My Website Checklist

As I create more and more websites – I find that there are few things I need to remember to do each and every time I a new site. Here is my website checklist. Whether you are creating your first site or your fifth hopefully this will help you remember the essential steps to getting everything set up right.

1. Select your domain name – research both Google search data and website competition.
2. Identify Affiliate Marketing Programs that will compliment your site.
3. Create a logo and basic site design in Photoshop – I create my own logos so I like to this step before actually purchasing the domain just in case I can’t come up with something I like. If you are paying someone to create you logo for you may want to save this until Step 6 when you are choosing your theme.
4. Purchase your domain name and hosting – use SiteGround.com they offer free domain registration with a year of hosting. Great prices, good service.
5. Set up email accounts – Go to Manage Your Site from your SiteGround account to your C-Panel controls. Set up at least two accounts. ( I also do info and my name as a catch all account)
6. Install Word Press – From your C-Panel go to Fantastico Deluxe near the bottom of the screen. From there you can install Word Press in just a few easy steps.
7. Choose a theme – Go to StudioPress.com find the best premium themes. When choosing a theme sketch out what you want the site to look like. Write download the functionality your are looking for. Choose the them that best fits with your sites needs.
8. Install the Genesis Framework fom StudioPress.com
9. Install your StudioPress.com Theme.
10. Go through the basic StudioPress tutorials for the specific them that you purchased to get everything set up correctly. Make sure you update  your Theme Setting during this step.
11. Fill in your site SEO Settings.
12. Create your basic pages – This would be pages like About Us or Contact Us.
13. Set up your site Categories.
14. Post a sample post in each Catagory.
15. Install your Custom Header and Background.
16. Change your Favicon – This is the little image that shows up in your web browser.
17. Install any Custom Fonts you plan to use.
18. Change your Permalink structure – Custom Structure: /%post_id%/%postname%/
19. Setup a Google Analytics Account – This will track how visitors get to your site and what they do once the get there.
20. Create a Google Webmaster Tools account – If you already have a Google Analytics Account set up you can just connect the two.
21. Go back and rewrite your sample posts from Step 11. Add in featured images is you haven’t already and make sure to fill in the Genesis SEO Settings and add Post Tags.
22. Install Plugins – Here is a list of my must have Word Press plugins.
23. Add Google Ads if wanted. Best position include directly under the Nav Bar, before or after each post and a the top of your side bar.
24. Create a Google XML Site Map and add it your Google Webmaster Tools.
25. Write another set of Posts.
26. Apply for your selected affiliate programs – some programs will approve automatically, the best programs will actually look at your site so you want to make sure everything is presentable before you complete this step.
27. Look for back link opportunities.
28. Set up a Facebook page.
29. Set up a Twitter account.
30. Re-write last set of posts.
31. Add in approved Affiliate Ads.