Pre-launch Checklist

In this episode Wes and Scott discuss their pre-launch checklists. They talk about performance, accessibility, compatibility, SEO, analytics, and more - all the things you should check before launching something to the world.

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Show Notes

1:45 - Overall

• Let robots do the work for you - use auditing tools
  • Lighthouse
  • SEO Checkers
  • Accessibility checkers like axe

2:58 - Performance

• Compress those images
  • Build process
  • Cloudinary
  • ImageOptim
  • imgIX
• Minify
• Code Splitting
  • Smaller bundles where it makes sense
  • A future where it’s done for us
• Run page speed tests like Google PageSpeed Insights
• Don’t service worker on launch
• Syntax Ep 50 - Progressive Web Apps

11:43 - Compatibility

• Test on actual browsers that need to be supported
• Ask people to check on their devices
• Use a service like Browserstack
• Browser resolution and ratios
• Cache busters

16:00 - Sales / Credit Cards

• Use package.lock
• Have multiple people test your checkout
• Make sure your company name is listed on customer’s credit card bills
• Have a phone number listed for disputes

24:55 - Tips from the Trenches

• Secure API endpoints
• Scale up server just in case
• Early access
• Soft launch
• Make sure URLs are correct - no “localhost:3000”, etc.

31:25 - Content

• Check spelling and grammar
• A working 404 page
• Check for leftover placeholder text → launching with lorem ipsum is not good

34:39 - Accessibility

• Alt text
• Run color contrast checker
• Run Lighthouse
• Correct tab order
  • Use the site with keyboard only and make sure it’s a good experience

37:35 - SEO

• Sitemap created and uploaded to Google Webmaster Tools
• SEO checkers
• Meta tags
• Correct heading hierarchy

41:55 - Analytics

• Google analytics
• Facebook tracking pixel
• Drip

43:23 - Server config & access

• .htaccess
  • redirects where needed
• robots.txt
  • prevent indexing of some pages
• Enable GZIP
• Caching
• Cloudflare or other CDN

46:12 - Company Processes

• Make sure tests are passing
• Git issues are closed
• Merge pull requests
• Write documentation on processes (readme, etc.)
• Deploy to staging environment and test production build
• No unwanted logs or errors left in production build
• DNS Propagation

××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ×××

• Scott: Swindled Podcast
• Wes: FIFO Bottles

Shameless Plugs

• Scott’s Level Up Pro
• Wes’ Advanced React Course - use the code SYNTAX for $10 off

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