Ultimate Guide to WordPress Website Launch Checklist

Let’s admit it. Launching a website can be a stressful experience, even for seasoned project managers and digital marketers. With so many moving parts involved in design, functionality, and SEO, having a structured launch checklist is the most innovative way to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Websites are complex, and overlooked details like broken links or misspelled words can harm user experience and search engine rankings. Technical errors at launch, such as misconfigured redirects or SEO issues, can prevent search engines from indexing your site and result in lost traffic.

Instead of incessantly worrying about what ifs, wouldn’t it be much easier for you to have a comprehensive checklist to run down before every launch? At Seahawk, we follow an exhaustive checklist before every launch to make every site launch successful right from the start. So, here we go.

Crucial Website Launch Checklist for 2025

Here’s the ultimate website launch checklist you’ll ever need to ensure a seamless and successful launch.

Define Your Goals and Objectives

Before diving into the technical aspects of your website launch, it’s crucial to define your goals and objectives. This foundational step will guide your entire project and ensure that your new website aligns with your business aspirations. Here are some key considerations:

• Determine the Purpose of Your Website: Are you looking to generate leads, sell products, provide information, or build brand awareness? Clearly defining the purpose will help you tailor your website to meet these specific needs.

• Identify Your Target Audience: Who are your ideal visitors? Understanding their needs, preferences, and pain points will allow you to create content and features that resonate with them.

• Set Specific, Measurable Goals: What do you want to achieve with your website? Whether it’s increasing traffic, boosting sales, or enhancing user engagement, setting measurable goals will help you track your progress and success.

• Consider Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): What sets your website apart from others in your industry? Highlighting your USP will help you stand out and attract your target audience.

• Develop a Content Strategy: Plan the type of content you’ll create and how you’ll use it to engage with your audience. This includes blog posts, videos, infographics, and more.

By defining your goals and objectives, you’ll be able to create a website that effectively meets the needs of your target audience and helps you achieve your business objectives.

Choose a Website Builder and Host

Selecting the right website builder and host is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your website. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

• Research Website Builders: Look for website builders that offer ease of use, flexibility, and scalability. Popular options include Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify.

• Consider Website Hosting Options: Choose a website host that offers reliable uptime, fast loading speeds, and excellent customer support. Bluehost is a popular choice among many website owners.

• Evaluate Website Builder Features: Look for features such as drag-and-drop editors, responsive design, and e-commerce integration. These features will make it easier to build and manage your website.

• Check Website Builder Pricing: Consider the cost of website builders and hosts, and look for options that offer value for money. Compare different plans to find one that fits your budget.

• Read Website Builder Reviews: Research reviews to get a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of different website builders. User feedback can provide valuable insights into each option’s performance and reliability.

By choosing the right website builder and host, you can create a website that is easy to use, fast, and secure.

Website Design Essentials

Focus on themes, logo placement, navigation menus, and responsive layouts. Make sure your site looks professional across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

• Check HTML Markup validation: It is important to avoid incompatibilities. This can be done with the use of tools like W3C’s Markup Validation Service that help to check all the pages of your website and ensure they are up to date with web standards.

• Check CSS validation: Just like HTML, it is important to validate your styles by using the correct tools.

• Check previews with different browsers: Based on what your client wants, take your website to different browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, etc. to spot any cross-browser compatibility problems and the efficiency of all multimedia on your pages like audio and video files. Alternatively, you can even use a service like Browsershots for the same.

• Check optimization: Your website needs to be mobile-friendly in terms of design and functionality. For an optimal user experience, it helps to test your website’s designs on various gadgets (phones, tablets, etc.) and platforms (Android and iOS). It can also be tested on services like MobileTest.me.

• Run with Google’s Mobile Testing: Google’s automatic tool is a great addition to manual testing. It’s also simple as it runs a full analysis of your website and provides feedback by just entering the URL in.

• Optimize images: Resize images without compromising their quality to boost page load times and enhance user experience. Some helpful image optimization tools to do the same are TinyPNG and RIOT.

• Use Favicons: Commonly forgotten, adding a favicon to your browser tabs enhances the website design and makes it look more professional.

• Header should redirect to Homepage: Ensure that the company logo appears clearly in the header and that it links to the homepage of your actual website. This creates a quick shortcut for users to return to the homepage.

• Install a Print Stylesheet: This comes in handy for any user who wants to print your content down onto paper. You can use the WordPress Codex for the same.

• Optimize page titles: Adjusting page titles can significantly impact conversion rates. Use A/B testing to determine which variations of page titles increase clicks and conversions the most.

Learn: How to Optimize Images & Improve Website Speed?

