Web Site Launch Checklist

A checklist I use when publishing marketing sites, mainly with WordPress, but often with other systems like DocPad.

Want to add/edit something? Feel free to submit a pull request!

Deisgn Checks

1. Menus still look good when you add/remove links (your client might do this!)
2. If WordPress or other CMS: Your widget areas still look good when widgets are added/removed (again, the client might do this!)
3. Design works and looks good on phones, tablets, laptops and large screens (TVs)
4. Site has favicon and touch icons for iOS devices
5. Print stylesheet looks good (or page just looks good when printed)
6. Design looks good on older version of IE
7. Design looks good on Chrome, Firefox, IE, Opera, Safari
8. Lightbox is installed for photo galleries

Accessibility

1. Site is readable for colorblind users
2. Images have alt attribute
3. ARIA enhancements added (see this article on MDN)

Site Behavior

1. External links open in a new window
2. www domain 301 redirects to non-www domain (no duplicate content)
3. Contact form works (test it twice!)

Technical Stuff

1. HTML Validates
2. CSS Validates
3. No JavaScript errors in console
4. No Google-hosted assets (Jquery/Angular/fonts): won't work in countries where Google is blocked.
5. Code is tidy and properly documented

Content

1. Add humans.txt file
2. Add robots.txt file
3. Site has Error 404/403 pages
4. Add any credits (for images or resources like Glyphicons)
5. Site has privacy policy/statement
6. Site map web page created
7. Search feature works
8. Spell check pages
9. Links to social media pages

Performance Tweaks

1. Compile LESS/SASS into CSS, and minify
2. Compile CoffeScript into JS, and minify
3. Optimize images for the web
4. Caching is turned on
5. CDN is set up (if using a CDN)

Security

1. Site has HTTPS
2. Backup plugin/service is running

SEO/Analytics Checklist

1. Old URLs 300 redirect to the new URLs
2. Google/Bing Webmaster tools set up
3. Google Analytics installed
4. Social media sharing buttons
5. If WordPress: WordPress SEO plugin installed
6. Google site map
7. Submit site to Google and Bing

If using WordPress

1. Unnessary themes are removed
2. Unnessary plugins are removed (goodbye, Dolly!)
3. Install WordFence (set up scans, password rules, and brute force protection)
4. Database tables have a prefix other than the standard wp_
5. There is no default admin username
6. Update everything
7. Setup multi-factor authentication
8. Auto-update enabled
9. Placeholder pages/posts and comments are removed
10. Placeholder images removed from media library
11. If custom theme, run ThemeChecker plugin
12. Permissions on server are set up propertly (can install/update plugins)

Client Sign-Off

1. Pass on hosting credentials
2. Pass on CMS credentials (if there is a CMS)
3. Give access to Google/Bing Webmaster tools
4. Give access to Google Analytics
5. Remind them to change their WordPress password every 3 months