you want to set up a WordPress test site eh? You’re not alone.

Everyone wants to play around with updates and new plugins without freaking out about breaking their live site.

I totally get it!

Let’s break this down.

You’ve got a couple of main options:

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Table of Contents

Using a Subdomain

Think of this as creating a mini-website inside your existing domain.

You’ll basically build a copy of your live site but it’ll have a different address.

Setting Up a Subdomain

Create a Subdomain: You’ll need to go to your domain registrar (where you bought your domain) and create a subdomain. It might look something like “test.yourwebsite.com” or “staging.yourwebsite.com”.
Point the Subdomain to Your Hosting: You need to tell your hosting provider to point this subdomain to the right server. This might involve adding a new “A” record in your DNS settings. Don’t worry it’s easier than it sounds. You can usually find detailed instructions from your hosting provider.
Create a New Database: You’ll need a separate database for your staging site. This is like a big digital filing cabinet that stores all your website’s content. Your hosting provider will show you how to do this.
Install WordPress: Now you’ll install a fresh copy of WordPress on the subdomain. This might involve using a one-click installer or a manual installation. It’s similar to how you set up your live site but with a different address.
Clone Your Live Site: This is the fun part! You’ll want to copy everything from your live site to your staging environment. This includes your website files database and any plugins or themes. You can do this using a plugin like Duplicator or manually using FTP.
Configure Your Staging Site: You’ll need to adjust the settings on your staging site to match your live site’s configuration. This can include things like your permalinks (how your website URLs look) and the database settings.

Pros and Cons of the Subdomain Approach

Pros:

You’re in Control: You have complete control over your staging site. You can set it up exactly the way you want.
Flexibility: You can use a subdomain for testing different versions of your site or for running A/B tests.
No Additional Costs: You’re likely already paying for enough hosting space to accommodate a staging site.

Cons:

Technical: This process can be a bit technical especially for beginners. You’ll need to know your way around DNS settings and databases.
Time-Consuming: It can take time to set up and maintain a staging site especially if you’re not comfortable with these technical aspects.
Risk of Errors: If you’re not careful you could accidentally make changes to your live site while working on your staging site.

Managed Hosting Services

you’re not a big fan of technical stuff right? That’s where managed WordPress hosting services come in.

They offer a much easier way to set up a staging site.

Pressable – Making Staging a Breeze

Pressable is a popular managed WordPress hosting provider that makes staging environments incredibly simple.

It takes away all the technical hassle.

Here’s how it works:

Sign Up for Pressable: If you’re not already a Pressable user you’ll need to create an account. They offer a range of hosting plans to suit different needs.
Create a Staging Site: Pressable makes this a one-click process. You’ll usually find an option to create a staging environment right within your dashboard.
Get Your Copy: Pressable will automatically create a complete copy of your live site including your database files plugins and everything else.
Start Testing: That’s it! You’re ready to start making changes to your staging site. Pressable handles the technical details so you can just focus on testing.

Why Pressable Is a Great Choice for Staging

Simplicity: The whole process is incredibly straightforward and easy to use. No DNS juggling or database setup.
Automation: Pressable automatically creates and manages your staging site so you don’t have to do it manually.
Security: Managed hosting services like Pressable usually have robust security measures in place to keep your website safe.
Performance: Pressable often provides faster and more reliable hosting compared to traditional shared hosting so your staging site will be speedy.

Moving Changes from Your Staging Site

So you’ve made your changes in your staging environment now it’s time to put those changes live.

Again there are different approaches depending on how you set up your staging site.

If You Used a Subdomain

You’ll need to manually transfer the changes from your subdomain to your live site.

This involves:

Updating Your Database: You’ll need to export the database from your staging site and import it into your live site’s database. This is a way to update the content and data of your live site.
Updating Your Files: You’ll need to download the files from your staging site and upload them to your live site. This ensures that the changes to your website’s code are reflected in your live version.
Testing Testing Testing! Before you push changes to your live site make sure you test everything thoroughly. This can prevent surprises later.

If You Used Pressable

This part is a breeze with Pressable.

They offer a simple “Sync” feature.

Here’s what you do:

Push Changes: Pressable makes it easy to push your changes from your staging environment to your live site. It’s usually a single click!
Confirmation: Pressable might ask you to confirm the changes before they are applied to your live site. This is just an extra safety measure.
Relax and Enjoy: You’ve successfully updated your live site with your new changes and it was a smooth experience!

After You Update Your Live Site

Always always test your live site after updating.

This ensures that everything worked as expected.

Check Your Pages: Go through all your pages posts and important sections of your website to see if everything is working as it should.
Test Your Forms: Make sure your contact forms login forms and other forms are working as they should.
Run a Speed Test: Make sure your website is loading quickly.
Look for Errors: Check your browser’s console for any errors.

Why All This Trouble is Worth It

I know setting up a staging site can seem like a bit of work but trust me it’s worth it.

Here’s why:

Peace of Mind: You can experiment with updates plugins and designs without worrying about breaking your live website.
Less Downtime: If something goes wrong you can fix it in your staging site and then push the fixes to your live site minimizing downtime for your visitors.
Improved Website Quality: You’ll have more confidence in the changes you make to your website resulting in a better website for your users.

So there you have it! A lot of information I know but hopefully it makes sense.

Remember creating a test environment is a critical step in managing your WordPress site.

While it takes a bit of effort the benefits are well worth it.

You’ll have a much smoother and less stressful experience making changes to your website.

If you’re looking for a simple and reliable way to manage your WordPress site consider using a managed hosting provider like Pressable.

They offer a ton of features including easy-to-use staging environments excellent support and powerful performance tools.

Happy testing!

How to Set Up a WordPress Test Site