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Toggle Navigation
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Web & Mobile
Website Design & Development
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Little Guy Branding Web Setup Checklist
Little Guy Branding Web Setup Checklist
Kevin
2022-02-18T10:03:51-06:00
Type of Web Setup or Launch
Develop on Temporary domain (eg: client already has a live website)
Develop on Final domain (with a coming soon page)
Launch: site developed on a temporary domain
Launch: site developed on final domain
NOTE: Don't clone an existing site other than matts162: Instead, clone 162, then use templates from the model site to avoid Yoast issues.
Make a list of page and post urls that need redirects
Done
If there's an existing site, make a list of page and post urls that need redirects
Done
NOTE: Normally this isn't necessary when developing on a final domain, because there is no existing site.
But sometimes a client is switching to a new domain and does have an existing website. In this case, redirects are required.
Get domain login info or delegate access
Completed
Check Monday.com
Add Temporary Dev Site
Done
Go to
SiteGround
and click "New Website".
Select Server 3 Hosting Plan
Choose "Temporary Domain"
If we're making an Avada Site:
Select "Migrate Website" and choose the automatic option
Copy the migration code
Click finish (do not add SG Site Scanner)
Go to https://matts162.sg-host.com/wp-admin (template site) and paste migration code into SG Migrator. Follow instructions to migrate site.
If we're making a site on another pagebuilder or theme (Elementor, Divi):
Select "Migrate Website" and choose the automatic option
Copy the migration code
Click finish (do not add SG Site Scanner)
Go to old site and paste migration code into SG Migrator. Follow instructions to migrate site.
Set up SSL on Temporary Domain
Done
NOTE: If SSL is already set up, still make sure to do the SG Optimizer steps below
Go to SG
Website List
Click "Site Tools"
Go to "Security > SSL Manager"
Choose "Let's Encrypt"
Login to WP Backend.
Go to "SG Optimizer> Environment"
Turn on "HTTPS Enforce"
Log back in.
Turn on "Fix Insecure Content"
Update Avada License (If we're using Avada)
Done
Check on licenses here:
https://my.avada.com/licenses/?domain=sg-host.com
(Use login from Matt)
Grab an unused one. If no available licenses, check with Matt.
If there's none available, try at this link
Google Drive
Delete the license from this folder once you've used it.
If none of those work, ask Matt for help.
Are we using another Avada site, or parts of it, as a template for the new site?
Yes
No
Create and import templates from reference site
Done
Go to the page you want to use as a template
At the page level, click the save button and save the template.
Save any other pages you want to have as templates.
Go to lgx>dashboard>Options>scroll to "Export Templates" and click it.
On the new site, go to lgx>dashboard>options>scroll to "Import Library Content" and upload the export
Create a page and at the page level click the save button and load the template you want. You can decide whether to replace other content.
What platform is the old site on?
WordPress
Other CMS
No CMS
Import content from existing WordPress site
Done
If importing from a WordPress site:
At the old site, go to Tools>Export>Export All Content (or a subset).
At the new site go to Tools>Import . Install the WordPress import. Then upload the export and import. Choose options to create users and download and import media files.
Import content from non-WordPress site
Done
Best to just google Import from x to WordPress.
Squarespace lets you export content. There are WordPress plugins for most other CMSs.
Manual content transfer (copy and paste / download media)
Done
Enable Wordfence Firewall
Done
Check if Wordfence firewall is set up after migrating matt162.
If not, enable it. Make sure ManageWP is allowed under firewall settings.
Make sure latest posts are copied to new site
Done
If there is an existing site
Deactivate Wordfence Before Migrating to Final URL
Done
Deactivate WF before migrating to final url.
When you deactivate, it will ask if you want to delete everything. Yes, you do.
It will then interrupt itself and say extended protection is enabled and give you an option to disable it. Disable it.
Then try to delete everything again. And confirm that, yes, you really want to do that.
Is the website we're replacing already hosted on our Siteground account?
Yes
No
Sometimes we redesign websites we already host on Siteground. In these cases, we need to remove WordPress from that domain on SG before we can migrate the new site to that domain.
Add new website to SG using Final Domain
Done
If we don't currently host the site on the final url. :
Make sure client has bought the URL and we have the DNS login information (should be in Monday.com)
Go to
SiteGround
and click "New Website".
