WordPress Post-Launch Checklist

Last updated on June 16, 2025

Launching a WordPress website is an exciting milestone, but the work doesn’t end once the site goes live. A successful launch requires thorough checks to ensure performance, security, SEO, and user experience are all in place. This comprehensive post-launch checklist is designed to help developers, designers, and site owners validate that every critical aspect of the website is optimized and ready for public access. Use this as a structured guide to ensure nothing is overlooked.

GENERAL SETTINGS

• Set Site Title and Tagline (Settings > General)
• Verify correct timezone, language, and date format
• Set a favicon (Appearance > Customize > Site Identity)
• Remove “Hello World” post and default comment
• Set a custom homepage and blog page (Settings > Reading)

SECURITY & BACKUP

• Install security plugin (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri)
• Enable firewall and malware scanning
• Change default login URL
• Use strong admin passwords and limit login attempts
• Install and configure backup plugin (e.g., UpdraftPlus, BlogVault)
• Schedule automatic backups (daily/weekly)

SEO & PERFORMANCE

• Install SEO plugin (e.g., Yoast SEO, Rank Math)
• Create and submit XML sitemap to Google Search Console
• Set meta titles and descriptions for all pages
• Use proper H1-H6 structure across pages
• Enable schema markup (via plugin or custom code)
• Configure permalink structure (/%postname%/)
• Optimize images (compress and use WebP format)
• Minify CSS/JS and enable caching (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
• Set up lazy loading for images

DESIGN & UX

• Check responsiveness on mobile, tablet, desktop
• Test all menu links and dropdowns
• Ensure CTA buttons are prominent and functional
• Add a 404 page and redirect strategy
• Set up a custom search result page
• Test forms (contact, newsletter, etc.)

FUNCTIONAL CHECKS

• Test all forms (contact, newsletter, lead forms)
• Verify payment gateways (WooCommerce, Stripe, Razorpay)
• Configure shipping, taxes, and checkout (for ecommerce)
• Test third-party integrations (CRMs, email, chat)
• Test internal search functionality

EMAIL & NOTIFICATIONS

• Use SMTP plugin for reliable email delivery (e.g., WP Mail SMTP)
• Set admin email and verify it
• Check contact form submission email flows
• Set up autoresponders or thank-you messages

ANALYTICS & TRACKING

• Connect Google Analytics or GA4
• Set up Google Search Console
• Install Facebook Pixel or other remarketing tags
• Enable conversion tracking (e.g., form submissions, purchases)

LEGAL PAGES

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Refund & Shipping Policy (for ecommerce)
• Cookie Policy and banner

FINAL QA CHECK

• Check cross-browser compatibility (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Test loading speed (GTmetrix, PageSpeed Insights)
• Remove unused plugins, themes, media
• Disable “Coming Soon” or “Maintenance Mode”
• Enable SSL and redirect HTTP to HTTPS
• Set up CDN (e.g., Cloudflare)

Completing this checklist not only ensures your WordPress website is secure and fully functional, but also sets the foundation for long-term success. Whether you’re launching a business site, an eCommerce platform, or a personal blog, following these steps helps improve performance, search visibility, and user trust. Be sure to revisit this checklist for every new launch and make it a part of your standard deployment process.