If you want your website launch to be a success, run through this checklist to be sure you've got everything prepared before the launch.
Drupal
- Turn on aggregation for both CSS and Javascript files (under Configuration > Performance) and set caching. We recommend a minimum of 45min.
- Update Basic Site Settings with the appropriate site name and email of the User In Charge.
- Verify '404 Page Not Found' and 'Access Denied' pages are published
- Unpublish demo pages so search engines don't find them
- Do you have a contact form? You'll need spam protection for all webforms
- Set Metatags to improve SEO. Enable OpenGraph and Twitter Cards for social sharing
- Are other departments or units on campus linking to your site? Be sure to have those links updated, if necessary!
Pantheon
- Create the Live environment
- Enable and schedule weekly backups
- Configure DNS to the Live site and provision HTTPS
- Choose a primary domain (www or non-www) in the Domains/HTTP section on the dashboard
Visit Launch Essentials on Pantheon to learn more.
Accessibility
- Run a SiteImprove scan using SI website or the browser extension. To get started, complete the 'Request Site Scan' form on the UCSB web standards site.
- Review Google Lighthouse Accessibility results.
- Continue to check the site post-launch using a tool that scans for broken links. Consider a weekly or monthly audit delivered to your inbox, much like what Google Analytics does.
Analytics + SEO
- Tracking page visits and bounce rates? Activate and configure the Google Analytics module
- Tracking outbound and inbound links and tags? Install and activate Google Tag Manager
- Check Google Lighthouse audit for 'SEO' section
- Run Siteimprove scan to check SEO score
- Activate XML Sitemap module to submit sitemap to search engines
- Register the site on our official Web Theme Directory