When I first decided to launch my WordPress website, I thought it would be simple: pick a theme, add some content, and hit the “publish” button. But as I quickly learned, launching a site that actually works on all devices, loads fast, feels accessible, and earns trust takes more than just enthusiasm. It takes a plan, the right tools, and a willingness to test (and test again).
I want to walk you through how I prepared my site for launch, using tools like BrowserStack, PageSpeed Insights, Yoast SEO, WooCommerce, Omnisend, Jetpack Boost, and more. I’ll share what worked, what annoyed me, and what I wish I’d done differently. If you’re preparing for your own launch, I hope this saves you some time, frustration, and maybe a few headaches.
The moment I realized “good enough” wasn’t actually good enough
At first, I thought my site looked great on my laptop. But when I checked it on my phone, I hated how the menu overlapped the logo. The popups weren’t working, and images were cut off on my tablet. It was embarrassing.
That’s when I discovered BrowserStack. Instead of guessing how my site looked on other devices, I could preview it across multiple screen sizes and browsers like Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Google Chrome all without needing a box full of test devices. I found more issues than I wanted to admit, from buttons that didn’t click properly to fonts that looked weird in some browsers.
It was annoying, but also liberating. Because once you see those problems before your visitors do, you can actually fix them.
How I fixed broken links before anyone complained
Clicking around my site felt good until I stumbled upon a dead link. That’s a vibe-killer for any visitor. I ran Broken Link Checker and Screaming Frog SEO Spider to scan my site. It turned out I had quite a few broken links hiding in places I’d forgotten about.
Honestly, I regret not doing this sooner. Nothing makes a website feel “unfinished” like leading people to a 404 page unintentionally.
Speaking of 404 pages…
Why I actually enjoyed designing my 404 page
Here’s one thing I didn’t expect: I had fun creating a custom 404 page. Instead of leaving visitors staring at a bland “error” message, I added a search bar, some navigation links, and even recommendations for popular content. This little tweak reduced my bounce rate and made the site feel friendlier.
If you haven’t customized your 404 page yet, do it. It’s a small effort with a big payoff.
Why my site speed almost made me cry
The first time I tested my site speed with PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix, I felt crushed. My scores were embarrassingly low, and I worried that visitors would leave before even seeing my homepage.
That’s when I dove into image optimization.
I installed Smush, ShortPixel, and later Imagify to compress my images without losing quality. I also switched image formats to WebP using WebP Express, which shaved off precious load time.
But the real game-changer? Lazy loading.
Instead of loading every single image on the page at once, lazy loading delays off-screen images until users scroll to them. It instantly made my site feel snappier.
What I learned about CDNs and caching (and why I love them)
Another thing I didn’t know much about at first: content delivery networks (CDNs). I integrated Cloudflare into my hosting setup and saw my site load faster for visitors in different regions.
I also added Jetpack Boost for caching and CSS optimization. Later, I upgraded to WP Rocket for advanced performance tweaks like page caching, database optimization, and script minification.
I’ll be honest: setting these up felt intimidating. But once I saw how much faster my site loaded, I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner.
Accessibility: Something I almost forgot (but shouldn’t have)
I was so focused on design and speed that I nearly overlooked accessibility. And that’s a mistake I regret.
When I used WAVE and Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker, I realized how many people might struggle to use my site. From low color contrast to missing alt text on images, these tools highlighted what I needed to fix.
Adding alt text descriptions to every product photo and infographic took time, but it was worth it. Not only did it make my site usable for visitors with visual impairments, but it also helped with SEO.
And here’s a pro tip: Try navigating your site with only a keyboard. Press the Tab key and see if every link, button, and form is easy to reach. It’s an eye-opener.
Why I worried about security more than anything
I’ve heard too many horror stories about hacked WordPress sites, so I refused to cut corners here.
First, I installed Jetpack VaultPress Backup for real-time cloud backups and UpdraftPlus for scheduled backups to Dropbox and Google Drive. Knowing I could restore my site anytime gave me peace of mind.
Then I added an SSL certificate (thank you, Let’s Encrypt) so visitors see that little lock icon in their browsers.
Finally, I installed Wordfence for its Web Application Firewall (WAF) and malware scanning. I also enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) using Bitwarden for password management. It sounds like overkill, but I sleep better at night knowing my site is harder to break into.
SEO: The little details that make a big difference
I’ve always believed SEO is more than just “adding keywords.” So I installed Yoast SEO for real-time feedback, meta descriptions, and an XML sitemap. I submitted my sitemap through Google Search Console and made sure my site was set to index (pro tip: uncheck “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” under Settings > Reading).
I spent hours writing keyword-rich titles under 60 characters, compelling meta descriptions, and organizing my content with H1, H2, and H3 headings. I also added internal links with descriptive anchor text.
It’s tedious work. But when I saw my first few pages start ranking, it felt incredibly rewarding.
My eCommerce journey: Testing everything like a customer
For my WooCommerce store, I tested every scenario:
- Guest checkout vs. signed-in checkout
- Credit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets
- Shipping rates from USPS, FedEx, and UPS
- Tax calculations using WooCommerce Tax
I even placed fake orders to make sure inventory updates correctly. I synced stock across multiple channels using Stock Sync and tested coupon codes for different discounts.
And you know what? It’s worth every minute. A smooth checkout process makes or breaks a store.
Marketing: Why I fell in love with automation
Once the site was technically ready, I turned my focus to marketing.
I set up email automation with Omnisend welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups. Their pre-built workflows and customizable templates made it easy.
I also integrated Google Analytics with Google Site Kit to track my traffic sources, page performance, and conversion rates.
And yes, I added SMS marketing. Texts may feel old-school, but their engagement rates are hard to beat.
Looking back: What I love, what I regret
I love how polished my site feels now with a custom favicon, clear calls to action, and a well-designed contact page complete with Google Maps, live chat, and social links.
But I regret not planning this sooner. I underestimated how much work goes into launching a WordPress site the right way.
If I could give one piece of advice? Test everything. Then test again.
Would I do it all again? Absolutely.
Yes, it’s a lot of work. But when I finally hit “publish,” I felt proud not just because my site looked good, but because I knew it worked well, loaded fast, and gave visitors a great experience.
If you’re preparing for your own launch, don’t settle for “good enough.” Make your site responsive, fast, secure, accessible, SEO-friendly, and user-focused. It’s worth every late night and every small frustration.
And if you’re overwhelmed? Start small. Install one plugin, fix one broken link, or set up one email automation. Every step you take gets you closer to a site you can be proud of.
