{"id":26433,"date":"2021-07-12T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=26433"},"modified":"2021-07-12T12:33:14","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T10:33:14","slug":"essential-ecommerce-pre-launch-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/essential-ecommerce-pre-launch-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The Essential eCommerce Pre-Launch Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When you\u2019re creating an eCommerce website, the choices you make can save you a lot of trouble. For example, using <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-ecommerce\/\">WordPress for an eCommerce website<\/a> can be beneficial for you in many ways. You have access to some <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-ecommerce-plugins\/\">great eCommerce plugins<\/a>. With <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-tag\/ecommerce-wordpress-themes\/\">eCommerce WordPress themes<\/a>, you can make an online store look amazing \u2013 even <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/nille-case-study\/\">like a work of art<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But even if you make all the right choices, there\u2019s no way around the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-start-an-online-store\/\">starting an online store<\/a> is often a long and strenuous process with lots of moving parts. The launch is the culmination of all that hard work, and you don\u2019t have to be superstitious to believe that any fumbling of the launch might bode ill for the future of the whole endeavor.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So how do you make sure that everything goes well on the big day? You put in the work. But you also create a checklist to remind you of all the things that you need to verify, review or otherwise examine before the proverbial door of your store is opened.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The areas you should pay special attention to during your pre-launch checks, and which we\u2019ll breakdown in finer detail, include:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#functional-and-technical\">Functional and Technical<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#design-and-branding\">Design and Branding<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#user-experience-and-commerce\">User Experience and Commerce<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#content-and-search-engine-optimization\">Content and Search Engine Optimization<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#security-and-legal\">Security and Legal<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"functional-and-technical\"><\/a>Functional and Technical<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Functional-and-Technical.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Functional and Technical\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Functional-and-Technical.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Functional-and-Technical-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Functional-and-Technical-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Functional-and-Technical-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re in doubt about where to start, double-checking the functional and technical aspects and settings of your eCommerce website is always a good choice. After all, no matter how pretty your eCommerce website is, no one will get to see it if the website doesn\u2019t work.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Hosting<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-wordpress-hosting-provider\/\">Choosing a hosting provider<\/a> is a whole process in and of itself. However, because you can develop your whole website locally and then <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/moving-wordpress-localhost-to-live-server\/\">migrate it to a live server<\/a>, you technically don\u2019t need a hosting provider while developing your eCommerce website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]All the more reason to double-check the agreement you have with the hosting provider. <strong>Make sure you have ample resources at your disposal \u2013 as much as your budget will allow \u2013 and that you have the leeway to deal with any possible spikes in traffic.<\/strong> Be optimistic, prepare for stellar success.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Backups<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Depending on the package you chose when signing up with your WordPress website host, you might already have automatic backups set up. <strong>But this doesn\u2019t have to be the case, especially if you skimped on the hosting package.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-backup-wordpress-database\/\">back up your database manually<\/a>, though. You can also use one of the many <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-backup-plugins\/\">WordPress backup plugins<\/a>, or jump straight in and use arguably the most popular choice \u2013 the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-backup-with-updraftplus-plugin\/\">Updraft Plus plugin<\/a>. The important thing is that you have something you could use to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/manually-restore-wordpress-website-backup\/\">restore your website<\/a> later if need be.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Links<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You can\u2019t have a website without internal linking, and there\u2019s no use in internal linking if the links don\u2019t work well. <strong>It\u2019s a major issue that can severely affect your website&#8217;s functioning and have a detrimental effect on the user experience.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Getting familiar with <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-links-in-wordpress\/\">best linking practices<\/a> is a great way to know which problems to be on the lookout for. <strong>At the very least, any link you place should lead to a location that is online and accessible.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">404 Pages<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]404 pages (or Page not Found error pages) are often squandered opportunities to engage the customer and get them back into the fray immediately after they\u2019ve hit a wall. The trick to doing it? <strong>You need a good 404 page.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>For starters, though, it helps to have any kind of 404 pages at all.