Live Website

It’s crucial to ensure that your new site is set up correctly to maximize performance, security, and visibility. This checklist will guide you through the steps to take after your site goes live.

Checklist:

Initial Setup & Configuration

• Remove Search Engine Block: Uncheck the setting under Settings > Reading > Discourage Search Engines From Indexing Site. This allows search engines to start indexing your site.

• Install SSL Certificate: Ensure that your SSL certificate is installed and active to secure your site and improve search engine rankings.

• 301 Redirects: Set up 301 redirects from previous sitemap pages to the new pages to preserve SEO rankings and avoid broken links.

• Submit Sitemap:

  • Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.

  • Submit your sitemap to other search engines (e.g., Bing, Yahoo).

Backup & Security

• Configure Backup System: Set up BackupBuddy (or another backup plugin) to regularly back up your site to a secondary location.

• Confirm Backup Receipt: Ensure that your backups are successfully stored on a secondary site or location.

• Setup Monitoring Plugin: Install a monitoring plugin like InfiniteWP to keep track of your site’s performance and health.

Form Testing & Validation

• Test Contact Forms: Submit a test email via your contact form to confirm that it’s functioning properly.

• Confirm Form Submission: Ensure that the test email is received and that the form submissions are correctly routed.

Performance Monitoring

• Speed Test: Run a speed test report using tools like Pingdom to assess the load times and performance of your site.

• Google Analytics Setup: Set up Google Analytics to monitor monthly traffic and visitor behavior on your site.

• Error Monitoring: Set reminders to log in and check for 404 errors using the Redirection Plugin:

  • 3-day reminder

  • 7-day reminder