A step-by-step guide to WordPress deployment

Deploying a WordPress website usually involves taking the site from the local development settings to a live server, making the site accessible to users. The deployment process involves the transfer of important files such as PHP, CSS, and JavaScript, along with database updates to reflect changes made. These steps can help ensure that the site will continue functioning efficiently once it is live to provide a flawless user experience.

In this article, I will discuss how the WordPress deployment process works, which will offer insights and tips for a successful launch of a website.

How to successfully deploy a WordPress website

Preparation

The first step is preparing for WordPress development, setting the foundation to take the site live.

A site should be backed up as it ensures that a copy of the current website is available if it becomes necessary to restore the site if something goes wrong during the deployment. This can be done using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy, which can create a complete site backup, including files and databases. Scheduling regular backups is an effective strategy.

Setting up version control is the next step in preparation for WordPress deployment. This helps manage the changes to the codebase, collaborate with the team, and restore the earlier versions if needed.

This can be achieved by using Git, which is a well-known version control system. There are various platforms like GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket to host repositories and provide extra tools for collaboration. Creating separate branches for development, testing, and production can help organize and manage the code.

Using a staging environment helps duplicate live servers, making it possible to test sites in settings similar to the live site. It can be done by setting up a subdomain or a separate server for the staging process. Hosting providers also offer staging environments.

Database management is equally important, ensuring that the site data is transferred and configured on the live server. Export of local databases can be done using tools such as phpMyAdmin or WP-CLI. Databases can be imported on the live server and the site URL can be updated and configured as required.

Local development

Local development is another important phase in the process of WordPress deployment. It lets developers build, test, and make website changes in controlled settings before the site goes live.

In this step, setting up a local development environment is important. Developing sites locally ensures that changes can be made without affecting the live site, and it provides a safe space where new features, plugins, and themes can be tested.

When sites are developed locally, testing changes under controlled settings becomes easy, which does not affect the live site. This can be done by using development tools like Local, XAMPP or MAMP to set up local servers. Developers should ensure compatibility of plugins and themes with the WordPress version and server. These tools generate an environment like a live server and allow developers to work offline and at a faster pace.

Installation of WordPress locally lets developers build and customize sites. WordPress can be downloaded from its official website. Databases can be created using phpMyAdmin or any similar tools, and WordPress can be installed by going to http://localhost/your-site in the browser.

Local development also lets developers test changes made in real-time to ensure that the site works perfectly before it is deployed. This is done by customizing the site by installing themes and plugins, and making changes in the code as required. Debugging tools and error logs can be used to find and fix errors.

Task automation using Gulp or Grunt is very useful. Setting up SSL certificates for the local environment can ensure site security. Tools like Query Monitor can be used to find and fix performance issues. Documentation is the key to the development process and is invaluable for team collaboration or future development.

Database management

Database management is one of the most crucial steps in deploying a WordPress site. A database in WordPress is a data storage that holds the website data which can include posts, pages, user information and settings. The data in WordPress is managed by using MySQL, which is an open source relational database management system (RDBMS).

It is necessary to create a MySQL database on the web server, and most of the hosting providers offer tools like cPanel or Plesk that can make this process easy. It is necessary to set up a database name, user and a password, which will be used during the WordPress installation.

WordPress installation requires entering database details. These details are stored in a wp-config,php file and contains information regarding the configuration settings including name of the database, username, passwords and host details.

Backing up databases is important; plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can automate the process. The backups can be saved in multiple locations, including cloud storage and local drives.

The database should be optimized to improve performance and plugins like WP-Optimize can be used to clean unnecessary data, while the databases can be secured using strong passwords. Tools like Wordfence can help in monitoring unauthorized activity. During the migration of the WordPress site, It is necessary to export and import databases properly, and it can be done using tools like All-in-One WP Migration.

File transfer

File transfer in WordPress deployment is all about moving WordPress files from the local development setup to the live server.

A proper file transfer would require preparation to ensure that all the necessary files are transferred. Prior to transferring files it is essential to use cPanel file manager or migration plugins like All-in-one WP Migration or Duplicator.

Using SFTP rather than FTP can ensure data encryption during transfer and increase security. File permissions should be checked to avoid issues regarding file access and security. Monitoring transfer progress helps ensure that the files are uploaded successfully.

Testing and optimization

Testing and optimization help in making sure that the site works properly and performs as expected before it goes live.

Testing is used to find and fix issues before they can affect the live site. It ensures that the links, forms and other functionalities work as per design. This can be done using functional testing, cross browser testing or responsive testing.

Tools like Selenium or PHPUnit can be used for setting up and streamlining automated testing. Google PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix can be used to monitor and test performance of the site. Regular updates help ensure security and compatibility, while implementing Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare can help in reducing load times and distributing the content globally.

Go live

The final step in WordPress deployment is Going live which makes the site available to the users.

It is important to update the DNS settings to ensure that the domain points to the new server which makes the site accessible to users.

Performing final checks helps ensure that everything works perfectly before the site goes live. This can be done by verifying that all links, forms and other functionalities are working, and that there are no missing files or broken links. It is essential to ensure that the site is optimized for security and performance.

Monitoring the site regularly is a critical aspect of deployment once the site goes live, and tools such as UptimeRobot or Pingdom can show the site’s uptime status and its performance. Alerts can be set to notify issues.

A successful launch requires that users are informed about the launch and any potential downtime. A final backup of the site before it goes live can help ensure that it can be restored in case of any issues. Testing on a live server can help find and fix problems and ensure everything works as expected. Setting up SEO plugins and other analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, can help track site traffic and performance.

Final Words

WordPress deployment undergoes a series of steps that help ensure that the site moves from the development stage and goes live. Website development using WordPress technology can be used to follow the steps detailed in this article, and by incorporating best practices, businesses can achieve the launch of a successful website.