Pre-Launch Checklist for Your First Shopify Store>

Pre-Launch Checklist for Your First Shopify Store

Launching a Shopify store? Follow this 10-step pre-launch checklist to make sure your design, checkout, SEO and tracking are all ready to go live.
Launching a Shopify store? Follow this 10-step pre-launch checklist to make sure your design, checkout, SEO and tracking are all ready to go live.

Pre-Launch Checklist for Your First Shopify Store

Launching your first Shopify store is exciting — but it can also feel overwhelming.

To avoid rookie mistakes, missed opportunities or conversion-killing gaps, it’s smart to run through a structured checklist before going live.

Here are the essential steps every Shopify merchant should complete before launch day.

✅ 1. Check your product setup

Make sure every product is:

  • Assigned to the correct collection

  • Has unique titles and descriptions

  • Includes SEO meta titles + descriptions

  • Uses optimized images (WebP or compressed JPGs)

  • Has correct pricing, variants, and inventory levels

Double-check any tags, filters and featured products.

✅ 2. Finalize your theme and design

Design isn't just about looks — it affects conversion.

  • Test mobile and desktop layouts

  • Update favicon and brand colors

  • Proof all homepage sections (hero, USP, featured collections)

  • Review navigation menus

  • Ensure all CTAs are visible and functional

💡 Pro tip: Use a heatmap tool (like Hotjar) to test user flow pre-launch.

✅ 3. Test your checkout and payments

Nothing kills sales like a broken checkout.

  • Activate Shopify Payments (or Stripe, PayPal, Klarna etc.)

  • Test all payment options and currencies

  • Enable Shop Pay for express checkout

  • Add shipping rates, taxes and delivery estimates

  • Try placing a test order from both desktop and mobile

Also: verify email confirmations and receipts work.

✅ 4. Configure your legal and policy pages

To build trust and stay compliant, include:

  • Privacy Policy

  • Refund & Return Policy

  • Terms of Service

  • Shipping Info

  • Contact page with working form or email

Add these to your footer menu and check for typos or generic placeholders.

✅ 5. Optimize for SEO

Get your store indexed properly from day one.

  • Write custom meta titles + descriptions for homepage, collections, and products

  • Connect your store to Google Search Console

  • Set your primary domain and enable SSL

  • Remove password page when ready to go live

  • Use clean URLs (no products/123 or collection-1 defaults)

Optional: Submit a sitemap and request indexing.

✅ 6. Install key apps

Don’t overdo it — but a few apps can boost your launch.

Suggested essentials:

  • Email marketing (e.g., Klaviyo, Omnisend)

  • Reviews (e.g., Loox, Judge.me)

  • Analytics & tracking (e.g., Google Analytics 4, Meta Pixel)

  • Upsell/cross-sell (e.g., ReConvert)

  • Backup/security (e.g., Rewind)

Test all apps for performance and speed impact.

✅ 7. Set up analytics & pixels

Track everything from day one.

  • Install Google Analytics 4

  • Connect your Meta Pixel

  • Set up conversion tracking in Google Ads (if applicable)

  • Use UTMs for any early traffic campaigns

  • Enable Shopify reports or connect to tools like Triple Whale or Lifetimely

💡 Bonus: Set up goal tracking for add-to-cart, checkout, and purchase events.

✅ 8. Review your shipping setup

Ensure you’ve:

  • Set clear shipping zones and rates

  • Added tracking and fulfillment rules

  • Tested shipping logic with different order values

  • Updated delivery messaging on product and cart pages

Transparency here builds trust — and reduces support tickets.

✅ 9. Prepare your launch marketing

Don't launch into silence.

  • Build a “Coming Soon” list (or warm up your existing list)

  • Prepare launch emails and social posts

  • Add a welcome popup or incentive for first buyers

  • Plan early paid traffic if budget allows

  • Consider influencer or partner outreach

The first 7 days matter more than you think.

✅ 10. Test everything — twice

Before you remove your password page, test:

  • Every product link

  • Checkout from mobile & desktop

  • Contact forms, newsletter signup

  • Menu navigation

  • Cart drawer, discount codes, free shipping logic

  • Loading speed

Then test again — or ask a friend to try too.

Final thoughts

Launching a Shopify store is more than just clicking "Publish".
By following this checklist, you’ll start with confidence, reduce friction, and set yourself up for conversions from day one.

Need help reviewing your Shopify setup before launch?
At coi, we audit and optimize new stores for conversion, speed, and customer trust.

 

 

→ Book a meeting

Previous article Next article

More like this

More like this