Build a New WordPress Site While The Old Site Is Live With Zero Downtime!

You need a new WordPress site, but you can’t afford to break the one that’s currently paying your bills. But here’s the catch: your outdated site is hurting your business. Taking it down to build a replacement could cost you thousands in lost revenue and damage your search rankings.

The solution to this is simpler than you think. Professional web developers never build on live sites. They use staging environments to build safely in the background. 

In this guide, we’ll show you four ways to build your new WordPress site while your current one stays functional. When you’re ready, you can migrate your site seamlessly, and your visitors will never know the difference.

TL;DR: You can build a new WordPress site while the old site is live using staging, local development, subdirectories, or subdomains. Always back up with a reliable backup plugin. BlogVault’s staging feature is your best option. It doesn’t drain server resources, prevents search engine indexing, and pushes changes live with one click.

Essential preparations

Spend five minutes preparing now, or spend five hours fixing problems later. These essential steps prevent the disasters that kill website projects:

Take a full backup of your site. This is your safety net. If something goes wrong, you can restore everything exactly as it was. Don’t assume your hosting provider has recent backups. They might not.

Gather all your login information and credentials. You’ll need your WordPress admin login, hosting account details, and any plugin licenses. Write them down or save them in a password manager. There’s nothing worse than being locked out mid-project.

Have a rough idea of your main pages. You don’t need a complete sitemap, but know what pages you’re keeping, updating, or scrapping entirely.

1) Use a staging site to build a new WordPress site (Recommended)

A staging site is a private copy of your website where you can build, break things, and experiment without any consequences. Your visitors never see it. Search engines can’t find it. It’s your safe space to create.

There are two main ways to set up a staging site: using a dedicated staging plugin or your hosting provider’s built-in staging feature.

A) Staging plugin

Staging plugins like BlogVault make the entire process foolproof. No technical headaches, just results. Here’s how to set it up:

• Sign up for BlogVault and log into your dashboard. The system automatically takes a backup of your site when you add it to your dashboard and initiate the sync process. That’s your starting point.

• Find the staging card and click Add Staging. You’ll choose which backup version to use (usually the most recent) and select your PHP version. Click Continue and you’re done.

You can access your staging site with the username and password provided.

When you’re ready to go live: just hit the Merge button on your staging card. BlogVault pushes all your changes to the live site automatically. No file transfers, no broken links, no drama.

Why BlogVault’s staging feature stand out:

• One-click setup
• Hosted on powerful servers separate from your own, ensuring your staging site loads fast
• Password-protected by default so search engines can’t accidentally index your work-in-progress site

B) Hosting provider’s staging feature

Many hosting providers now offer built-in staging environments. We’ll walk through Cloudways for this article but the process is similar across most hosts.

If you prefer to use your existing hosting resources rather than sign up for another service, here’s how to set it up step-by-step:

Important: Your staging site will use the same server resources as your live site, which can slow things down if you’re on a shared hosting plan. This resource sharing is why most developers prefer dedicated staging solutions. But, the built-in option works well for smaller sites or if you have adequate server resources.

• Log into your Cloudways account and navigate to your site. Look for Staging Management in the menu.

• Click Launch Staging Application. Cloudways will ask you to select a server for your staging site. Usually you’ll pick the same server your live site runs on.

• Wait a few minutes while Cloudways creates your staging environment. They’re making an exact copy of your site in a separate, password protected space.

When you’re ready to go live: Find your staging application in the dashboard and click Push in the Push changes from staging site to live site section. Cloudways handles the rest.

2) Use a local environment to build a new WordPress site

Building a new site in a local environment gives you control over your development. Maybe you’re working on complex customizations, need specific server configurations, or prefer keeping everything on your own device.

Your site runs fast, you can work offline, and you have complete freedom to experiment without any external dependencies.

Here’s how to set it up:

• Download and install Local by Flywheel from their website. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

• Open the application and click the + button in the bottom left corner. Select Create a new site and hit Continue. Name your WordPress site something you’ll recognize later. 

• Configure your advanced options if needed. You can choose your own local domain and file path. Most people stick with the defaults here, but if you’re organized about your projects, feel free to customize.

• Pick your environment settings. Local suggests versions for PHP, web server, and database that work well together. Unless you have specific technical requirements, their recommendations are solid.

