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Site Launch Checklist

A list of things to double-check before you go live

Check List

SITE Indexing

Make sure your site is indexed as soon as possible by Google and ensure that ranking for an existing site isn't substantially impacted

When

Google Analytics

before Go Live

Google Search Console

immediately after Go Live

robots.txt - this file needs to be altered to allow bots like Google to start cataloguing the site

at Go Live

ALIASES

You can put alternative URLs in place for important pages to reflect the old structure of your site and ensure links don't break. 

When

Preparation

before Go Live 

Upload with help from the consultancy

at least 48 hours before Go Live

Self-service upload

at Go Live

Domain Names and Redirects

Ask the webteam for help if you are unsure of the procedure

When

Applying for a domain name

at least 6 weeks before Go Live

Switching over the same domain name

at Go Live

re-directing a domain name or a web address to a particular part of the site

1. information to the consultancy

at least a week before Go Live
2. switching over the domain name

at Go Live


 Publishing

There are one or two things to keep an eye on as you publish your pages. Running a link checker just after launch can also help.

When

Publishing sub-pages

at Go Live or just before

Checking links - check that full links to internal pages have been entered correctly

just after Go Live

Accessibility and Cookie pages: all websites have a link to Accessibility and Cookie information on every page.

Most sites use a standard text. For examples of this see - https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/about/accessibility and https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/about/cookies

A suggested location for these pages is in the About Us section. If you put them here check whether you need to set up an alias to redirect the links to this location. 

Before Go Live

 

Support and Mailing Lists

There are a number of lists that the editor in chief (and the department administrator if they wish) should be signed up to.

When

The Editor in Chief should have an account set up on the Haiku Helpdesk.

As soon as you have signed your contract

The Editor in Chief should have an account set up on Haiku HQ to take part in the voting process and submit feature requests. This account is also used by the consultancy to let you know about new releases and any significant events.

As soon as you have signed your contract

Editors and anyone interested can join the MSD Haiku Editor's mailing list.

As soon as you have signed your contract

The Editor in Chief should also set up a route within their department or unit for general users to get help.

At Go Live or as soon as other editors start using the site

 

Get your own check list

We've created a public Trello board for the pre-launch checklist. You can copy the entire board and then use it in your project plan. 

Communications, Public Engagement & Web