Security & Protection

1. Implement Security Hardening

Install and configure a comprehensive security solution (Wordfence, MalCare, or similar) to protect against vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, and malware threats.

2. Enable Spam Protection

Deploy anti-spam measures using plugins like Antispam Bee or Akismet to prevent comment spam and form submissions from bots.

3. Install SSL Certificate

Ensure a valid SSL certificate is active. This is crucial for security, SEO rankings, and preventing browser security warnings that deter visitors.

SEO & Analytics Setup

4. Configure SEO Plugin

Install and properly configure an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or similar) to manage meta titles, descriptions, and technical SEO elements across all pages.

5. Implement Analytics Tracking

Add Google Analytics 4 tracking code to monitor visitor behavior, traffic sources, and engagement metrics from launch day forward.

6. Enable Search Engine Indexing

Verify that search engine visibility is enabled in WordPress settings (Settings > Reading) to allow Google and other search engines to index the site.

7. Submit to Google Search Console

Add the website to Google Search Console and request initial indexing to expedite search engine discovery.

Visual & Brand Elements

8. Configure Social Media Preview Images

Set up Open Graph images for attractive social media sharing previews when content is shared on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.

9. Upload Favicon

Add a properly formatted favicon (32×32 pixels) to display in browser tabs and bookmarks for brand recognition.

10. Implement High-Resolution Logo

Upload a retina-ready logo (2x resolution) or use SVG format to ensure crisp display on high-resolution screens and devices.

Quality Assurance & Testing

11. Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

Test the website across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) using tools like BrowserStack to ensure consistent rendering.

12. Mobile Responsiveness Verification

Confirm proper display and functionality across various devices and screen sizes using tools like Browsershots or manual testing.

13. Broken Link Audit

Run a comprehensive broken link check using plugins like Broken Link Checker or online tools to identify and fix any dead links.

14. Form Functionality Testing

Manually test every form on the website to confirm proper submission, validation, and email delivery to designated recipients.

15. Content Proofreading

Conduct a thorough review of all content for spelling, grammar, and accuracy. Consider using tools like Grammarly alongside manual review.

Performance Optimization

16. Image Optimization

Compress and optimize all images using plugins like ShortPixel or EWWW Image Optimizer to improve loading speeds without sacrificing quality.

17. Performance Analysis

Run the site through Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to identify and address performance bottlenecks for both mobile and desktop.

18. Database Optimization

Remove post revisions and optimize the database using plugins like WP Sweep to ensure efficient site operation.

Administrative Setup

19. Verify Admin Email Address

Confirm the administrative email address (Settings > General) is correct for receiving important notifications and security alerts.

20. Configure Timezone Settings

Set the correct timezone (Settings > General) to ensure accurate timestamps for posts, comments, and scheduled content.

21. Clean Up Unused Assets

Remove any unused plugins, themes, media files, draft pages, or test content that accumulated during development.

Legal & Compliance

22. Verify Licensing Compliance

Confirm all third-party resources (stock photos, fonts, plugins, themes) are properly licensed for commercial use on the client’s website.

23. SEO Compliance Check

Use tools like Woorank to verify SEO best practices are implemented and identify any remaining optimization opportunities.

Post-Launch Preparation

24. Create Full Website Backup

Generate a complete backup of the website files and database using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault before going live.

25. Configure Automated Backups

Set up scheduled automatic backups to remote storage (daily or weekly depending on update frequency).

26. Establish Uptime Monitoring

Configure an uptime monitoring service like Uptime Robot or Pingdom to receive immediate notifications if the website becomes unavailable.