The Reasons You Should Have A Staging Website for Your Membership Program

Jan 26, 2024

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One of the reasons WordPress is an excellent option for your website which is member-only, is the range of themes and plug-ins the software can provide and possibilities for customizing options that are that users have access to.

What's inside Toggle

With WordPress it's possible to improve your site with a new plugin, theme or even a customized web-based program.

If it takes only just a couple of clicks to alter the appearance of your website, incorporate more features or change the design of your site in a different way so why not play around with it for a few minutes?

But there's a problem. Despite the relative access to make a range of design changes of our WordPress websites, these changes could have unintended consequences that customers might not enjoy.

In this post, we'll explain how you can improve your WordPress site without disrupting the experience for users - - something that is particularly important for websites with paying customers.

What is a staging site and the reason you should have one

Site Safe Coding

As we mentioned, if you test various themes, install new plugins, or just play around with the menus and widgets of WordPress it is possible to place your website in danger.

Take a look at the thoughts of a potential new member. think If the design of your site suddenly changes or a feature ceases to function or your entire website goes down.

The majority of people will think twice when they're required to input your personal details. In the worst case, they'll be able to go off the website, never to return.

And it's possible they'll continue to speak with others regarding their displeasure with the website.

The above scenarios can happen should you decide to modify the fundamental aspects of your website. We recommend that you utilize a staging site or development environment for testing any changes that you're looking to add on your site.

As a membership-site owner is crucial to not alter the site that is currently in operation and create a duplicate of your website page which only you and your staff can access.

Your staging space is a safe place in which you can do what you'd like to with no hassle.

  • Current members are frustrated
  • Attracting new guests
  • Data loss involves the transaction of customers.

Once you're sure that your modifications haven't created any problems, you'll be able to move them over to the latest version of your website.

Sound good? Check out this article to learn how you can create a staging website that will host your WordPress member-only website.

Make sure to check with your Web hosting provider

 GoDaddy Staging Sites

One benefit of selecting a platform for hosting which is currently powering over 30% of sites is that you can choose from a many WordPress-optimized hosting solutions available.

One of the latest options provided by WordPress web hosting companies, including a number of affordable simple plans, is the ability to create a fast stage site or test environment built on the live website.

The best staging-site services provided by web hosting providers let you set up an easily private test zone and then push the test versions of your website onto live hosting systems.

SiteGround Staging Site Tools

This means that it's possible to take as long as you want and get as precise as you'd like to test changing the configuration of your website. Then, when you're ready to go live, you'll be able to make these enhancements available to both visitors and members in only two or three mouse clicks.

In any case the situation, staging websites can help you stay clear of the inevitable problems that can occur when using the live website to test and develop.

Find a Suitable WordPress Staging Web Plugin

WordPress Stating Plugin

If you're looking to select an WordPress plugin to set up the staging version of your website, There are two choices:

  • a plug-in designed for this purpose or
  • A more universal-purpose plugin for website duplicate.

Let's glance at the advantages and drawbacks of each method before identifying plugins that are suitable.

An custom-built plug-in for stage sites could be the obvious alternative, but there are less options since there are fewer plugins that can be used to select from.

Plus, you usually don't have as much control over the entire process or final result like you do by using plugins with more general-purpose functions to copy websites.

WPStaging Plugin

An alternative is an all-purpose plugin for site duplication, gives you more control over all the process.

The top plugins that fall into this category allow you to copy specific sections of your website, like your database, or even your content. There are also additional options regarding where the staging site is located such as an actual local WordPress installation, or even a independent subdomain.

While some of the best WordPress web-duplication software tools are accessible at no cost, they're usually less user-friendly than the tools for staging sites which are available commercially.

  • WP Stagecoach - a commercial one-click staging-site-creation WordPress plugin with lots of useful features.
  • WP Staging A free, in-progress WordPress web staging plugin, as well as the possibility of cloning.
  • Duplicator A powerful, but more complicated WordPress duplicate plugin that works on websites.

As you can see, in the event that you're willing to pay to purchase premium programs, the process is easier. Although some of the free software may need some work, they're certainly an option for building an WordPress site to host your membership.

Final Reflections

We hope that you have now understood the advantages of creating a staging environment to host your WordPress site for membership.

You can get away with simple codes for private blogs however, when you manage an online membership site for professionals, you are under more responsibility to take take care of the users on your site, regardless whether they are paying for access or not.

     How will you create the stage website for your membership website? Comment below with your suggestions. comments section below.

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