Stanford
Stanford Sites User Guide

Launching your site

Congratulations on building your site!

To make sure that your site is launch-ready, please review the following pre-launch content checklist and logistics.

Pre-launch content checklist: 

  • Have you renamed/removed all default content/pages that aren’t needed in your site?
  • Do your homepage and footer blocks have the correct content?
  • Have you replaced or deleted all placeholder images?
  • Do your images have descriptive alternative text (“alt text”) where necessary to support accessibility?
  • Do your “Read More” links point to the correct pages, and do those target pages have the correct content?
  • Have you checked all menu links?
  • Is your content ready to be “frozen” for the duration of the launch process?
  • Have you had your content reviewed for tone, accuracy and grammar?
  • Does your site need to be approved by anyone prior to launch?

Logistics

  • Do you need to create redirects for any specific pages from your old existing website (if applicable)?
  • Have you requested a vanity URL (e.g. http://mysite.stanford.edu) if one does not already exist? (Note: Stanford Web Services will handle the switchover for you once your site is ready to launch)
  • Have you configured Google Analytics for your new site? 
  • Have you archived your analytics data for your old site (if applicable)?
  • Have you determined what to do with your old website? Do you want to have it archived in any way?
  • If you are moving from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9, are you ready to archive or delete the Drupal 7 site?
  • Have you prepared necessary communications for your audience regarding the launch of your site?

Ready to launch?

After you have completed the pre-launch content checklist and have logistics in order, you are ready to launch your site.

How to launch a self-service site

Simply create a vanity URL, which is a short and descriptive URL that will redirect in the browser to your new site at (yoursitename).sites.stanford.edu.

Launching a high visibility or high traffic site? SWS can help you create a proxy URL and ensure a smooth experience. Contact us via our launch request form as early as possible to schedule assistance.

Create a vanity URL

How to launch a custom site

If you are a client, you will receive assistance from your project team in Stanford Web Services, including Google Analytics, redirects setup, testing, vhost request and post-launch monitoring.

Submit a custom site launch request

Not sure which path is right for you? Contact us for help via the Services portal.

Important note: advance notice of two weeks or more is required, and launches are scheduled on Tuesdays through Thursdays only to allow sufficient time to prepare and monitor. Important note: during peak periods, some dates may not be available. When you are ready, simply submit the Request Site Launch Form, and a team member will respond to coordinate the launch details.