This how to is under development but it might help. Feel free to contribute.

1. Release information: ChangeLog, NEWS
2. Common information: README, AUTHORS, THANKS, TODO (when present)

1. Edit autoconf file configure.in.in or configure.ac.in which name you've chosen.
2. Remove svn from package_version_tag.
3. Check the build dependencies.

1. Run ./autogen.sh.
2. Run make distcheck
3. Check auto generated files: INSTALL, COPYING
4. If this works commit all changes, for release, to trunk.
5. Now you are ready to tag the current trunk:
   

   svn copy https://svn.xfce.org/svn/goodies/package/trunk \
            https://svn.xfce.org/svn/goodies/package/tags/<package-version>

1. Edit configure.in.in or configure.ac.in.
2. Change package_version_major, package_version_minor and package_version_micro version to the new release.
3. Re-add svn to package_version_tag.