<\/strong> After you\u2019ve taken care of that, you can start thinking about creating <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/engaging-404-error-page-designs\/\">engaging 404 pages<\/a>, the type of which looks more like a desirable feature than a way to salvage a visitor\u2019s attention and goodwill. You could also make sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/404-not-found-wordpress-error\/\">fix the 404 issues<\/a> in the first place.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">The Loading Speed<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A respectable loading speed is almost mandatory for a website this far into the 21st century. <strong>Loading speed is something you should constantly be trying to improve, too, as it will give you a competitive edge.<\/strong> Quick loading speeds are known to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-reduce-bounce-rate-in-wordpress\/\">reduce bounce rates<\/a>, and they make your eCommerce website look spiffy and energetic.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Some of the things you can do to improve loading speeds include <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-optimize-images-for-web\/\">optimizing images for the web<\/a>, removing unnecessary scripts and plugins and other kinds of clutter, and if you\u2019re feeling adventurous, creating a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-wordpress-static-site\/\">static WordPress website<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Redirects<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>In case your eCommerce website has been migrated, you\u2019ll want to have the proper redirections put in place.<\/strong> This means that you can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-301-redirects-in-wordpress\/#why-you-need-301-redirects\">include 301 redirects manually<\/a>. This isn\u2019t the only redirect you\u2019ll be able to perform, though.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-redirect-after-login\/\">redirect users right after the login<\/a> because you don\u2019t want them to see your online store\u2019s backend. You can also use <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-404-redirect-plugins-wordpress\/\">404 redirects<\/a> to get users away from dead ends if that\u2019s your strategy with dealing with broken links.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Forms<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]WordPress has plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-form-plugins\/\">contact form plugins<\/a> you can use to give your website visitors \u2013 eCommerce customers \u2013 a way to reach out to you. <strong>This is core functionality for an eCommerce website, which can use forms both for marketing efforts and communication with clients.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The best way to check the forms on your website is to simply go through them and see what happens. <strong>Fill them out and experience them as a visitor and an admin at the same time.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-ecommerce-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"design-and-branding\"><\/a>Design and Branding<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Design-and-Branding.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Design and Branding\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Design-and-Branding.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Design-and-Branding-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Design-and-Branding-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Design-and-Branding-620x355.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Design and branding choices might induce a pleasing aesthetic experience in the viewers, but their role in your eCommerce website extends far beyond that. Design and branding are of key importance for recognizability, memorability, and even the ability to comprehend the message of the website.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Branding and Color Consistency<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>One of the key tenets of visual branding is the consistent use of visual elements throughout a single property \u2013 in this case, your online store.<\/strong> In practical terms, it means <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/color-combinations\/\">picking a color combination<\/a> that\u2019s consistent with your brand and sticking with it. It also means <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/logo-inspiration\/\">using the logo<\/a> consistently.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The good news is that colors are fairly easy to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/customize-wordpress-website-colors\/\">customize in WordPress<\/a>, so even if you come across some discrepancies, you should be able to fix them with no problems.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Images and Other Visuals<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are so many different things you can do to images and visuals on your website, and all of it will have a definite influence over the perception of your online store. <strong>The goal is, remember, to use the appropriate visuals in a way that gives them maximum quality while not influencing the website in any negative way.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]To that end, you might want to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/edit-crop-flip-scale-rotate-wordpress-images\/\">edit WordPress images<\/a> if they don\u2019t fit the composition of a page well. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/interactive-images-in-wordpress\/\">add interactive images<\/a> to spice things up a bit. If you\u2019re worried about someone stealing your images, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/watermark-to-images-in-wordpress\/\">add a watermark to them<\/a>. Mostly, however, you\u2019ll just need to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/resize-image-in-photoshop\/\">resize them<\/a> to make them fit better.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Favicon<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This might easily slip your attention, <strong>but that small icon that appears in the topmost left corner of the browser tab is an integral part of branding<\/strong>. While we might have gotten used to seeing appropriate images taking that spot, the importance of having the right favicon becomes obvious when a website uses a bad one.