Site Functionality Checks

Test your site’s functionality, which includes:

• Checking all web Forms: If your website features any shareable forms, like contact forms or surveys, ensure that the data is submitted correctly and that the form emails reach the right destination.

• Redirections and confirm messages are in place: Make sure users receive relevant help and confirmation messages and are redirected to the correct page after submitting their data.

• Checking any autoresponders: Any automatic emails/response messages in place should be checked too before the website is live.

• Running a speed test: Using tools like Google Pagespeed Insights, GTMetrix, and Pingdom can help you see how quickly your website loads and what more can be done to make it faster. Ideally, you should aim for a load time of below two seconds. 

• Checking social sharing: Just like everything else on the page, it’s important to check whether all social sharing widgets and buttons are working properly and are linked to the correct platforms and profiles.

• Checking all site feeds: Any RSS, news, social, or other feeds on your website are supposed to be functioning correctly before you take it live.

• Implementing accessibility guidelines: Accessibility is becoming more and more important around the web. Read this article on how to implement it in WordPress, especially if you are required to by law.

• Checking any third-party tools: Any external tools that are being used for activities like CRM, E-commerce, marketing, etc. should be positioned correctly and more importantly, functioning properly.

Read: How to Improve Google PageSpeed on WordPress?

Content Review Process

Proofread all text, headlines, and product descriptions to avoid typos or errors. Include calls to action, optimized meta descriptions, and updated contact information.

• Do a content check: Ensure that all placeholder text (such as Lorem ipsum) is replaced with client-approved content wherever required.

• Proofread: To avoid the risk of looking unprofessional, make sure the copy has been through a grammar check – this includes spelling errors, minor mistakes, etc.

• Follow even formatting: Formatting must be standardized and easy on the eyes. To make the text look readable, use chunking techniques, subheadings, and avoid massive blocks of text.

• Do an image check: Like written content, stand-in images should be replaced wherever required.

• Do a multimedia check: Everything should be functional from audio to video files, leading to the right pages and performing correctly on the page.

• Test all links: Ensure that none of the links on your page are broken or misleading. Internal links should be correctly redirected, and all external links must open in a new tab.

• Do a quick download test: Any downloadable content on your page must be proofread, correctly linked and most importantly, easily downloaded before the page is live.

• Prep for errors: While most themes have default error pages for content that can’t easily be found, it is essential to set up a customized 404 page so readers aren’t entirely lost and are informed about faulty links.

• Set up a “contact” section: With plugins like Jetpack, Contact Form 7, and Fast Secure Contact Form, you can set up a relatively simple contact page crucial for any website.

• Prep redirection links: If you want to send visitors to your old website or redirect them to different sections of your current one, the best practice is to set up redirect links that work correctly and lead to the right place.

• Be prepared before launch: Before launching your website, try to prep some posts that are ready to share upon launch on the website and your social media so you can kickstart with complete power.

• Create distinct website pages: Ensure that fundamental website pages such as the homepage, About Us page, and Contact page are different, communicate the brand’s identity, and facilitate user navigation effectively.

Explore: Google’s Helpful Content Update: All You Need to Know

SEO Optimization Steps

Set up an SEO plugin and review your XML sitemap, URL structure, and alt text on images. Submit your sitemap URL to Google Search Console for verification.

• Set up a SEO plugin: WordPress alone is well configured for SEO. However, it doesn’t hurt to configure additional plugins like Yoast SEO or All-in-One SEO Pack to take your website ahead.

• Add site title and taglines: Make sure you set up a relevant site title and tagline under Settings → General.

• Set up SEO page and post titles: Unique titles that are under the limit of 70 characters and created with optimized keywords are essential for all pages and posts on the website.

• Add meta descriptions: Meta descriptions that are under the limit of 156 characters and uniquely describe the page and posts with proper keywords are also equally important.

• Add permalinks: Ensure that the URL of every page contains the main keyword and the permalink structure is set as per your needs. This can be checked in Settings → Permalinks.

• Image check, round 2: This time you should also go over file names, descriptions, ALT tags, and keywords along with loading times.

• Add focus keywords: Every page and post will require a defined focus keyword if you’re using an SEO plugin. Once you add a keyword, you will be given more information on how to further optimize it.

• Do a complete content analysis: After selecting a focus keyword, you can check the suggestions made for a complete analysis to optimize your website better.

• Set up a sitemap: If you’ve passed the development stage and have moved your website to its final destination, use tools like Yoast SEO and Google XML Sitemaps to set up a sitemap that can be shared with search engines.

• Check all metadata: Run through all your meta tags for social media and RSS feeds to see if everything reads right and is set up correctly. This also includes checking the implementation of optional tags like rel=”nofollow”.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for enhancing a website’s visibility in search results. By following a comprehensive SEO checklist, you can ensure that all essential elements are adequately addressed during site development.