Select a Hosting Plan
Choose "Existing Domain" and enter url
Select "Migrate Website" and choose the automatic option
Copy the migration code and add that to the temp website
Click finish (do not add SG Site Scanner)
Point DNS in the next steps.
Remove WordPress from Final Domain, then Migrate new site
Done
Note: the client's website will be down while this step is taking place, so be sure to do it at a non-critical time.
If we currently host the site on the final domain:
Backup the current site to a temporary domain (create new temp site, then migrate the current site to it via migrator).
Remove WordPress from the final domain by deleting the current web application. Go to Websites>SiteTools for the final website>
WordPress>Install and Manage>3 Dots>Delete Application.
Check if there are any php files remaining in the public_html folder and delete them.
Then get the migration code at the final url site at Sitetools>WordPress>Migrate. Then follow the instructions before for automatic migrations.
/ul>
Migrate DNS to the SG Nameservers (Unless this is already done.)
Done
We want to use SG nameservers to make use of the SG CDN.
Sign into the client's domain registrar and find their DNS settings.
Make a copy of their DNS settings
Go to SG>Websites>Site Tools>Domain>DNS Zone Editor. Make a copy of the default SG DNS settings
Note any duplicate entries already on SG. For example, there is TXT spf record in SG. We can only have one spf record.
Delete duplicate records from SG.
Add all entries from the client's DNS
Don't transfer settings that are only related to the previous website host. Look for GoDaddy specific DNS, for example (when in doubt, Google it or check with SG support)
After all settings are updated, point the domain to the SG Nameservers, which are currently the ones below, but check by going to SG>Websites>All Site Options>3 dots>Server Details.
NS1.SITEGROUND.NET
NS2.SITEGROUND.NET
Confirm DNS Propagation is Complete
Propagation completed
Check DNS at
What's My DNS
.
If you wait 24 hours and there are a few hold outs, go ahead and click Done and see if you can do the rest of the setup without issue.
Add Coming Soon Page
Done
Add Coming Soon by SeedProd plugin and create a coming soon page while the site is under development.
Set up SSL on Final Domain
Done
Go to SG
Website List
Click "Site Tools"
Go to "Security > SSL Manager"
Choose "Let's Encrypt"
Login to WP Backend.
Go to "SG Optimizer> Environment"
Turn on "HTTPS Enforce"
Set up CDN (Final Site and SG Nameservers)
Done
Make sure we're using our Nameservers for everything, If we aren't using our NS, check with Kevin.
Sitetools > Speed > CDN
Choose the FREE version. Follow whatever steps appear.
Refresh the page to make sure it takes.
Reactivate Wordfence after migrating to final url
Done
After adding and activating WordFence, click to get a new license, choose free and use support@lgxbranding.com as the email.
Update Avada License
Done
If developed on a temp site, copy license from temp site, unregister temp site at url below, then reregister on the new site and refresh at the link below.
Check on licenses here:
https://my.avada.com/licenses/?domain=sg-host.com
(Use login from Matt)
Grab an unused one. If no available licenses, check with Matt.
If there's none available, try at this link
Google Drive
Delete the license from this folder once you've used it.
If none of those work, ask Matt for help.
Update Site Title and Tagline
Done
Go to Settings>General.
Set Colors
Done
lgx>Options>Colors:
Put in the company / organization colors (replace default colors). Be sure to use a descriptive name for each color.
Add logo and favicon
Done
lgx>Options>Logo>Logo
lgx>Options>Logo>Favicon
Set up Typography
Done
lgx>Options>Typography>Body Typography
lgx>Options>Typography>Headings Typography
Upload Media
Done
Upload available assets
Setup ManageWP
Done
Go to: https://orion.managewp.com/ (get login from Matt or Kevin)
"ADD WEBSITE" with + icon in the top left corner
Type in URL, Click ADD WEBSITE, choose USE CONNECTION KEY INSTEAD
In WORDPRESS > PLUGINS - find ManageWP in the list and click to "Connection Management" to get a connection key
Paste connection key into ManageWP and make sure it connects
Make sure ManageWP is allowed in Wordfence Firewall under Advanced Firewall Options.