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Creating and <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/add-favicon-wordpress\/\">adding a favicon in WordPress<\/a> is extremely easy, so there are no reasons not to do it. <strong>If you\u2019re not sure which image to use for the favicon, your website\u2019s logo is usually the best choice.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Font<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Another important visual element, the fonts you use need to be consistent and well-composed. <strong>Even though you won\u2019t be limited to a single font, sticking with the same font family will ensure that you have enough variety while avoiding your fonts being all over the place.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You need to make sure that you <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-website-fonts\/\">choose the right font<\/a> for your website. You can easily find inspiration in, let\u2019s say, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/google-font-combinations\/\">different font combinations<\/a>. Alternatively, you can browse the web and, once you see something that you like, use a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-identify-a-font\/\">tool to identify the font<\/a> and see how well it fits your website. But remember, once you settle on a font family or a couple of fonts, try to stick with them.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"user-experience-and-commerce\"><\/a>User Experience and Commerce<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/User-Experience-and-Commerce.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"User Experience and Commerce\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/User-Experience-and-Commerce.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/User-Experience-and-Commerce-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/User-Experience-and-Commerce-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/User-Experience-and-Commerce-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So far, the things you\u2019ve seen on this checklist are the things you could easily include in a pre-launch checklist for a non-eCommerce website. Now, however, we\u2019ll help remind you of all the things that are specific to eCommerce websites and the customer journeys that happen within them.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Navigation<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Few things will affect the user experience your website provides as how easily users can navigate it. <strong>The more difficult it gets for people to move around your website, the less likely it is they\u2019ll spend some money on it \u2013 not when there are so many other websites that can do the navigation part well.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are many different elements apart from <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-menu-plugins\/\">the navigation menus<\/a> you can use to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-website-navigation\/\">improve your website\u2019s navigation<\/a>. You should take this seriously \u2013 <strong>people usually aren\u2019t too interested in navigating a maze just to buy a pair of sneakers.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Searchability<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Speaking of ways to find the things you want, the ability to search your website can become crucial to your visitors and your sales alike. <strong>Not only do modern search bars offer an effective shortcut to the desired product, but they can also serve as recommendation engines, contributing to cross-sales and up-sales.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can easily <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/add-search-to-menu-wordpress\/\">add a search bar<\/a> to your WordPress menu. If you\u2019re interested, you can have a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-google-search-to-wordpress\/\">Google-powered search<\/a> on your website.<strong> But even if you\u2019re not seeing the full extent of usability of search elements, covering the basics with a run-of-the-mill search bar will still do wonders for your website<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Contact Information<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This might not seem like a big deal, given how you might have already included a contact form on your website.<strong> Keep in mind, however, that trust plays an important role in user experience, especially if you expect people to part from their money in your store.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]One of the most effective ways to establish trust is by providing contact information \u2013 <strong>real-world contact information, not an email address or a form.<\/strong> A phone number is the least you can provide. A <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/make-clickable-phone-number-in-wordpress\/\">clickable phone number<\/a> would make it even easier for people to contact you.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">The Checkout Process<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Problems with the checkout process are one of the leading causes of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-reduce-shopping-cart-abandonment-in-wordpress\/\">shopping cart abandonment<\/a>. <strong>Making sure the checkout process runs smoothly should be high on your priority list.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You might want to keep some <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-tools-fo-abandoned-cart-recovery\/\">abandoned cart recovery tools<\/a> handy in any case. There will always be people who give up before making a purchase, and that\u2019s fine. <strong>During the pre-launch phase, make sure you remove any obstacles in the checkout process that might impede their goodwill to shop at your online store.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Payment Processors<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>People like to use all kinds of payment processors these days, and you can do your best to accommodate them.<\/strong> You can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/stripe-payments-with-wordpress\/\">enable Stripe as a payment processor<\/a>, but you can also <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-accept-bitcoin-with-wordpress\/\">accept Bitcoin<\/a> in your online store.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The important thing to do is to test those payment processors and currencies before the official launch.