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.

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.

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