Once connected, go to ManageWP and try to sign into the WP backend from there to make sure the users are set up correctly. (If not, choose a new user for logging in from the Settings section).
Go to Backups and toggle the switch to start automatic backups. Then choose the paid option (it's prepaid so the actual cost will be zero).
Set up Uptime Monitor
Done
uptimerobot.com
matt@littleguydesign.com + Standard PW
Add New Monitor
Choose HTTPS monitor, Add NAME, Add URL, 5 minutes checking frequency, Check mark SUPPORT email (NOT MATT) & SLACK downtime notifications - CREATE MONITOR
Set up reCaptcha API
Done
Go to google.com/recaptca
Sign in to Google.
Click v3Admin Console
Follow instructions, fill out form
Choose v3
Go to settings in Forms > Add-Ons > install the ReCaptcha plugin. Then go to Forms > Settings > ReCaptcha and enter the codes from Google. In the V3 section.
Are email notifications getting to the client and customer?
Yes
No
Test all forms and make sure that everyone is getting email confirmations who should be. It's not enough if we get the notifications at our lgx email, because clients' email may have tighter restrictions. If notifications aren't working, and everything is set up correctly in Gravity Forms, we may need to set up SMTP / Microsoft API.
Set up SMTP or Microsoft API
Done
Okay, so this is in flux because email providers are making things difficult.
Possible solutions:
Find out what email service the client is using.
If it's Microsoft, try having the client set up Send Grid and enable that in WP Forms SMTP plugin.
If they can't use the free service, try
Fluent SMTP's Outlook service and set up an API in Microsoft Azure.
If it's not Microsoft, try googling SMTP settings for that service.
Get name and password for an email address that the client wants to send emails from.
Use WP Forms SMTP plugin and choose "other SMTP.
Remove lgx emails from form notifications
Done
Once we've confirmed that email notifications are working, remove lgxbranding emails from form notifications, especially support@lgxbranding.com. Leave notifications for Wordfence (but be sure email settings are the same as matt162)
Encourage search engines and update WP Settings
Done
Settings > Reading
Make sure "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" is UNCHECKED
Also enable comments under Settings > Discussion if client wants comments on posts
Deactivate and delete unused plugins
Done
BE SURE TO GET RID OF SG SECURITY, WHICH IS AUTOMATICALLY ADDED WHEN YOU MIGRATE A SITE. Some plugins are loaded on the template site that you don't need for a particular build. Deactivate and remove the ones you didn't need.
This includes deactivating and deleting Seedprod, the the coming soon page, once the site is live. We've have issues with the
Run the Avada Performance wizard
Done
lgx>performance
Click the "Find Recommendations" button to identify elements that aren't being uses and so can be disabled.
LEAVE LAZY LOADING OFF (We use SG Optimizer for this)
LEAVE CSS COMPILING DISABLED (Again, use SG Optimizer for this, if used)
SG Optimizer Setup
Done
The site might still perform poorly after doing the performance wizard.
Sometimes the following settings break the site, depending on factors such as which plugins are enabled, and what works can change with updates. So try and test.
Under "Frontend"
Minify CSS, JS, HTML
Combine CSS
Combine JS, but set it to exclude, reCaptcha, jquery, and Wordfence.
Defer render blocking JS, but set it to exclude, jquery and Wordfence. (Seems okay to defer reCaptcha.)
Under "Environment" you can schedule database cleanup, but leave "Delete all page and post revisions" unchecked. We need those revisions.
Fix Icon Problem (if icons aren't loading)
Done
lgx > Options > Advanced > Theme Features > Save Changes
If that doesn't work, try:
lgx > Options > Performance
Turn off CSS Compiling and JS Compiler and Save Changes
Reset Avada Caches
Reable CSS and JS compiling
Force HTTPS from within SG Optimizer > Environment Optimization
Set up redirects based on list made at the beginning
Done
To do a redirect, SG>Websites>select website>Sitetools>Domain>Redirects
Turn off coming soon page
Done
Let Jenna know you've launched so she can check with Jason, etc.
Done
Simplify Backend for Client
Done
Under lgx Branding > WP Admin > Hide Admin Menus, hide the following:
Dashboard
Plugins
Settings
Comments (unless they need it)
Users (unless they need it)
Tools
Set up WP Training with Client
Done
That should be it!
Click submit
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