WordPress Website Go Live 

First we need to identify what domain we are connecting the website to. The most common scenario is that we’ve purchased a domain for the client, which exists in our agency Registrar account with Moniker Online Services (https://www.moniker.com/). Purchasing a domain may be necessary but is usually done before the Go-Live Process. 

Once we have access to the domain in the Registrar account, navigate to the domain’s page in Moniker. On the side bar, go to “My Domains” and search for the one we wish to use. Click on the domain. 

This will take you to an overview of the domain, where we will add the IP Address. But first, we must identify the IP Address we need to use. This can be found in Flywheel (https://app.getflywheel.com/) 

Log into Flywheel and navigate to the website we are taking live.  The IP Address can be found under the “Domains” section on the right side: 

Before going back to Moniker, we will need to add the domain to Flywheel. In the same section where we see the IP Address, click “Add Another Domain”. Here, type in the domain we are connecting, and check the box “Primary?” to make this the primary domain (instead of the flywheel domain). Click “Add Domain”: 

Now we can go back into Moniker to add the IP Address. To do this, on the Domain page,  scroll down to the section called “Subdomain overview”. Click on the domain, which will display a pop up with DNS Record settings. Under “Web Settings” select “Link with IP (A / AAAA Record)”, and then copy/paste the IP Address from Flywheel here, then click save: 

Last, we need to create a “www” subdomain. Where it says “Create new subdomain”, type “www” and click “create subdomain”. Add the IP Address under Web Settings just like we did in the step above, then click save. Your “Subdomain overview” section should look like this when done correctly: 

Once the DNS Records are all pointing to the IP Address, we are now able to set up SSL Certificate on the website. This is done in Flywheel. 

In Flywheel, again under the “Domains” section, click “Enable SSL”: 

Flywheel will warn you if the DNS records are not pointed correctly. Otherwise, click through the SSL Setup and this will enable a Security Certificate on the domain within a few minutes. 

The list of things Sheena will check over are as follows: 

DNS/Domain: 

* Check DNS settings in Flywheel 

* Domain and subdomain (www) redirection 

* SSL Enabled 

Wordpress: 

* Update plugins 

* Update theme 

* Uncheck discourage search engine on WP settings 

* Gravity form notifications settings 

* Create recaptcha API keys 

* Create Google Analytics script 

* Add website to Google Search Console 

Front-end look: 

* 404 layout 

* Mobile menu styling 

* Copyright styling (also mobile view) 

* Fix issues if found (alignment, logos, etc..) 

Speed and ETC 

* Improve Gtmetrix score 

* Check image alt text (Chrome extension: Alt Text Tester)