WordPress Site Launch Checklist

20 items · Technical · Medium difficulty · 2 hours

Launch your WordPress site confidently with this step-by-step checklist.

• Set up hosting account

  Choose PHP 8+, MySQL/MariaDB, adequate storage, and SSH if needed.

• Point domain DNS to host

  Update A record or nameservers; set low TTL while propagating.

• Install WordPress

  Use the host's installer or manual install; secure the admin email.

• Create a staging environment

  Create a staging copy to build and test before going live.

• Block staging from search engines

  Add noindex via robots or password-protect the staging site.

• Choose and install a theme

  Pick a responsive, updated theme; check reviews and support.

• Activate a child theme and import demo content

  Use a child theme for customizations; import demo data if helpful.

• Install essential plugins (SEO, cache, backup, security, forms)

  Include an SEO plugin, caching, backups, security, and a form plugin.

• Set permalink structure to 'Post name'

  Choose SEO-friendly URLs and save permalinks after install.

• Configure SEO plugin (site title, meta templates, enable sitemap)

  Set global title/description templates and turn on the XML sitemap.

• Verify site in Google Search Console

  Add a property and verify via HTML tag, DNS, or your SEO plugin.

• Submit XML sitemap in Google Search Console

  Submit the sitemap.xml URL produced by your SEO plugin.

• Install SSL certificate and force HTTPS

  Use Let's Encrypt or host SSL and redirect HTTP to HTTPS site-wide.

• Configure caching and enable a CDN

  Enable page caching and connect a CDN like Cloudflare for speed.

• Set up automated backups and test a restore

  Schedule off-site backups and verify you can restore a copy.

• Enable spam protection (reCAPTCHA, Akismet)

  Add reCAPTCHA and use Akismet or similar to block comment spam.

• Harden WordPress security (salts, disable file edits, limit logins)

  Rotate salts, disable theme/plugin file editing, and limit login attempts.

• Test forms and email deliverability (SMTP or transactional service)

  Send test emails and configure SMTP or a transactional provider.

• Set up analytics tracking (GA4) and tag manager

  Install GA4 or Tag Manager and verify events are recorded.

• Perform final pre-launch checks: redirects, speed, mobile, legal pages

  Check redirects, run performance tests, verify mobile layout, and publish legal pages.

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