when it comes to updating a WordPress site it can be a real rollercoaster ride.

Sometimes it’s as simple as adding a new page or post and you’re good to go.

But other times especially when you’re tinkering with core components or doing a major redesign you can end up with a website that’s more broken than a vintage record player.

That’s where staging sites come in my friend.

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Why You Need a WordPress Staging Site: A Safety Net for Your Website

Think of a staging site as your own personal playground for your website.

It’s a copy of your live site tucked away in a hidden corner of the internet where you can try out any changes you want without worrying about affecting your actual site.

It’s like having a rehearsal space for your band but for your website.

You can practice those new plugins fiddle with the design and even test out that daring new feature without the risk of scaring away your visitors.

Once you’re happy with the changes you can smoothly transition them to your live site like a seasoned magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

This whole process is called ‘pushing to production’ in the tech world and it’s the final step before your changes become visible to the public.

Why Staging Sites Are Your Website’s Best Friend

Now why should you care about this whole staging thing? Well imagine you’re updating a plugin and suddenly your website starts acting like a grumpy old cat—slow sluggish and refusing to cooperate.

You’re left scratching your head wondering what went wrong.

With a staging site you’ve got that backup plan a safe haven where you can fix the issue without having to deal with the wrath of your website’s downtime.

Besides saving your website from potential meltdowns staging sites are also great for:

Testing Updates Without Fear:

Updating plugins themes or even the core WordPress software can sometimes bring unexpected surprises.

A staging site lets you test those updates in a controlled environment ensuring smooth sailing before you unleash them on the public.

Experimenting with Designs and Features:

Think of a staging site as your website’s secret lab.

You can freely experiment with new design layouts add quirky features or even try out a completely new theme without worrying about scaring away your loyal visitors.

You’re free to experiment make mistakes and learn without any consequences.

Ensuring Seamless Updates:

If you’re planning a major website redesign a staging site is your best friend.

It lets you make all the changes in one place so you don’t have to worry about your visitors stumbling upon a half-finished chaotic mess.

Once your redesign is polished and ready to shine you can unveil it to the world with a smooth transition.

How to Build a WordPress Staging Site: Your Guide to the Four Methods

Now let’s get into the meat and potatoes of how to actually create a staging site.

There are four main methods each with its own set of pros and cons:

Method 1: Leveraging Your Web Host’s Staging Feature (The Easiest Way)

Some web hosts offer built-in staging tools making it a breeze to create and manage staging sites.

If your web host has this magical feature it’s usually the simplest and most straightforward option.

Think of it as a pre-built playground ready for you to jump in and start experimenting.

Here are some WordPress-friendly hosts known for their staging magic:

Kinsta: They let you easily switch between your live site and staging site with just a few clicks making it a breeze to manage.
Flywheel: Flywheel offers a dedicated staging environment making it a great choice for those who want a streamlined approach.
WP Engine: WP Engine is another popular choice for its excellent staging capabilities and overall hosting features.

Method 2: Utilizing WordPress Backup Plugins (The Plugin Powerhouse)

Many WordPress backup plugins like Jetpack Backup or VaultPress also have built-in staging capabilities.

These plugins basically make a copy of your website and then import it into a new staging environment.

Think of them as your personal website cloning tool.

To demonstrate how these plugins work let’s dive into a specific example using the plugin WP Staging:

Installation and Activation: First install and activate the plugin. It’s just like adding a new tool to your website’s toolbox.
Creating a Staging Copy: Navigate to your WordPress dashboard find the WP Staging settings and click on ‘Create New Staging Site.’ This will start the process of creating a copy of your live site.
Database and File Options: The plugin will ask you to select what parts of your website’s database and files to include in the staging copy. It’s usually best to choose everything for a complete replica.
Cloning and Access: Once the cloning process is complete the plugin will guide you to access your brand-new staging site.
Making Changes and Pushing to Production: Now you can make all the changes you want on your staging site. When you’re ready to make those changes live simply go back to the WP Staging section in your dashboard select your staging site and click the ‘Push to Production’ button.

Method 3: Using Backup Plugins for Manual Staging (The DIY Approach)

If you’re not using a staging-specific plugin or a web host with built-in staging tools you can still create a staging site using a backup plugin like Jetpack Backup.

