Presented at WordCamp Minneapolis 2017

1. Prepare for Flight:
A Pre-Launch Checklist
for Life on the Web
WordCamp Minneapolis/St. Paul 2017
#wcmsp @WordCampMpls

2. @jesscga
@jessicacgardner
http://jessicacgardner.com
Who I am
&
where to find me

3. Quick Poll:
What’s your deployment process?

4. My Process
★ Build out on dev server
★ Create account on live server with final URL
★ Move site files, import database
★ Update Hosts file
★ Checklist
★ Update DNS

7. RSB = Rehydratable spoon-bowl
WP = Wet pack
IMB = intermediate moisture bite
DB = Dry bite
R = Rehydratable

8. Why have a checklist?
1. Save brain power and time
2. Break down tasks = less overwhelm
3. Due diligence and delegation
4. Documentation!
*Checklists are iterative*

10. Assumptions
● Content is entered and proofed
● Site is migrated to live server

11. 1.Make a Backup
● database
● /wp-content

12. 2. Inventory Check
● tagline
● dummy content
● plugins
● media
● themes
● users
● check database
(get rid of what you don’t need)

13. https://interconnectit.com/products/search-and-replace-for-wordpress-databases/

14. 3. Systems Check
● Images
● Redirects
● Speed
● Responsiveness
● Security Audit
● Browser Check
● Search
● Contact Info
● Photoshop/EWWW Image
Optimizer
● Redirection
● GTmetrix, Pingdom, Google
PageSpeed
● Google Mobile Test
● WP Health Check
● Plugin Vulnerabilities
● BrowserStack
(check the stuff you’re keeping)

15. https://wordpress.org/plugins/my-wp-health-check/

16. 4. Check Transmission
● SMTP
● Social Sharing
● APIs
● Licenses
● Admin Email
● Form Notifications
● Sitemap
● Postman SMTP
● Jetpack
(talk to the rest of the world)

18. 5. Buckle Up, Lock the Doors
● Security Monitoring
● Backup Automation
● User Audit
● Hardening
● Hide Login Page
● SSL
● Firewall
● Cloud Proxy
● Spam Protection
● Brute Force
● 2FA
● Restrict Dashboard
(safety and security)

19. 6. Make a Backup
● database
● /wp-content

20. 7. Take Off
● update DNS
(...and then wait)

21. 8. Ensure Smooth Sailing
● Logging
● History
● Backups
● Documentation
● Uptime Monitoring
● debug log, php error log
● Simple History
● BackWPUp
(fly on, little website...)