Perplexed and Bursting: A Guide to Making Your WordPress Website Private

As the popularity of WordPress continues to rise, website owners are becoming increasingly interested in making their website private. Not everyone wants their website accessible to the general public, whether it be for a private blog, membership site, or a business that requires a private website.

Different Ways to Make Your WordPress Website Private

There are several ways to make your WordPress website private, the most common being password protection, membership plugins, and via your web hosting provider.

Password Protection

The easiest way to make your WordPress website private is by using password protection. Visitors must enter a password to access your website or specific pages. This feature is built into WordPress or can be accessed via plugins like WordPress Password Protected.

Membership Plugins

If you want multiple users to have access to your private WordPress site, consider a membership plugin. These plugins create a registration system, allowing you to charge for access to specific content, control user access, and customize the user registration and login process.

Web Hosting

A more complicated option is making your WordPress website private through your web hosting provider. Some hosting companies provide tools to block public access until you’re ready to launch. Consulting a web developer might be a good idea if you need help.

The Benefits of a Private WordPress Website

Now that we’ve explored different ways to make your WordPress website private, let’s look at some of the benefits:

Control Who Can Access Your Content

A private WordPress site allows you to share content only with the people you choose, ensuring sensitive information stays private.

Better Control Over Your Online Presence

Making your website private gives you control over your online presence, making sure your personal or business information isn’t readily available to anyone who searches for it.

Create a Safe Community

A membership site allows for the creation of a safe community where members can interact, share insights and ideas, and connect with like-minded people.

Generate Recurring Revenue

A membership site can generate recurring revenue by providing exclusive content that people are willing to pay for.

Ensuring Your WordPress Website Remains Secure

Here are some best practices to keep your WordPress website secure:

Install Security Plugins

Install security plugins like Wordfence Security, iThemes Security, or the Jetpack Security plugin to help protect your website from hacking attempts.

Use Strong Passwords

Use strong passwords for your websites, user accounts, and databases. A strong password is a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Keep WordPress and Plugins Updated

Regularly update WordPress and plugins to ensure that your site is running on the latest and most secure version.

Regularly Back Up Your Site

Create regular backups of your site and store them in multiple locations, including offsite locations, so you can restore your site quickly in case of a security breach.

Monitor Site for Suspicious Activity

Monitor your site for suspicious activity like failed login attempts, unusual content creation, and unusual site changes.

In summary, making your WordPress website private is easy, and there are several ways to do it. Whether you’re looking to launch a private blog, membership site, or private business website, you have the tools to make it happen. Follow best practices for ensuring your site remains secure and protected, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a private website in no time.