Site Launch Checklist
Congratulations on building your new site!
To make sure that your site is launch-ready, please review the following pre-launch content checklist and logistics.
Pre-launch content checklist
- Have you renamed/removed all default content/pages that aren’t needed on your site?
- Do your homepage and footer blocks have the correct content?
- Are your headings in a logical order?
- Have you replaced or deleted all placeholder images?
- Do your images have descriptive alternative text (“alt text”) where necessary to support accessibility?
- Do your “Read More” links point to the correct pages and do those target pages have the correct content?
- Have you checked all menu links?
- Is your content ready to be “frozen” for the duration of the launch process?
- Have you had your content reviewed for tone, accuracy, and grammar?
- Does your site need to be approved by anyone prior to launch?
Logistics
- Do you need to create redirects for any specific pages from your old website (if applicable) to ensure users can still find key content?
- Have you requested a vanity URL (e.g. http://mysite.stanford.edu) if one does not already exist? (Note: Stanford Web Services will handle the switchover for you once your site is ready to launch.)
- Have you configured Google Analytics for your new site?
- Have you archived your analytics data for your old site (if applicable)?
- Have you prepared necessary communications for your audience regarding the launch of your site?
- Do you want to request that a copy of your old website be stored by the Stanford Web Archiving Service?
- Have you saved a copy of any old content or files that have not been moved to the new website that you may want to access later?
- Are you prepared to archive or delete the old Drupal 7 website? (See the note below for information on why this is important.)
Ready to launch?
After you complete the pre-launch content checklist and logistics are in order, you are ready to launch your site.
How to launch a site
If you are a client, you will receive assistance from your project team in Stanford Web Services, including Google Analytics, redirects setup, testing, vhost request and post-launch monitoring.
If you are a self-service site, we are happy to assist with getting your domain name in place.
Submit a site launch requestNot sure which path is best for you? Request help via the Services portal.
Launches are scheduled on Monday - Thursdays during business hours only! During peak periods, some dates may not be available. When you are ready, simply submit the Request Site Launch Form, and a team member will respond to coordinate the launch details.
Retiring your old website
After June 30, 2022, the Stanford Sites Drupal 7 service will be retired and any sites remaining on the service will no longer be available. To avoid interruption in service, request the removal of unused or old Drupal 7 websites on Stanford Sites once a new Drupal 9 site has replaced it.
Stanford Web Services can assist with removing the Drupal 7 site as part of your launch request, or you can submit a separate request to delete a website through the form below.
Submit a request to delete your website