Prepping the Car

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Suspension checks

First off you need to fully check the suspension bushings and ball joints:

Front:

Rear:

Also not pictured are the lower ball joints, inner tie rods, and wheel bearings.

If any of this stuff is worn out with excess play your alignment will almost be useless as the settings will change as soon as you move the car.

During this check you should also check all the of adjusting bolts/nuts to make sure they aren't seized.

Simulate weight

Now you need to get enough weights to simulate what you weigh and stick them in the drivers seat/floor like so:

What?! Yeah you've never seen them do this at Firestone have you?
Think about it - the car always has this weight in the drivers seat when it's actually driven so why wouldn't you simulate it when you align the car? Any weight you normally have in the car should be in it while you align it. If you have a passenger more than 50% of the time you should consider simulating their weight as well.

Tire pressure

Doesn't need explanation really... check it.

Ride height

If your suspension has adjustable ride height you need to set it now. Any change you make to ride height later needs to at least have the toe adjusted again.
If you are adjusting the height and have rubber bushings you should adjust the ride height while the bolts on the rubber bushings are loose \/

Neutralize rubber bushings

Still have OEM style rubber bushings on the upper or lower control arms?

Jack up the car and loosen the long upper control arm bolts, and the two bolts going through the lower control arms.
With all those bolts loosened lower the car down onto some stacked 2x6's (an equal amount under each wheel).
Next rock the car side to side and bounce the suspension.
Finally while the car is still sitting on the 2x6's slide under it and tighten all those bolts.

This will place all the rubber bushings in a neutral position. Yes, you need to do this on any rubber control arm bushings you have. Never tighten the bolts on those bushings while the car is jacked up/suspension is drooping because when you lower the car back down they will be in a constant twist and this can cause all kinds of issues. If you are adjusting ride height leave the bolts loose until you have the final height set, then tighten.

All prepped out? Caster Adjustment is next.