Launching your first website: a checklist
From domain to live site, in the right order.
- Register a domain. See Registering a new domain.
- Order hosting and point the domain to it (it's automatic when you order them together).
- Install WordPress, or upload your own site. See Installing WordPress.
- Check HTTPS works: the free certificate is issued automatically. See Free SSL with AutoSSL.
- Create your email (
info@,sales@) and set it up on your phone. See Creating an email account. - Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC so your email isn't marked as spam. See the guide.
- Add your content: home, about, services, contact.
- Speed it up and secure it. See Making WordPress fast and Securing WordPress.
- Set up backups. See Backing up WordPress.
- Tell search engines: add the site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Go through our full website launch checklist before announcing the site.