The Ultimate Checklist: What Every WordPress Website Needs Before Going Live

Launching a WordPress website is exciting—but also stressful. Whether you’re building a business site, blog, or eCommerce store, one small mistake can cost you traffic, leads, and revenue. That’s why having a WordPress website pre-launch checklist is essential.

This guide gives you the complete, step-by-step checklist every website owner, developer, or agency should use before going live. If you want a smooth launch and a high-performing WordPress site from day one, this is your ultimate roadmap.

Why a Pre‑Launch Checklist Matters

A WordPress website has many moving parts—design, plugins, SEO, speed, security, content, analytics, and more. Missing even one critical step can cause:

  • Broken pages
  • Poor search rankings
  • Slow loading time
  • Security vulnerabilities
  • Bad user experience

A study from Google shows that 53% of users leave a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. And another study from Statista reports over 58% of global website traffic comes from mobile devices.

So before your WordPress site goes live, you must ensure everything is optimized.

✔️ The Ultimate WordPress Pre‑Launch Checklist

Below is a complete, easy-to-follow checklist divided into important categories.

✅ 1. Technical Setup & Website Configuration

Before launching, confirm your WordPress environment is properly configured.

1.1 Use the Latest PHP & WordPress Version

Running outdated versions slows down your site and creates security risks.

  • PHP 8+ recommended
  • Latest stable WordPress version

Official reference: https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/

1.2 Set Up the Correct WordPress Settings

Go to Settings → General, Reading, Permalinks and ensure:

  • Site Title & Tagline are correct
  • Timezone set correctly
  • WordPress & Site URLs match
  • Permalinks use Post Name for SEO

Example of SEO-friendly URL:
https://example.com/wordpress-launch-checklist

1.3 Disable “Discourage Search Engines” Option

Go to Settings → Reading.
Make sure Search Engine Visibility is unchecked.
Many people forget this—and Google can’t index the site.

✅ 2. Website Design & Branding

Your design must be consistent, professional, and user-friendly.

2.1 Check for Responsive Design

Over half of users browse on mobile. Test your site on:

  • Mobile
  • Tablet
  • Desktop

Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly/

2.2 Verify Visual Consistency

Look for consistency in:

  • Fonts
  • Colors
  • Button styles
  • Headings (H1, H2, H3 structure)
  • Image sizes

Brand inconsistency reduces user trust.

2.3 Test Navigation & Menu Structure

Menus must be:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Logical
  • Working correctly

Test both primary and footer navigation.

✅ 3. Content Review & On‑Page SEO

Your content should be polished, optimized, and easy to read.

3.1 Proofread All Pages

Check for:

  • Grammar errors
  • Spelling mistakes
  • Broken sentences

Tools like Grammarly or Hemingway can help.

3.2 Add SEO Titles & Meta Descriptions

Every page needs:

  • SEO-friendly title
  • Clear meta description
  • Main keyword included naturally

Example Meta Description:
“Use this complete WordPress pre-launch checklist to optimize your site for speed, SEO, security, and performance before going live.”

3.3 Optimize Images

Large images slow your site.

  • Compress images (TinyPNG, ShortPixel)
  • Use proper alt text
  • Use WebP format for performance

3.4 Check Internal Linking

Internal links improve SEO and user experience.
Make sure:

  • All pages link logically
  • There are no broken links

Use free tool: https://www.deadlinkchecker.com/

✅ 4. Speed Optimization

A fast site ranks higher and converts better.

4.1 Install High-Quality Caching Plugin

Recommended:

  • WP Rocket
  • LiteSpeed Cache
  • W3 Total Cache

Aim for under 2 seconds loading time.

4.2 Set Up a CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A CDN speeds up global loading.
Popular options:

  • Cloudflare (Free)
  • BunnyCDN
  • Amazon CloudFront

4.3 Minify CSS, JS & HTML

This reduces file sizes.
Most caching plugins support minification.

