Launch your site

Congratulations on building your new site! This guide includes information about how to launch your site and what you need to get ready to launch your site.

 Ready to launch?

SWS launches sites on Mondays - Thursdays during business hours only. During peak periods, some dates may not be available. 

Not sure if you are ready? Check out our launch checklist below.

Already working with Stanford Web Services?

If you are a Stanford Web Services client, you will receive assistance from your project team at every step, including Google Analytics, redirects setup, testing, vhost request, and post-launch monitoring. Please contact your project lead with any questions.

Self-service sites

If you built your own site on Stanford Sites, please submit a launch request below. We are happy to assist with getting your subdomain name in place. We request at least 5 business days' notice to ensure we have staff available to help. 

Please note that due to the volume of requests we receive, we do not respond to individual site launch requests unless we have questions.

Submit a site launch request

 Pre-launch content checklist 

Review the following questions. If you need assistance, follow the links to learn more or reach out to Stanford Web Services via ServiceNow.

1. Is your content ready? See the Site content health checklist.
2. Does your site title or logo meet Stanford branding guidelines?
3. Have you updated the Local Footer to contain information relevant to your site?
4. Do you have permission to use all images? See the policy on copyright use.
5. Does your site need to be approved by anyone before launch? Learn how to use the Site Reviewer role to give interested parties a chance to view the site before launch
6. Are you aware of your responsibilities to keep your content accessible?

 Logistics

• Do you need to create redirects for any specific pages from your old website (if applicable) to ensure users can still find key content? Learn about URL redirects.
• Do you need approval for your URL? Review Stanford's policy for stanford.edu name assignment.
• Is the URL on the VanityURL tool? If so, please delete the URL on vanityurl.stanford.edu. The URL must be released before your site can be launched. If you need to time the launch to minimize downtime, please indicate that in the ticket.
• Have you logged into Siteimprove? Once your site is launched, you will be given access to the reports for your new site, but establishing a user account there by logging in via Stanford SSO is required first.
• Have you configured Google Analytics or other analytics tool for your new site? Learn about Marketing and Analytics.
• Have you prepared the necessary communications for your audience regarding the launch of your site?
• Do you want to request a copy of your old website be stored by the Stanford Web Archiving Service?

Need help after launch? 

Congratulations on launching a site on Stanford's centrally supported platform!  Stanford Web Services is happy to provide all maintenance, security, code accessibility, and support for your site, allowing you to focus on the information you are communicating to your site visitors. 

Websites require content updates to keep them relevant and in compliance with the latest university policies. If you need a hand with adding site content, we are happy to help! We can provide ongoing support for site updates, broken links, and accessibility issues. We can also provide one-time support when you need an extra pair of hands or onboarding support for a new web editor. Learn more about our site building, user experience, and content-related services.

Learn more about our services:

Website Support Retainer

Website Accessibility Services

Digital Strategy Consulting

User Experience Research Consulting