Should you announce the launch anywhere?

Only after the store survives a full test order. A broken checkout on announcement day wastes the one moment of attention a new store gets.

What is the most common launch mistake?

Shipping rates that lose money on every order. Weigh your packed products and check the rates against real carrier prices before going live.

Do you need apps before launch?

No. Launch with zero apps if you can. Add apps after real customers show you what is missing.

The Shopify Launch Checklist That Actually Gets Used

Before launching a Shopify store, verify seven things: products have real photos and prices, payment and test checkout work, shipping rates are correct, taxes are configured, the domain is connected, legal pages exist, and the password page is off. A launch checklist catches the small config mistakes that cost first-week sales.

Catalog and content checks

Every product needs a price, inventory status, weight for shipping calculations, and a description that is yours rather than supplier copy. Check the homepage on a phone, not just a laptop. Proofread the announcement bar, the footer menus, and the contact page, since those are the three places typos survive longest.

Money flow checks

Run a test order through the real checkout using Shopify Payments test mode or a small live charge you refund. Confirm the order confirmation email fires and looks right. Verify your payout bank account is fully verified, because an unverified account can hold funds after your first real sale.

Policy and legal pages

Create refund, privacy, shipping, and terms pages under Settings then Policies, and link them in the footer. These pages matter for payment processors, ad account approvals, and customer trust. Write them in plain language that matches how you actually operate.

Domain, analytics, and go live

Confirm the custom domain resolves and SSL shows as connected in Settings then Domains. Install analytics (even a free privacy-friendly counter) before launch day so you can see the first visitors. Then remove the storefront password and submit the site to Google Search Console.

Frequently asked questions

Should you announce the launch anywhere?: Only after the store survives a full test order. A broken checkout on announcement day wastes the one moment of attention a new store gets.
What is the most common launch mistake?: Shipping rates that lose money on every order. Weigh your packed products and check the rates against real carrier prices before going live.
Do you need apps before launch?: No. Launch with zero apps if you can. Add apps after real customers show you what is missing.