Launching a New or Redesigned WordPress Website? Here’s A Checklist
Website design/redesign
How many web pages: 3, 5, 100?
Function of each page?
- Contact form
- Event Calendar
- Shopping Cart
- Image Gallery
- Testimonials
- Appointment Scheduler
What type of site layout?
- Sidebars
- Footer content
- Header
- Menu
- Background images
- Custom colors
Menu structure: Which Pages will be top-level on your menu, and which Pages will be sub-pages?
What type of functionality for your website?
- Membership
- E-commerce
- Capture visitor email addresses
- Slideshows
- Image galleries
- Video embedding
- Event calendar
- Appointment booking
Website template: Will you expand on your existing website’s template theme or find a new theme?
Mobile-friendly theme: this is a given as already being built-in with any modern WordPress theme. But should be double-checked.
Behind the Scenes
Hosting access: Your designer will eventually need access to your web hosting account, either directly or you can have your web host add a FTP account for them. This is typically to create and upload a Child theme (which is best practice for WordPress) as part of the WordPress Parent theme. Make sure the WordPress theme you’ve chosen is Child-theme capable.
Security & Backups: Your site will also need to include security and backup capabilities, typically through plugins and services. You want to prevent as much hacking as possible and have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong.
- iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security)
- Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening
Speed: Making your website as fast as possible includes many methods: a light-weight theme, a good WordPress host, Cache Plugins, web-optimized images, Content Delivery Network (CDN), JetPack Plugin (by Automattic, maker of WordPress).
Some items listed above are available via free WordPress Plugins. Others are paid Plugins/services.
