podcast settings if applicable

Event Pages:

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

Portfolio Pages:

• Style subpages consistently
• Test different layouts
• Add supporting content sections

Related Articles

Previous Articles