4.4 Test Speed with Tools

Minimum goals:

  • Performance score: 90+
  • LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): < 2.5s

✅ 5. Security Essentials

Security is critical before going live.

5.1 Install a Security Plugin

Top options:

  • Wordfence
  • Sucuri Security
  • iThemes Security

5.2 Use SSL (HTTPS)

HTTPS is mandatory for:

  • Security
  • SEO
  • Payment gateways

Use free SSL from Let’s Encrypt: https://letsencrypt.org/

5.3 Disable Unused Plugins & Themes

They create vulnerabilities.

  • Delete unused plugins
  • Delete unused themes

5.4 Change Default Admin URL & Username

Never use “admin” as a username.
Use secure usernames + strong passwords.

5.5 Enable Daily Backups

Use:

  • UpdraftPlus
  • Jetpack Backup
  • BlogVault

Store backups off-site.

✅ 6. Forms, Integrations & Functionality Testing

Before going live, test everything.

6.1 Test All Forms

Check:

  • Contact forms
  • Newsletter forms
  • Lead capture forms

Make sure emails are delivered.

6.2 Check Third-Party Integrations

Common integrations:

  • Email marketing (Mailchimp, Sendinblue)
  • CRM (HubSpot, Zoho)
  • Payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal)
  • Google Analytics

6.3 Test Search Functionality

Your site’s search bar must work properly.

6.4 Test Social Sharing Buttons

Ensure all icons link to correct profiles.

✅ 7. Compliance & Legal Essentials

A live website must comply with internet laws.

7.1 Create Mandatory Pages

Important legal pages:

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Refund Policy (for eCommerce)
  • Cookie Policy

Reference for privacy compliance: https://gdpr-info.eu/

7.2 Enable Cookie Consent Banner

Required for GDPR.

7.3 Add Accessibility Features

Follow WCAG guidelines:
https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/

Include:

  • Alt text
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Proper color contrast

✅ 8. Analytics, Tracking & SEO Tools

Before launch, ensure tracking is correctly installed.

8.1 Install Google Analytics

Use GA4.
Refer: https://analytics.google.com/

8.2 Set Up Google Search Console

Submit your sitemap.
Refer: https://search.google.com/search-console/

8.3 Generate and Submit XML Sitemap

Yoast SEO or Rank Math automatically generates it.

Example: /sitemap_index.xml

8.4 Add Schema Markup

Schema helps Google understand your content.
Use plugin: Rank Math or Yoast.

✅ 9. eCommerce (If Applicable)

If your WordPress site includes WooCommerce.

9.1 Test Product Pages

Check:

  • Pricing
  • Variations
  • Stock status

9.2 Test Checkout Flow

Make test purchases.
Check:

  • Payment gateway
  • Email notifications
  • Order confirmations

9.3 Set Up Tax & Shipping Rules

Confirm correct configurations.
Official tax info: https://www.irs.gov/businesses

✅ 10. Final Review Before Going Live

Here’s your final pre-launch checklist.

✔ Functional Testing

  • Images load correctly
  • Buttons work
  • Links work

✔ Browser Testing

Test on:

  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Firefox
  • Edge

✔ Backup Everything

Take a full backup before launch.

✔ Remove Dummy Content

Delete placeholder text like:

  • Lorem ipsum
  • Demo products
  • Test posts

✔ Enable Maintenance Mode During Launch

Keeps the site clean while updating.

🎉 Conclusion: Ready to Launch Your WordPress Website?

A successful WordPress launch requires preparation. By following this Ultimate WordPress Pre‑Launch Checklist, your website will be:

  • Fast
  • Secure
  • SEO‑optimized
  • User‑friendly
  • Fully functional

Whether you’re launching a blog, business site, or online store, this checklist ensures your website is ready to perform from day one.

Now it’s your turn—launch with confidence!

👉 Need help setting up, optimizing, or managing your WordPress website?
Get expert support today and ensure your website goes live flawlessly.

Start your launch journey now—your perfect WordPress website is waiting! 🚀