Site redesign – minimising downtime

  • Hi
    I’ve had a WordPress site for about a year now, and it’s time to make some updates. I need to:
    – make design adjustments to the theme, or install a new theme
    -add a blog
    -change the content on some of the page
    -change some items on the menu

    I am aware that there are theme switcher and under construction plugins, I was just wondering whether there is anything that would enable me to make all these changes in the background and then switch when ready, so there is no downtime?
    Thanks

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

  • Hi, there are more ways:
    1: you can copy your site files and database and install it in another folder on your domain like https://www.yourdomain.com/indevelopmant and on this version you can have an underconstruction plugin this way your site will stay up and you will overwrite the php files when you are ready.
    2. install you site on a local computer (you’ll need IIS or apache and a lot of configuring for this but you can do it).
    3. use another domain; the same steps as using another folder but you might be forced to do this step if your hosting is offering you the possibility to use only one database;
    So if you go with 1; you’ll have 2 sites on the same domain with different php files and different databases. the old one will stay where it is so the users will work on that one and the second one will be saved in a directory and will be used by you while you develop/change the php files.
    I think this is the way to minimize the downtime of your site.

    Thread Starter wambamboo

    (@agatha1)

    Good tips – thanks. If I use another domain and database (option 2) will I be able to copy the database into my site’s domain and overwrite the old one when I’m ready?

    yes you will be able to replace the database but depending on your site this might not be what you want to do. For example if it’s an classifieds site if you replace the database you will lose a lot of info but if you are the only one contributing to the site’s content the it’s ok. All you’ll have to do is to change some database settings like site url. extra info about this here.

    Thread Starter wambamboo

    (@agatha1)

    Thanks very much. Just a small business site with no ads so should be ok.

    Thread Starter wambamboo

    (@agatha1)

    Another possible solution:
    Creating a whole set of new pages but keeping them as drafts, then when the new site is ready, renaming the new pages with the URL and title of the old pages, and deleting the old pages.

    Would this work? Would it demolish my SEO, do you think?

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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