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 pre-launch content checklist and logistics.

Pre-launch content checklist: 

  • Have you renamed/removed all default content/pages that aren’t relevant to your site?
  • Do your homepage and footer blocks have the correct content in them?
  • Have you replaced all the placeholder images for your site?
  • Do your images all have descriptive alternative text (“alt text”)?
  • Do your “Read More” links all point to the correct pages, and do those target pages have the correct content in them?
  • Have you checked your menu links to ensure they are all correct?
  • Is your content ready to be “frozen” for the duration of the launch process?
  • Have you had your content reviewed by another member of your department?
  • Does your site need to be approved by anyone other than yourself before launching?

Logistics

  • Do you need to create redirects for any specific pages from your old existing website (if applicable)?
  • Have you set up 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 you would like to do with your old website? Do you want to have it archived in any way?
  • Have you prepared any necessary communications for the post-launch of your site?

Ready to launch?

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

  • If you are a self-service site, please submit a Virtual Host Request.
  • If you are a client, you are eligible for launch assistance from Stanford Web Services. Please refer to the following Client Launch Request card.

Client Launch Request

The Stanford Web Services team appreciates at least a two-week advance notice for launching sites, and launch sites only on Tuesdays through Thursdays.  

Important note: During peak periods, some dates may not be available.

When you are ready to launch, submit the Request Site Launch Form. A Stanford Web Services team member will reach out to you to coordinate the site launch details.

Not sure if you are a client or self-service site? 

Reach out to our team through this ServiceNow form and we’ll help you!