Launching a WordPress site is an exciting moment but it’s crucial to ensure a smooth and successful launch.
It’s like a grand opening of a new store; you want everything perfect! And just like a grand opening there are steps to take beforehand to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
🚀 Launching a WordPress site? Make sure you’re not missing this crucial step! 😩
Get your website up and running like a pro with Kinsta
It’s like the difference between a legendary launch party 🎉 and a total flop 💩.
Don’t be that guy with the broken website. Get Kinsta and say “bye Felicia” to slow loading times and crashes! 👋
Double Check Your Site
🚀 Launching a WordPress site? Make sure you’re not missing this crucial step! 😩
Get your website up and running like a pro with Kinsta
It’s like the difference between a legendary launch party 🎉 and a total flop 💩.
Don’t be that guy with the broken website. Get Kinsta and say “bye Felicia” to slow loading times and crashes! 👋
1. Ensure SSL is Installed
This is a non-negotiable step and it’s something you shouldn’t even have to think about.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a must-have for any website today particularly for sites handling sensitive data.
Think of it as the padlock icon on your browser indicating a secure connection.
Imagine someone browsing your online store and seeing that little padlock icon missing.
They’ll think twice before entering their credit card information! Don’t risk it – make sure SSL is installed before launching.
2. Disable User-Generated Content
If your site is going to feature user-generated content like comments posts forums or orders it’s best to disable these features before launching.
This helps avoid any potential issues during the initial launch phase.
It’s like keeping your doors closed during setup ensuring everything is in order before the grand opening.
3. Migrate and Update
If you’re migrating your site ensure the content is completely transferred.
Any changes made to your original site after the migration could leave you with outdated information.
Updating your plugins and themes is another critical step.
While you should always update regularly it’s extra important before launch.
Imagine a grand opening with broken lights or a display that’s not working – it’s not a good look! Out-of-date themes and plugins can cause bugs security issues and even slow your site down.
4. Clear Your Caches
Caches are like those memory folders on your computer storing data to speed things up.
But they can also hold onto outdated information.
Before launch it’s vital to clear all your caches including page site and theme/plugin caches.
Just like you wouldn’t open your store with dusty shelves and outdated displays it’s important to clear those caches for a clean launch.
5. Check for Broken Links
Broken links are a common issue and one you want to avoid at all costs.
Imagine a customer walking into your store only to find that the product they’re looking for is missing! That’s what a broken link can do to your visitors.
Use a tool like Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console to identify and fix these links.
6. Thoroughly Test Every Page
This step goes hand-in-hand with checking broken links.
You need to ensure every page on your site functions correctly.
Test all features from forms to navigation menus.
Imagine launching with a beautiful display but forgetting to turn on the lights! It’s important to test everything beforehand.
Optimize for Search and Performance
7. Choose a Good Launch Day
The day you choose to launch your site can have an impact on your initial traffic.
Aim for a low-traffic day during the week like Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday as they generally have lower traffic volumes.
8. Set Up Permalinks
Permalinks are the permanent URLs for your content and they can significantly impact your SEO.
Consider using keywords in your permalinks to improve your site’s visibility and make it easier for search engines to understand what your content is about.
9. Create an XML Sitemap
An XML Sitemap acts like a roadmap for search engines helping them crawl your site and index your content efficiently.
This can help you improve your site’s ranking resulting in more visitors.
There are various plugins and tools available to help you create a comprehensive XML Sitemap.
10. Optimize for Mobile
More and more people are accessing websites on their mobile devices so optimizing your site for mobile is non-negotiable.
This includes using a mobile-first design approach making sure your site loads quickly on smaller screens and adapting your content for mobile users.
Secure Your Site
11. Force HTTPS
This step ensures all communication between your site and its visitors is encrypted and secure.
Imagine a grand opening where someone can easily walk into your store and take whatever they want! That’s what it’s like not having HTTPS enabled leaving your website vulnerable to security threats.
While this step typically happens after launch don’t forget about it.
12. Fix Insecure Content
Once HTTPS is enabled ensure all assets on your site are served securely.
This can be a challenge but it’s essential to avoid those “insecure content” warnings and ensure everything loads properly.
Ready to Launch?
You’ve now done everything to ensure a successful launch of your WordPress site.
This checklist is your roadmap to a smooth grand opening – a celebration of your hard work and dedication!
Remember launching a website is just the beginning.
Keep optimizing and adapting to ensure your website remains successful and attracts new visitors.
🚀 Launching a WordPress site? Make sure you’re not missing this crucial step! 😩
Get your website up and running like a pro with Kinsta
It’s like the difference between a legendary launch party 🎉 and a total flop 💩.
Don’t be that guy with the broken website. Get Kinsta and say “bye Felicia” to slow loading times and crashes! 👋