Know: Best WordPress SEO Agencies

Marketing Strategy Setup

Add email marketing forms, social media links, and subscriber sign-ups. Connect your email list with tools for customer engagement and lead generation.

• Add signups for newsletters: Have you got a signup form for important parts of your website? This includes pages, popups, and other prompts. Find more ideas at SumoMe to explore more options.

• Choose and connect an email provider: For any forms on your website, there must be a proper service that collects emails. MailChimp is an industry favorite for this purpose.

• Add and check social icons: Ensure that social icons are functioning properly, linking to the correct pages and they look okay. This may also involve you taking a second look at all of your social sharing.

• Check social profiles: Test out all your social profiles and ensure they are updated, correctly linked, and fall consistently into the website’s overall design.

• Link back to your own site and use analytics: Emphasize the importance of linking back to your own site from external sources. Use analytics to understand user behavior and make improvements on your own site.

Legal Compliance Requirements

Make sure all your contact details are easily accessible on the website, this helps build the user’s trust. You can also include important information like tax registration to instil that trust further.

• Acquire required licenses: Certain licenses are required for the use of images, codes, fonts, etc. It is important to acquire these licenses for the website to function smoothly.

• Check for other copyrights: While the above should take care of most copyright-related things, do mention a copyright statement wherever required.

• Add privacy policy: While in some countries, it is required by law, adding a privacy policy is a good way to gain trust while collecting user data.

• Add T&C’s: Terms and conditions are a must-have especially if your website is an eCommerce shop and dealing with financial transactions.

• Add cookie warnings: Again, some places, like the EU, require cookie warnings as per the law. While this may seem like a design breaker, you must include them on your website to avoid any unnecessary legal hassles.

• Check local legalities: Some laws are area-specific, and you don’t want your website to miss out on them. These include anti-spam measures, credit card processing rules, etc.

Read: Best White Label Website Builders

Move Site to New Server

It is essential to secure and configure a domain that is unique to your new website. Also, choose a reliable hosting provider to support your website’s needs.

• Prep a database: Create a database and a user for your new website.

• Copy data and database: Copy and move your website’s and MySQL databases to your desired location. Tools and plugins like Duplicator, UpdraftPlus, and WP Migrate DB Pro make automatic site migration much easier.

• Check that the domain is pointed correctly: Once you’ve set up the website in its new location, ensure that the new domain points to that location correctly.

• Test website display: Quickly check to see if the website is displayed correctly in the new location without any mess-ups, missing icons, images, etc.

• Do a page/link check: If everything looks okay, the website should also function properly. Check all your links and whether they are pointing in the right direction. Also, check if all secondary pages of the website are working properly and displayed correctly.

Learn: How to Improve Your Website’s Domain Authority?

Prepare for Launch

If your website includes commercial, third-party features, such as plugins and themes, check whether you need to renew their licenses to move them to the new domain.

• Set up site caching: Having a website that loads fast is always good. A solid caching solution helps with this problem. Use solutions like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, and WP Rocket to get great results. If you’ve got a managed hosting provider, then they can handle the cache for you.

• Set up a content delivery network (CDN): Another way to make your website faster is to connect a CDN. Photon is a free tool that can help you with this; however, most managed hosting providers offer CDN services.

• Set up Google Analytics: Tracking your website’s performance, collecting user data, and making informed decisions is crucial for growth. There are plenty of options out there that can help with this problem, however, Google Analytics is an industry favorite. Google Analytics by Yoast makes setting up all the easier.

• Integrate Google Webmaster Tools: Another useful tool that can help with website performance is Google Webmaster, which you can integrate with your website.

• Keep it clean: Delete all unnecessary and old files, posts, databases, etc. (unless you need your website to be a staging site).

• Post-launch review: After your website goes live, review site performance metrics, gather user feedback, and implement enhancements to ensure optimal functionality and user engagement.

Read: WPRocket Alternative: Benefits of Choosing Seahawk

Set up Analytics and Tracking

Understanding how your website is performing is essential for making data-driven decisions and optimizing your site. Setting up analytics and tracking tools will provide you with valuable insights. Here are some key considerations:

• Google Analytics: Set up Google Analytics to track website traffic, engagement, and conversion rates. This tool will help you understand how visitors interact with your site.

• Google Search Console: Set up Google Search Console to monitor search engine rankings and optimize your website for search engines. This tool provides insights into how your site is performing in search results.

• Track Website Metrics: Monitor key metrics such as page views, bounce rate, and average session duration. These metrics will help you gauge your website’s effectiveness.

