2026 Website Launch Checklist

Complete 43-point guide for launching your affiliate website. Nothing missed, guaranteed.

Pro Tip: Complete at least 3 items daily. Most websites launch in 30-45 days following this checklist. Track your progress below!

Launch Progress

0% Not Started 0% Complete 100% Live!
Week 1-2
Foundation
Domain, hosting, basic setup, legal pages
Week 3-4
Development
Theme setup, content creation, SEO
Week 5-6
Testing
Performance, mobile, security checks
Week 7
Launch & Monitor
Go live, analytics, promotion
1
Pre-Launch Planning & Strategy
0/5
Market Research & Niche Validation
Niche Profitability Analysis
Validate demand, competition, and commission rates
High
Target Audience Definition
Create detailed buyer personas and pain points
High
Competitor Analysis (3-5 sites)
Study their content, monetization, and traffic sources
Medium
Keyword Research (50+ terms)
Identify primary, secondary, and long-tail keywords
High
Domain Name Registration
.com preferred, includes main keyword if possible
High
2
Technical Setup & Infrastructure
0/6
Hosting & Domain
Hosting Provider Selection
Managed WordPress hosting (SiteGround, WP Engine)
High
SSL Certificate Installation
Free Let's Encrypt SSL from hosting provider
High
Domain DNS Configuration
Point domain to hosting nameservers
High
WordPress Installation
Latest version via hosting control panel
High
Theme Selection & Installation
Lightweight, SEO-optimized (GeneratePress, Astra)
High
Essential Plugins Installation
SEO, Security, Caching, Backup plugins
High
3
Website Configuration & Setup
0/5
Basic Configuration
Permalink Structure
Set to "Post name" (Settings → Permalinks)
High
SEO Plugin Configuration
Complete setup wizard and connect to search console
High
XML Sitemap Generation
Generate and submit to Google Search Console
High
Robots.txt Configuration
Ensure proper crawling instructions
Medium
User Account Setup
Create admin, editor, and contributor accounts
Medium
4
Content & Design Implementation
0/6
Design & Layout
Logo Design & Placement
Professional logo in header (SVG format preferred)
Medium
Color Scheme Implementation
Consistent brand colors (primary, secondary, accent)
Medium
Mobile Responsiveness Test
Test on multiple screen sizes
High
Core Pages Creation (5 minimum)
Homepage, About, Contact, Privacy, Terms
High
Initial Blog Posts (3-5 articles)
Cornerstone content targeting primary keywords
High
Media Optimization
Compressed images with descriptive alt text
Medium
5
Functionality & Features Setup
0/5
Email & Newsletter
Email Service Provider Setup
ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Mailchimp integration
High
Opt-in Form Creation
Placement in sidebar, after posts, and popup
Medium
Lead Magnet Creation
Free downloadable resource for email signups
Medium
Affiliate Disclosure Page
FTC-compliant disclosure with clear language
High
Link Management Plugin
Install Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates
Medium
6
Testing & Optimization
0/6
Performance Testing
Page Speed Test
Google PageSpeed Insights (aim for 90+ mobile)
High
Caching Configuration
Browser caching, GZIP compression, CDN setup
High
Security Scan
Run Wordfence or Sucuri security scan
High
Login Security
Change default admin username, enable 2FA
High
Backup Configuration
Daily automated backups to cloud storage
High
Broken Links Check
Use Broken Link Checker plugin
High
7
Pre-Launch Final Checks
0/5
Final Verification
Cross-Browser Testing
Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, mobile browsers
Medium
Form Functionality Test
Contact forms, email opt-ins, comment forms
High
Analytics Setup
Google Analytics 4, Search Console connected
High
Legal Pages Review
Privacy Policy, Terms, Disclosure pages complete
High
Launch Announcement Ready
Social posts, email to list, press release
Medium

Launch Notes

Keep track of any issues, ideas, or reminders during your launch process.