Shopify Store Checklist: What to Do Before You Launch

You’ve built your Shopify store. Your product is ready. But before you hit that “Launch” button and start driving traffic—you need to make sure your store is fully prepared to convert visitors into customers.

Here’s the ultimate Shopify pre-launch checklist to help you avoid common mistakes and go live with confidence in 2025.

✅ 1. Choose a Winning Product

Before anything else, confirm your product:

  • Solves a real problem or fulfills a strong desire

  • Has high perceived value

  • Has good profit margins (2.5x–3x markup)

  • Comes from a trusted supplier with fast shipping options

🔎 Tip: Use DSers, Zendrop, or CJ Dropshipping for reliable fulfillment.

✅ 2. Brand Your Store Properly

Great branding builds trust fast. Make sure you have:

  • A clear brand name and logo

  • A consistent color palette and fonts

  • High-quality product photos or mockups

  • A branded favicon (that little icon on the browser tab)

🎯 Tools: Canva, Looka, or Hatchful by Shopify

✅ 3. Write Conversion-Focused Product Pages

Each product page should have:

  • A clear title

  • A benefit-driven description (not copied from suppliers)

  • Bullet points that highlight key features

  • High-quality images or videos

  • Trust badges near the Add to Cart button

📦 Tip: Add scarcity (e.g., “Only 12 left in stock!”) or urgency (e.g., “Today Only: 20% Off”).

✅ 4. Set Up Key Store Pages

These build credibility and help with compliance. Create:

  • ✅ About Us

  • ✅ Contact Us

  • ✅ FAQs

  • ✅ Refund Policy

  • ✅ Privacy Policy

  • ✅ Shipping Policy

  • ✅ Affiliate Disclosure (if promoting affiliate links)

📄 Use Shopify’s legal page generators to save time.

✅ 5. Test Your Checkout Process

Nothing is worse than a broken checkout on launch day.

Test:

  • Add product to cart

  • Go through the entire checkout

  • Make sure discount codes work

  • Test payment options (PayPal, cards, etc.)

  • Check email confirmation works

💳 Tip: Use Shopify’s test mode or make a real purchase and refund it.

✅ 6. Set Up Payment & Shipping

Go to Settings → Payments and ensure:

  • You’ve added your PayPal or Stripe account

  • Payments are enabled and tested

For shipping:

  • Create zones and rates (flat rate or free shipping)

  • Set delivery time expectations clearly on product pages

🚚 If dropshipping: Choose suppliers with ePacket or fast U.S./EU shipping options.

✅ 7. Connect a Custom Domain

Ditch the default myshopify.com URL.

Buy and connect a branded domain (like yourstorename.com) from:

  • Shopify directly

  • Namecheap or GoDaddy (and connect to Shopify)

🌐 This builds instant trust with new visitors.

✅ 8. Install Key Apps

Install helpful Shopify apps to improve performance:

  • Product Reviews (Loox, Judge.me)

  • Email Marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp)

  • Upsell & Cross-Sell (ReConvert, Vitals)

  • Live Chat (Tidio, Shopify Inbox)

💡 Don’t overload—start lean and only add what’s necessary.

✅ 9. Set Up Email Notifications & Automations

Customize your:

  • Order confirmation emails

  • Abandoned cart emails

  • Shipping updates

📧 Bonus: Use Klaviyo or Omnisend to create abandoned cart flows and welcome series for email subscribers.

✅ 10. Preview on Mobile

Over 80% of traffic comes from mobile. Test how your store looks and functions on:

  • iPhone

  • Android

  • Different screen sizes

✅ Make sure buttons are tappable, text is readable, and pages load fast.

✅ 11. Install Meta Pixel & Google Analytics

For tracking and ads:

  • Add the Meta (Facebook) Pixel to track events

  • Install Google Analytics 4

  • Set up conversion events (add to cart, purchase, etc.)

🎯 This data is crucial for future ad campaigns and understanding user behavior.

✅ 12. Prepare Marketing Materials

Have your assets ready:

  • Ad creatives (video or image)

  • Captions and copy

  • Content for TikTok/Instagram

  • Product explainer video or GIFs

🎥 Tip: UGC (User-Generated Content) performs best in 2025.

🟢 Final Step: Launch!

Once all the above is checked ✅:

  • Set your store to “Active”

  • Remove password protection

  • Announce your launch on social platforms

  • Begin your organic/paid promotion strategy

🎁 Bonus Tip

After launch, focus on data collection and customer feedback. Use that to optimize everything from product selection to website flow.

🚀 Need Help Launching Your Store?

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