<strong> Some, if not most, will have a test payment process you should go through.<\/strong> Finding out that payment processing is the thing that broke on the launch is one of the worst possible scenarios.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Inventory Monitoring<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Depending on the type of store you use, inventory monitoring can be easier or more difficult for you.<\/strong> When you have an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-an-amazon-affiliate-store-in-wordpress\/\">Amazon affiliate store<\/a>, you don\u2019t have to worry about inventory at all.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But if your online store is your own, you should make sure that there\u2019s a way to regularly and timely update the inventory status. You don\u2019t want to sell things if you don\u2019t have them, right, or at the very least you\u2019re not sure your supplier has them.<strong> Go up and down that supply chain and look for possible breaking points.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Shipping Information<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Shipping is another big factor that plays into the success of your eCommerce business.<\/strong> It\u2019s not just the price you put on it, either \u2013 transparency about shipping will affect the cart abandonment rate, for example.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-shipping-plugins-for-woocommerce\/\">shipping plugins<\/a> that can let your visitors choose tracking options or even the carrier. While you\u2019re free to choose the plugin and the options you want to offer \u2013 at the price point you choose \u2013 <strong>it\u2019s important that you let the customers know about it sooner than later.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Customer Communication<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There\u2019s one thing you should know about WordPress \u2013 it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-not-sending-email\/\">notoriously unreliable with email delivery<\/a>. As an online store, your website will probably send out its fair share of emails \u2013 order confirmations and the like \u2013 <strong>so you better make sure you have a way to deal with WordPress\u2019 email deliverability issue.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]One of the ways to do it is to use <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-smtp-services\/#why-would-you-need-one\">SMTP service providers<\/a>. If you\u2019ve set this up already, good for you! If not, make sure you look into it before the website launches.<strong> You don\u2019t want to spend your online store\u2019s first weeks looking for an email that was never actually sent.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Product Descriptions and Images<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]All the products should have properly loading images and descriptions \u2013 if you were using placeholders or anything of the sort, now\u2019s the time to get rid of it.<strong> This is the last inspection before the launch, after all.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Products require a lot of work.<\/strong> Some online stores allow for <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-bulk-edit-woocommerce-products\/\">bulk editing<\/a> of products, which you might want to embrace wholeheartedly if there\u2019s just too much work to be done in a short timeframe.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"content-and-search-engine-optimization\"><\/a>Content and Search Engine Optimization<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Content-and-Search-Engine-Optimization.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Content and Search Engine Optimization\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Content-and-Search-Engine-Optimization.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Content-and-Search-Engine-Optimization-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Content-and-Search-Engine-Optimization-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Content-and-Search-Engine-Optimization-620x355.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]As you\u2019re nearing the end of the checklist, you\u2019ll start finding the items that should help your fully functioning website appear in search results. It\u2019s also the place where you\u2019ll find content checks, to not drive away from the visitors with shoddy content.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Check for Placeholder Text and Images<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]All of those <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/lorem-ipsum\/\">Lorem Ipsum placeholders<\/a> that came in very handy when designing the website won\u2019t do you much good if a customer sees them on a live website.<strong> Few things will make your website appear unprofessional more than leaving text placeholders when the website goes live.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s not that different for images. <strong>Now\u2019s the time to have your images rendered and uploaded to your website.<\/strong> This won\u2019t be the end of your odyssey with images \u2013 there\u2019s always something to do around them \u2013 but for now, just make sure you replace any placeholders with the real thing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Proofread the Content<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Speaking of things that will make your website look completely unprofessional \u2013 a copy that has one typo too many has serious potential to rock your website\u2019s credibility.<strong> Typos and grammar errors can find a way into your content, so you should always be on the lookout for them.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-grammar-checker-tools\/\">grammar checker tools<\/a> that might also help with spelling issues. However, you shouldn\u2019t rely on them completely. You shouldn\u2019t rely on yourself too much, either, if you\u2019re the person who wrote the content. <strong>Professional proofreaders are usually worth the investment.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Meta Descriptions<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You might be familiar with what meta descriptions are and what they do. If you ever used a search engine you\u2019ve seen them, even without knowing them. <strong>These snippets of text play an important role in attracting visitors and sending valuable signals to search engines.