First things first. This first WordPress checklist will help you start out on the right foot when you start to create a WordPress website.
- Purchase a domain name.
- Purchase a hosting plan from a reputable hosting company that specializes in WordPress hosting.
- Install the latest version of the WordPress software on your server.
The following developer WordPress checklist is a brief starting point. While there are a number of specific tasks that have to be done, everyone has their own way of doing things. Add to this list as you develop your own workflow.
- Set up new domain in cPanel
- Set up new database and user in cPanel
- Record new domain and database information into tracking software
- Change DNS on domain to the correct name servers
- Set up a WordPress staging environment
- Clone WordPress if tweaking an existing site
- Delete existing website files
- Remove the WordPress default content like the Hello, World! post.
- Delete the wp-config-sample.php file.
- Install a WordPress theme.
- Install necessary WordPress plugins.
- Create a sitemap.
- Create a 404 page.
- Add any additional Admin users.
- Add a favicon.
- Add alt tags to all website images.
- Combat Spam. (We suggest saving time using the plugin Aksimet)
- Set up a contact form.
- Update your user profile.
- Make sure the timezone is correct.
- Start tracking metrics with Google Analytics.
- Old website URLs are 301 redirected to new URLs
- Add blog categories and remove the “Uncategorized” category.
- Test website on multiple devices and browsers.
- Test Everything! 🔍
- WordPress sites are often targeted by hackers and bots that can exploit some common default settings. Use the following WordPress Checklist to secure your site.
- Install a WordPress security plugin such as iThemes Security.
- Use the WordPress Security Check feature in the iThemes Security to activate all recommended features.
- Remove or rename the “admin” username.
- Enforce strong passwords and good WordPress password security for all users.
- Enable WordPress two-factor authentication.
- Keep themes and plugins up to date.
- Delete any themes or plugins that are not active.
- Limit login attempts with WordPress brute force protection.
- Install a WordPress backup plugin like BackupBuddy.
- Run a manual backup to backup your entire WordPress installation, including the WordPress database, all files, themes, plugins, media library, etc.
- Download the backup zip file of your WordPress website.
- Set up remote destinations for your remote WordPress backup storage to store your WordPress backups safely off-site.
- Set up automatic WordPress backup schedules so your backups run automatically.
- Enable Stash Live for real-time, cloud-based WordPress backups.
Use a step by step guide for how to backup a WordPress site.
Don’t skip out on a good SEO strategy for your WordPress site. A website is only as good as its SEO strategy. Well-executed SEO is the difference between 500 and 10,000 daily visitors.
- Install a WordPress SEO plugin like Yoast.
- If you’re new to SEO, review this free SEO training and basics of SEO for WordPress.
- Make sure all pages and posts have a unique title, fewer than 70 characters
- Make sure all pages and posts have unique meta descriptions, fewer than 156 characters
- Make sure all pages and posts have fewer than 10 keywords that appear in page copy
- Build first sitemap and ping search engines
- Connect Google Analytics
- Add Google Analytics Tracking ID to iThemes Builder settings
- Activate Google Analytics Dashboard for WP and add Tracking ID
- Connect Google and Bing Webmaster tools
- Confirm permalink settings are not Default for SEO purposes
- Make sure there is only one h1 tag and that it contains the page keyword.
- All images have alt tags with appropriate keywords.
- Use external and internal links in the content.
This checklist is a sort of catch-all list with things you should double check and steps that may not have a specific category to fall in.
- Remove all Lorem Ipsum text
- Test your website on all supported browsers.
- Proofread site copy for grammar and spelling errors
- All links are working correctly
- 404 page is created or customized
- Be sure all required licenses for images, fonts, plugins, etc. are on file
- Confirm client Gravatars are set up for their email address
- Change the site tagline
- Images are correct and have been optimized for the web (resize all large images)
- Responsive design tested at standard phone & tablet sizes
- Website favicon is working
- Header (or company logo) is linked to home page
- Page load time is 3 seconds or less
- All external hyperlinks open in a new tab
- Social Media sharing and links are working
- All forms are correct and submit to appropriate locations
- Confirm admin email address is correct
- Confirm time zone is correct
Making a launch checklist allows us to offload the job of remembering a ton of tiny details (all those mental “notes”) and free up mental “RAM.”
- Follow the previous checklists to make sure all setup, development, backup, security, SEO and general tasks have been completed.
- Turn on Site Visibility in Settings > Reading
- Check for broken links on links and redirections
- Make sure default/Lorem Ipsum content has been deleted
- Confirm contact form is working and notifications are set up
- Share your site on social media
It’s important to maintain your WordPress site by adding new content and keeping WordPress, plugins and themes updated to the latest version.
- Use a WordPress maintenance tool like iThemes Sync if you’re managing multiple WordPress sites.
- Run core WordPress updates
- Update plugins
- Update theme
- Create website backups
- Secure WordPress website
- Improve SEO
Add your tools
Use this WordPress checklist as a starting point, but remember to make it your own. Build upon your checklist and write down everything you can each time you work through a process.
Check out these other WordPress checklists:
- The Essential WordPress Website Launch Checklist
- How to Manage WordPress Sites: 75 Tasks To Keep Your Site Running Smoothly
- Summer WordPress Cleanup Checklist
- The Complete WordPress Launch Checklist for Developers