Posted 2 years ago #
Hi all,
I'm pretty new to WordPress, and I haven't found an answer online. Hopefully someone can help me.
I'm looking to change a site into WP and install a theme. However, we need the site to stay up and running. Is there a way to install WP and customize everything and then "turn it on" after it's done? Or, do sites have to go "under maintenance" and be offline while I'm working on it.
Can someone point me to some step by step directions?
Thanks again.
Posted 2 years ago #
I would create a subdomain on the existing site to setup WordPress. This will keep files seperate from existing site for no errors from any mistakes. Then when you are ready to go live, change your domain settings in WordPress to the actuall non-subdomain. You might get kicked out.
Backup and delete your old site then move the WordPress files over. Since the site would be on the same hosting you shouldn't have to worry about moving the database or anything like that after testing.
The other route is to install the WordPress under a directory. But then you have to change the paths later. It might be a mess to try and setup with permalinks on. And I don't know your current site but there could always be some settings in it (htaccess, etc) that could mess up the subdirectory approach. There is nothing wrong with installing WordPress in a subdirectory though in general. I run some sites like that just for the news part.
Don't forget to setup htaccess Redirect 301 rules from old pages to the new pages on wordpress so people coming in from google dont get lost.
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