Section 07
Your Launch Checklist
Don't go live without these.
❦
Run through this list before you open your store to the public. It won't be perfect on day one — it never is. But these are the non-negotiables.
Store Setup
- Shopify account created and plan activated
- Custom domain purchased and connected
- Shopify Payments enabled and bank details verified
- PayPal connected as secondary payment option
- Legal pages added: Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Refund Policy (Shopify auto-generates these — customize them)
Theme & Design
- Theme selected and installed (paid theme strongly recommended)
- Brand colors, fonts, and logo applied consistently across all pages
- Homepage hero image is high-quality and communicates your world's tone
- Store looks correct on mobile (Shopify's theme preview tool shows this)
- Navigation menu is clean and logical — readers can find what they need in 2 clicks
Products
- At least one physical book product live (signed edition recommended)
- Digital products set up with Sky Pilot or equivalent delivery app
- At least one merch item (even a single sticker pack counts)
- Product descriptions written in your author voice, not catalog style
- All products have high-quality images (multiple angles for physical items)
- Collections organized by series
Pages
- Homepage complete with hero, featured products, and brief author intro
- About page written and includes a quality photo
- FAQ page live with shipping, digital delivery, and return policy info
- Contact page or email address visible
Email & Marketing
- Email platform connected (Omnisend recommended — start free at your.omnisend.com/n4204R)
- Reader magnet offer live (popup or embedded form)
- Welcome email sequence set up for new subscribers
- Review app installed and at least a few reviews imported or collected