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/add-wordpress-meta-description\/\">Adding meta descriptions in WordPress<\/a> isn\u2019t too difficult. An SEO plugin you use might have it as an option \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/guide-to-set-up-yoast-plugin\/\">Yoast SEO does<\/a>, and it\u2019s very easy to install, and useful too.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Image Optimization<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>There are several ways you can optimize images \u2013 for quick loading, for good looks, and \u2013 for search engine optimization.<\/strong> For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/image-titles-and-alt-text-in-wordpress\/\">adding image titles and alt text<\/a> is a way to make images more search-engine friendly.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But that\u2019s not the only way to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-optimize-wordpress-images-for-search-engines\/\">optimize images for search engines<\/a>. <strong>The list would also include the use of CDNs, the creation of an image sitemap, the use of responsive images<\/strong> \u2013 and a whole host of things you should check if you want to have well-optimized images on your website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">URL Structure<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]URLs to your website\u2019s pages can look very wild and denote very little information about the page itself. <strong>Having a link structure that\u2019s confusing or unrelated to the contents of the page isn\u2019t always the best practice.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It might be best to keep the link structure clear and concise. <strong>Both search engines and people looking at the URL should understand what it\u2019s about just from reading it.<\/strong> At the very least, they should be able to read it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Sitemap<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Your goal is to help search engines as much as possible to understand your website. <strong>Sitemaps are one of the ways you can do that.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-sitemap\/\">Using a sitemap<\/a>, your website will tell the search engine crawlers what to pay special attention to, and just in general facilitate faster crawling.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]How do you create a sitemap? <strong>If you installed Yoast SEO, it could do it for you. Your eCommerce platform might do it, too.<\/strong> Just make sure that you submit it to Google for indexation. Also, don\u2019t forget that you can also <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-noindex-a-page-in-wordpress\/\">noindex a page<\/a>, too.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Schema Markup<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s easy to make a case that too much effort goes to reaching that coveted first page in the search results, leaving other important facets of optimization underserved. For example, have you <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-schema-markup-in-wordpress\/#common-types-of-schema-markup\">implemented Schema markup<\/a> to your pages? No?[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Well, that\u2019s something you should fix before your website launches. <strong>Schema markup can significantly improve what your website looks like when it appears in search results, and that\u2019s not something to be scoffed at.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Analytics and SEO Tools<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There\u2019s a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-analytics-tools-for-wordpress\/\">analytics tools<\/a> you can use to follow the performance of your website. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/free-seo-tools\/\">quite a few SEO tools<\/a> you could be using, too.<strong> You\u2019ll need the help of both if you want your eCommerce venture to have the best chances for success.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]How you choose the tools you\u2019ll use is up to you. Some are better than others, others are simply better suited for different kinds of websites, and some might be just too expensive for your initial budget. <strong>Whatever your situation might be, just make sure you\u2019re not going into this endeavor without analytics and SEO tools watching your back.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"security-and-legal\"><\/a>Security and Legal<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Security-and-Legal.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Security and Legal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Security-and-Legal.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Security-and-Legal-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Security-and-Legal-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Security-and-Legal-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Last, but not least, are the security and legal concerns. Seeing that you\u2019re running an eCommerce website, and how that usually entails people leaving some pretty sensitive information with you, your website will be subject to intense scrutiny both from national regulators and the people who\u2019d like to get their hands on that data for nefarious reasons. The first group, you\u2019ll need to please. The second, you\u2019ll need to fight off.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">SSL<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>An SSL certificate is the basic security layer every website should be using.<\/strong> There\u2019s no excuse for not having one in place, especially when dealing with people\u2019s credit card numbers.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Make sure that an SSL certificate was applied to your website.<strong> Your hosting provider might provide one for you.<\/strong> You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-free-ssl-certificate-wordpress\/\">install one for free<\/a>, or use one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-ssl-plugin-for-wordpress\/\">many plugins<\/a> to do it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Firewalls<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]While SSL certificates help keep your communication with your customers confidential and safe, a firewall has a slightly different role. <strong>Much like its name describes, it\u2019s there to repel any attack that might come your way.