Creating a Backup: Start by creating a full backup of your website using your chosen backup plugin. Think of this as gathering all the materials for your website’s construction project.
Importing the Backup: Next import this backup to either a local environment on your computer or a subdirectory or subdomain on your web host. This is where you’ll set up the staging environment like setting up a temporary workshop for your website.
Making Changes: Once the backup is imported you’ll have a fully working copy of your live site in your staging environment. Go wild and experiment with all those exciting changes you’ve been dreaming of!
Creating a New Backup: Once you’re happy with your changes create a new backup of your staging site. This backup will contain all the changes you made ready to be moved to your live site.
Pushing to Production: Finally import this new backup to your live site using your backup plugin. This will replace the existing content on your live site with the content from your staging site.

While this method is achievable it requires a bit more manual effort so it’s best for occasional staging needs.

Method 4: Leveraging Local Development Tools (The Professional’s Choice)

This method is popular among developers who want a more controlled environment for their projects.

It involves setting up a local WordPress environment on your computer using tools like:

DevKinsta: A powerful local development tool designed specifically for WordPress.
Local by Flywheel: Another excellent choice for creating local WordPress environments.

Creating a Local Environment: Install and set up your chosen local development tool which will create a local copy of your live site.
Importing a Backup: Import a backup of your live site into the local environment using your backup plugin.
Testing and Making Changes: Use the local environment as your staging site making all your changes here without affecting your live site.
Pushing to Production: Once you’re ready to make your changes live you have two options:
- Backup and Import: Create a backup of your local environment and import it to your live site similar to Method 3.
- Direct Push (Depending on Host): Some web hosts like Kinsta Flywheel or WP Engine offer direct push features that let you seamlessly move your changes from your local environment to your live site eliminating the manual backup process.

This method is excellent for developers and those who want a more advanced and controlled staging setup.

Creating a Staging Site Manually: The Subdomain or Subdirectory Approach (The Old-School Method)

If you’re not a fan of plugins or local environments you can manually create a staging site using a subdomain or subdirectory:

Setting up a Subdomain or Subdirectory: Contact your web host and set up a subdomain or subdirectory on your account. This will give you a separate space for your staging site.
Installing WordPress: Install WordPress on your new subdomain or subdirectory just like you would for your main website. This will create the foundation for your staging site.
Importing a Backup: Import a full backup of your live site into the newly installed WordPress environment using your backup plugin.
Making Changes: Experiment and make all your changes on the staging site keeping in mind that it’s not connected to your live site yet.
Updating Permalinks: Ensure that your staging site’s permalink structure matches your live site. This will prevent issues with links and navigation.
Discouraging Search Engines: To avoid duplicate content issues and potential search engine penalties discourage search engines from indexing your staging site.
Pushing to Production: When you’re happy with your changes create a new backup of the staging site and import it to your live site.

Remember this method requires more manual steps so it might be more suitable for occasional staging tasks.

Potential Pitfalls: What to Watch Out For

While creating a staging site can be a powerful tool it’s not always a smooth sailing experience.

Here are a few common challenges you might encounter:

Overwrite Issues: Making Sure Everything Transfers Correctly

One of the most common errors happens when you’re pushing your changes from staging to production.

If you don’t completely overwrite the existing files and database on your live site you might end up with a hodgepodge of old and new content.

Large File Issues: Importing and Exporting Backups

Sometimes web hosts can struggle with importing large files.

This can be a problem if you’re using a manual staging method that involves importing backups.

If you encounter errors during this process you might need to start again from scratch.

Double-Checking After Pushing: Ensuring Everything Works

Even if your staging site moves to production without any major issues it’s always a good idea to give your website a thorough inspection once the changes are live.

Check your links page loads key features and anything else that might be affected.

Wrapping it Up: Your Website’s Safety Net

Staging sites are truly a game changer when it comes to managing your WordPress website.

They give you the freedom to experiment test updates and make changes without fear of disrupting your live site.

Choose the method that works best for you whether it’s a simple built-in staging feature from your web host or a more manual approach using backup plugins or local development tools.

Remember a little bit of planning and preparation can go a long way in making your WordPress journey smoother.

How to Create a WordPress Staging Site (4 Easy Ways) ⚠️