BUILDING, DESIGNING, AND DEVELOPING A TEST WordPress SITE

Introduction:

Are you planning to make changes to your WordPress site? It’s best to have a test site set up to avoid unexpected issues or errors. In this article, we’ll be guiding you on how to create a test WordPress site to test themes, plugins, code, and updates before making changes on your original site, ensuring success!

Getting Started:

You need to sign up for a web hosting service and obtain a domain name to create your test site. Most hosting services have WordPress one-click installation, or you can download the software from WordPress.org

Step 1: Creating a Subdomain:

Create a subdomain for your test site if you have set up the web hosting. A subdomain is an entirely different website created within the main domain. Some web hosting services allow you to create a subdomain from the control panel. Follow these easy steps to get your subdomain:

1. Login to your web hosting account’s control panel.
2. Find the “Domains” section and click on it.
3. Select “Subdomains” from the menu.
4. Input a name for your subdomain (e.g. test.mysite.com).
5. Click on the “Create” button.

Step 2: Installing WordPress:

Installing WordPress on your test site is easy. If your web hosting provider offers one-click installation, it can be done from there; otherwise, download the WordPress software from the WordPress.org website and upload it to your server. Follow these easy steps:

1. Login to your web hosting account’s control panel.
2. Find the “WordPress Installer “section and click on it.
3. Select the subdomain you created in step 1.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

Step 3: Customizing Your Test Site:

Customization is the fun part, where you choose the theme, install plugins, and configure the layout of the site. However, avoid installing too many plugins as it might slow down your test site.

Step 4: Testing Your Site:

Test all the features such as links, forms, contact pages, menus, and any other functionality your website has. It’s essential to do a thorough test to avoid any critical errors on your final site. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Check if your site loads fast and is responsive on all devices.
2. Verify that all the pages and links on the site work correctly.
3. Sign up for the contact form and verify that leads get to your email.

Step 5: Going Live:

Once you’ve thoroughly tested your test site, it’s time to go live. You can migrate your test site to your primary domain if you decide to use the same hosting provider or a different web hosting provider.

Conclusion:

Creating a test site is the best way to avoid errors and other issues on your primary site. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up your test WordPress site and ensure the success of your primary website.