Launching an eCommerce website is one of the most exciting moments in building a business. It is also one of the most error-prone. A rushed launch with missing legal pages, unconfigured payment gateways, or broken checkout flows does not just create a poor first impression — it can directly cost you sales, damage your reputation with early customers, and even create legal liability.
This checklist is based on real launch audits conducted by the Xylus Info team across 30+ eCommerce projects in India. Use it to ensure you cover every critical area before pressing publish.
| How to Use This Checklist Print or save this checklist. Work through each section 2–3 days before your planned launch date — not the night before. Give yourself time to fix issues that surface without rushing. |
Section A: Technical Checklist (10 Items)
A1. SSL Certificate Active and Enforced
Your entire site — not just the checkout — must run on HTTPS. Verify the padlock appears in your browser on every page. In WordPress, ensure your WordPress Address and Site Address in Settings → General both start with https://. Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS via your .htaccess file or hosting control panel.
A2. Checkout Flow Tested End-to-End
Place a real test order using every payment method you plan to offer. Test with Razorpay’s test mode, then switch to live mode and make a real ₹1 purchase. Verify the order confirmation email arrives, the order appears in WooCommerce admin, and the payment is credited to your account.
A3. Mobile Checkout Tested on Real Devices
Test the complete checkout process on an actual Android phone and an iPhone — not just the Chrome DevTools mobile emulator. Pay particular attention to the UPI payment flow, OTP entry screens, and the keyboard behaviour on address fields.
A4. PageSpeed Score Above 70 on Mobile
Run pagespeed.web.dev on your homepage and your most important product page. An eCommerce site scoring below 60 on mobile will lose significant revenue to cart abandonment. Image optimisation and caching are the fastest wins if your score is low.
A5. 404 and Error Pages Configured
Create a custom 404 page that matches your brand, includes your navigation, and guides visitors back to your product catalogue. A generic WordPress 404 page breaks trust with new visitors.
A6. Search Functionality Working Correctly
Test your product search with common and uncommon search terms. Verify search returns relevant results and that misspellings or alternate terms still find the right products. Consider installing a dedicated WooCommerce search plugin for better accuracy.
A7. Email Notifications Configured and Tested
Verify every automated email is working: new order confirmation (to customer and admin), payment received, order processing, order shipped with tracking number, order completed, and refund confirmation. Test each using a real email address — not your admin email — to see exactly what customers experience.
A8. Google Analytics 4 and Search Console Verified
Confirm GA4 is tracking pageviews and eCommerce events (view_item, add_to_cart, purchase). Verify Search Console ownership is confirmed and the XML sitemap is submitted. Set up conversion tracking for the purchase event specifically.
A9. Stock Inventory Configured
Verify stock management is enabled in WooCommerce settings. Set accurate stock quantities for every product. Configure “out of stock” behaviour — decide whether out-of-stock products should remain visible or be hidden. Set up low stock notifications so you are alerted before you completely run out.
A10. Shipping Zones and Rates Configured
Test shipping rate calculation for orders to different Indian states. Verify free shipping thresholds work correctly. If you use multiple couriers, confirm each shipping option appears at checkout with accurate delivery time estimates. Test COD availability by PIN code if applicable.
Section B: Content and Product Checklist (8 Items)
B1. Every Product Has a Complete Description
Verify every live product has: a complete title (not a placeholder), a full description including materials, dimensions, care instructions, or specifications as relevant, and clear high-quality images from multiple angles. Thin product pages rank poorly in Google and convert poorly with customers.
B2. Product Images Are Optimised
All product images should be: minimum 800×800px for zoom functionality, maximum 300KB after compression, consistent aspect ratio across your catalogue, and WebP format where your WordPress installation supports it.
B3. Pricing Is Accurate and GST Is Correctly Displayed
Confirm all product prices are correct. Decide clearly whether prices are displayed inclusive or exclusive of GST, and be consistent across every product. Indian consumers have legal rights to see GST-inclusive pricing in retail; B2B sites typically show exclusive. Your WooCommerce tax configuration must reflect this correctly.
B4. Category Structure Is Logical and Browsable
Verify your product categories are named clearly (not with internal codes or abbreviations), that every product is assigned to at least one category, and that your navigation menus make it easy for a first-time visitor to find what they are looking for within 2 clicks.