• Set up Conversion Tracking: Track essential actions such as form submissions, purchases, and other key conversions. This will help you measure your website’s success in achieving its goals.

• Use Analytics Tools: Utilize tools like Google Tag Manager and Google Data Studio to gain deeper insights into your website’s performance. These tools can help you visualize data and make informed decisions.

• By setting up analytics and tracking, you can gain a deeper understanding of your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions to improve it.

Test for Usability, Accessibility, and Performance

Ensuring your website’s good user experience is crucial for its success. Testing for usability, accessibility, and performance will help you identify areas for improvement. Here are some key considerations:

• Usability Testing: Conduct usability testing to identify areas for improvement and ensure that your website is easy to use. This involves observing how real users interact with your site and gathering feedback.

• Accessibility Testing: Ensure your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Use tools like WAVE and Axe to identify and fix accessibility issues.

• Performance Testing: Test your website’s loading speed and responsiveness. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTMetrix can help you identify performance bottlenecks and optimize your site.

• Mobile Testing: Test your website on mobile devices to ensure that it is responsive and provides a good user experience. This includes checking for touch-friendly navigation and fast loading times.

• Browser Testing: Test your website on different browsers to ensure compatibility. Tools like BrowserStack can help you test your site on various browsers and devices.

By testing for usability, accessibility, and performance, you’ll be able to identify areas for improvement and ensure that your website provides a good user experience.

Backup, Security & Broken Links

With traffic comes a lot of spam. Solutions like Akismet or Antispam Bee help you avoid the worst of it. 

• Set up login protection: Keeping the login page safe is crucial, as it is easily one of the most vulnerable parts of your website. You can protect it by using proper usernames and passwords and plugins like Login Lockdown.

• Add a backup solution: Losing your website is an absolute nightmare, and it can be worse if you don’t have a way to bring it back. It’s important to set up a backup solution for your site data and database at the pre-launch stage. If you’ve got a managed hosting provider, backups will be managed for you.

• Check your backups: Having a backup plan is excellent, but having one that works is necessary. Before you move everything, check if your first backup is working successfully and getting saved in the specified desired location.

• Change your admin password: It’s vital to set up a secure password and save it in a secure place, like LastPass.

Find out: Best WordPress Security Checklist

Launch Checklist

Here are a few other things to do before the ‘BIG’ launch:

• Uncheck ‘Discourage Search Engines’ setting: This setting can be found in the WordPress dashboard under Settings → Reading. If you don’t uncheck the box that says ‘Discourage search engines from indexing this site’, you’ll have to wait a long time for organic traffic to be visible.

• Check for robots.txt files: All robots.txt files should be deleted or reconfigured so that search engines can find the new website.

• Create a sitemap: If you haven’t done so in a while, building a sitemap right now would be helpful. Once it’s created, be sure to submit it to the search engine of your choice.

• Promote away: Once your website is launched, email everyone you know, post your content to social media everywhere and let everyone know it’s live!

• Post-launch checklist: Ensure you have a post-launch checklist to verify the site runs smoothly and address any issues that may arise during the transition from a prior version of the site to the newly launched one.

Announce Your Website Launch

Announcing your website launch is an exciting step that can generate buzz and drive traffic to your new site. Here are some key strategies to consider:

• Social Media: Announce your website launch on social media platforms to reach a broad audience. Share engaging posts, images, and videos to generate excitement and encourage sharing.

• Email Marketing: Email your subscribers to announce your website launch. Include a compelling call-to-action to encourage them to visit your site.

• Content Marketing: Create content that promotes your website launch and encourages visitors to check out your site. This can include blog posts, videos, and infographics.

• Paid Advertising: Consider running paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads to promote your site launch.

• Press Release: Issue a press release to announce your website launch and generate media coverage. This can help you reach a broader audience and build credibility.

By announcing your website launch, you’ll be able to generate buzz and drive traffic to your website, setting the stage for a successful launch.

Final Verdict

Launching a website is no small feat, and feeling the pressure is completely normal. With many moving parts involved, from design and content to SEO and legal compliance, even experienced project managers can overlook critical elements. But don’t let the complexity hold you back! The proper preparation can turn your launch from stressful to seamless.

Following a robust website launch checklist can minimize potential risks and maximize your site’s performance. This proactive approach ensures that technical details like redirects, broken links, and SEO elements are in place & helps enhance user experience, boost search engine rankings, and strengthen user trust.

Remember, a meticulous pre-launch and post-launch review can make all the difference. At Seahawk, we rely on a comprehensive checklist to guide every launch, ensuring success from day one. By adopting this strategy, you can confidently move forward, knowing your website is fully optimized for performance.

FAQs About WordPress Website Launch Checklist