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# System prepended metadata

title: Website launch Checklist

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Website launch checklist:
1. 301s - screaming frog crawl both sites
2. Missing pages - Privacy & Cookie Policies etc
3. Meta transfer - Rank math plugin - transfers Meta titles and descriptions - using the screaming frog report makes it quicker
4. Add SMTP Plugin - POST SMTP (comes with logs) is my preferred.  Uses forms.thefreshuk.com mailgun account. Create separate Sending API Key for the site.
5. Setup forms to send from SMTP deets and test to your email. Ensure email is setup correctly. BCC: patients@thefreshuk.com etc
6. GTM and Analytics - add to header
7. Add Favicon - size 512 x 512 - upload via WP admin > Customizing > Site Identity > Site Icon.
8. Remove unused themes.
9. Webp image generate - WebP express with custom htaccess rules - Enable WEBP Redirection in Cloudways - htaccess rules: https://gist.github.com/BigRD/59e9325eddf9d9711e43c0fd9cec4d78 My preferred rules are lossless ![WebP-Express-Settings-‹-Dentist-in-Brentwood-Essex-Smile-HQ-—-WordPress](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/H1WQ-F3hT.png) ![WebP-Express-Settings-‹-Dentist-in-Brentwood-Essex-Smile-HQ-—-WordPress (1)](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1ZX-tnn6.png)
10. Loading speed  - run quick test on loading speed see if anything can be done. - Note Slick slider loading generally can be altered to improve speeds.
11. Cookie Banner - ensure plugin for cookie popup is working.
12. Add Akismet spam filtering - needs grav plugin
13. For LF clients form will need piping to Zapier/LF
14. Add domains to Domain managment in CW. both www and non-www
15. If ready to launch, change DNS to point to new server.
16. Once DNS changed, set primary domain. normally, www. but depends on the current site.
17. Get SSL cert for all domains.
18. Test site SSL cert is all working and site is live.
19. Run once through and test live forms.
20. Enable Safe Updates if client site.