B5. SEO Basics Set on Key Pages
Every product page, category page, and key landing page should have a unique meta title and meta description. Use RankMath or Yoast to verify there are no pages with missing or duplicate meta tags. Your homepage meta title should include your primary keyword and your city.
B6. Contact Information Is Visible Everywhere
Your phone number, WhatsApp number, and email address should appear in the header or footer of every page — not just on the Contact page. For Indian eCommerce, WhatsApp is particularly important as many customers prefer to verify a seller is reachable before placing a first order.
B7. About Us Page Establishes Trust
First-time online buyers in India are particularly trust-sensitive. An About Us page with your company story, team photos (even if it is just the founder), your registered business location, and how long you have been in business significantly increases conversion rates for new visitors.
B8. FAQ Page Addresses Common Pre-Purchase Questions
Create an FAQ page covering: delivery timeframes by region, return and replacement policy, payment methods accepted, COD availability, warranty or guarantee terms, and how to track an order. This reduces pre-purchase customer service queries and addresses hesitation at the point of sale.
Section C: Legal Compliance Checklist (5 Items)
C1. Privacy Policy
Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDPA), every website collecting personal data must have a Privacy Policy. This must include what data you collect, how it is used, who it is shared with, and how users can request deletion. Publish this page and link it from your footer and checkout page.
C2. Terms and Conditions / Terms of Sale
Your Terms and Conditions page should cover: order acceptance and cancellation policy, pricing errors, limitation of liability, governing jurisdiction (your state, e.g. Gujarat), and any product warranty limitations. Every customer should be required to accept T&C during checkout.
C3. Refund and Return Policy
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020, Indian eCommerce businesses are legally required to display a clear return, refund, and exchange policy. This policy must be visible before purchase. Specify: return window (e.g., 7 days), condition requirements, who bears return shipping cost, and refund timeline.
C4. GST Registration Number Displayed
If your business is GST-registered, your GSTIN must appear on all invoices. Ensure your WooCommerce invoice plugin includes your GSTIN on every order invoice. For B2B buyers, also display your GSTIN in your website footer or on the checkout page.
C5. Shipping Policy
A dedicated Shipping Policy page should clearly state: domestic shipping zones and timeframes, courier partners used, whether you ship internationally, signature requirements, and what happens if a shipment is lost or damaged in transit. This reduces customer service queries and sets clear expectations.
Section D: Marketing Readiness Checklist (7 Items)
D1. Meta Pixel / Google Ads Conversion Tracking Installed
If you plan to run Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads at launch, install the Meta Pixel and Google Ads tag before going live — even if you are not running ads immediately. Starting with tracking data from day one is significantly more valuable than trying to install it later.
D2. Email List Capture Configured
Set up a welcome popup or inline email capture form offering a launch discount or useful content in exchange for email signup. Connect this to your email marketing platform (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or Zoho Campaigns). Your email list is the most valuable marketing asset you will build.
D3. WhatsApp Business Profile Set Up
Create and fully complete your WhatsApp Business profile: business name, category, description, address, business hours, and catalogue (add your top 10 products). Add the WhatsApp chat button to your website. WhatsApp is India’s primary customer communication channel.
D4. Social Media Profiles Linked and Active
Ensure your Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn business pages are created, have your correct logo and bio, link to your new eCommerce site, and have at least 6–10 posts published before launch so new visitors see an active brand rather than an empty profile.
D5. Launch Discount Code Ready
Prepare a launch promotion (e.g., XYLUS10 for 10% off) to incentivise first purchases. Create the coupon in WooCommerce, set usage limits and expiry date, and have your announcement content ready for social media and email.
D6. Google Shopping Feed Set Up (for Product-Based Stores)
If you sell physical products, submit a Google Shopping feed via Google Merchant Center. This enables your products to appear in Google Shopping results. The WooCommerce Google Feed plugin makes this straightforward.
D7. Post-Launch 30-Day Action Plan Documented
Going live is the beginning, not the end. Document your first 30 days: what ads you will run and when, what social media content you will post, what emails you will send, and how you will measure success. Businesses with a documented 30-day plan post-launch grow 3× faster than those who improvise.
| Launching an eCommerce store and want expert eyes on it? The Xylus Info team offers a pre-launch eCommerce audit covering all 30 points above. We identify critical issues before your customers do — and fix them as part of our WooCommerce development packages. → Book My Pre-Launch eCommerce Audit |