Pre-Launch Checklist

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 (under Configuration > Basic Site Settings) with the appropriate site name and email of the User In Charge.
  • Verify '404 Page Not Found', 'Access Denied', and 'Website Accessibility' pages are published and have the correct contact information.
  • 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, if necesary.
  • 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