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-firewall-plugins-for-wordpress\/\">many firewall plugins<\/a> for WordPress that would do the job well. Plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-security-plugins\/\">security plugins<\/a> might be helpful, too. Don\u2019t start your website before putting them into function and making sure they work well.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Spam<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Spam might not seem like the biggest issue you can face in terms of security, <strong>but it\u2019s not something you should easily overlook either.<\/strong> Spam comments can and often do contain links to suspicious websites, and <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-moderate-wordpress-comments\/\">moderating all those comments<\/a> can be quite a job.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/disable-comments-wordpress\/\">disable comments altogether<\/a>, or try out <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/disqus-vs-facebook-comments\/\">different comment systems<\/a> to see which one deals with the spam the best. <strong>There are also antispam plugins you might use.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Passwords<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s a common saying that people are the weakest link in any security chain. <strong>To be more precise, people\u2019s behavior is often at fault for security issues.<\/strong> One of those behaviors is bad password practices, including choosing weak passwords and sharing them with others.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]One of the things you can do is employ the aid of a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-password-manager-tools\/\">password manager tool<\/a> to make it easier for people to handle difficult passwords. <strong>But you\u2019ll also make sure that the passwords are difficult, and that everyone working with them knows how to handle them properly.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Updates<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s no secret that WordPress\u2019 size makes it a target for all sorts of attacks. <strong>One of the ways to deal with this is to make sure your WordPress installation, as well as the plugins you have, are always kept up-to-date.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-update\/\">Updating WordPress<\/a> is a whole process, and you should be careful when <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-update-plugins\/\">updating plugins<\/a>, too. Still, you should learn the proper ways of doing it soon, and not only because you\u2019ll want everything to be up-to-date on day one \u2013 <strong>but also because you should keep it that way.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">GDPR Compliance<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Love it or hate it, the GDPR has set regulatory standards regarding data gathering and processing practices.<\/strong> If there\u2019s any chance your website might be used by EU citizens, you should make sure that it <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpres-gdpr-compliance\/\">complies with GDPR<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This might be easier said than done, however. Even years after the regulation came into effect, some pretty big websites are still blocking EU visitors because they don\u2019t want to deal with GDPR compliance. <strong>Still, given how eCommerce is alive and well in the EU, it\u2019s safe to say that staying compliant with GDPR is something that can be done.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">CCPA Compliance<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]GDPR isn\u2019t the only privacy-protection regulation in the world. <strong>The California Consumer Protection Act mandates protection for people\u2019s private information.<\/strong> In practice, complying with the CCPA was often achieved via the inclusion of a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-do-not-sell-button\/\">Do Not Sell Button<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>If you plan to have any business with the citizens of California, you should make sure the button is prominently displayed on your website.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Inform the Visitor<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>As an online business, you must provide access to certain documents so that every visitor can see them.<\/strong> Even if you don\u2019t have an obligation, it\u2019s in your best interest to do so, as their lack could be used against you in legal proceedings.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Terms and Conditions, a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-privacy-policy-to-wordpress\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a>, and information regarding consumer rights and practical matters such as returns, should all be present on your website. Have them in place before the kickoff, and don\u2019t skimp on creating them, either.<strong> You want legal documents to be written by someone who knows what they\u2019re doing.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Let\u2019s Wrap It Up!<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The launch is one of the most important moments in the lifecycle of any website \u2013 especially an eCommerce one. A smooth launch might not guarantee smooth sailing further on, but it can contribute to it tremendously \u2013 especially if you have the products and the marketing campaign to par. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The importance also means that it\u2019s a busy time \u2013 there are lots of things to do, navigate, and set into motion. Overlooking a single thing might be a disaster \u2013 or it might have no consequence at all. But is this the risk you want to take? Probably not, especially when all you have to do is create a pre-launch checklist and follow it. As simple as that.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need help building a pre-launch checklist for your eCommerce website? We&#8217;ve compiled a list of the most important items you should include on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9295,"featured_media":26833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[29,56,4],"class_list":["post-26433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resources","tag-business","tag-ecommerce","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}