• Set up WordPress by creating your admin username and password. Write these down. You’ll need them every time you log into your local site’s dashboard. Under the Advanced options section, you get to choose the multisite option. For this article, we will go with a normal WordPress site.

• Your locally built WordPress site has been created! Just click the WP Admin button in the top right corner to access your local WordPress dashboard and start building.

When you’re finished building: You’ll need to move your local site to your live server. You can use a migration plugin or do it manually through FTP or your hosting’s file manager. It’s an extra step, but the speed and control you get during development often make it worthwhile.

3) Use a subdirectory to build a new WordPress site

You can build safely by creating a subdirectory on your existing hosting account. Think of it as building a second house on the same property—separate, but using the same utilities.

Keep in mind: This method takes up space on your server too. Since both sites share the same server resources, you’ll need adequate storage and bandwidth to run both sites simultaneously. Plus, there’s a risk of search engines indexing your work-in-progress site or visitors stumbling across it if they discover or guess the exact URL path.

Here’s how to set it up:

• Access your site’s files via FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager. We will be using FileZilla

• Create a new folder inside your root directory and name it something obvious like new-site or redesign. This is where you’ll build your new WordPress installation.

• Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org. You want the full download, not just an update package.

• Unzip the WordPress files and upload everything to your new-site folder. Your file manager should have an upload option.

• Create a new database for your new site. Access your hosting provider’s database manager (usually cPanel, Plesk, or a custom panel). Create a new database and write down the database name, username, and password.

• Update the wp-config.php file in your new-site folder with your database credentials. You’ll find this file among the WordPress files you just uploaded.

• Run the WordPress installation by going to yoursite.com/new-site in your browser. Follow the setup prompts just like you would for any new WordPress site.

When you’re ready to go live: You’ll have to move your site to the root. This involves some file shuffling and database updates, but it is a seamless process if you follow the right steps.

4) Use a subdomain to build a new WordPress site

Creating a subdomain establishes a separate testing environment that runs independently from your main website. 

You’ll need to set this up through your hosting provider, as subdomains are managed at the server level. While the process varies between hosts, many provide guides to assist you in setting it up. For this article, we will be using Bluehost as our hosting provider.

Keep in mind: Just like the subdirectory method, this takes up space on your server and risks being indexed by search engines or found by visitors who might stumble across your subdomain.

Here’s how to set it up:

• Log into your Bluehost dashboard with your hosting credentials. Navigate to the Domains section and click Subdomains, then select Add a subdomain.

• Enter a name for your subdomain (like newsite or redesign) and choose your main domain from the dropdown. This creates something like newsite.yourdomain.com.

• Go to My Sites and click Create Site under the Add a Site option. 

• Enter your site name and tagline, then choose the subdomain you just created. Make sure you don’t accidentally select your main domain. Leave the Directory field blank and click Continue.

• Wait for Bluehost to install WordPress and access your dashboard. This takes a few minutes, then log in at newsite.yourdomain.com/wp-admin with the credentials Bluehost provides.

When you’re ready to go live: You’ll need to move your WordPress site from the subdomain to your root domain. This process involves some technical steps, but the transition will be smooth with the right steps.

Parting thoughts

You have several options to build a new WordPress site while the old site is live. Staging plugins are often the easiest. They avoid server space issues and indexing problems. Plus, they offer protection from technical headaches.

Always back up your current site first. Make sure that you test everything thoroughly before going live. This ensures a smooth transition and maintains user experience.

FAQs

How do I redesign a WordPress site without going live?

To redesign a WordPress site without going live, use BlogVault’s staging feature or a local development environment. This allows you to make changes safely without affecting your live site or taking up server space. Once satisfied, you can push the updates live.

How to replace an old website with a new one in WordPress?

Before you replace an old website with a new one in WordPress, back up your existing site. Then, develop the new version using a staging site or local setup. Finally, migrate the new design to the live server, ensuring everything functions correctly.

Can I build a WordPress site before hosting?

Yes, you can build a site locally on your computer using software like Local by Flywheel. Once complete, you can migrate it to a hosting provider when ready to go live.

How to change a WordPress theme without going live?

Use a staging site to test and modify the new theme. This keeps changes off your main site until you’re ready to implement them without disrupting the live site.

Can I build a WordPress site offline?

Yes, you can use a local development tool like XAMPP or MAMP. This allows you to develop and test your site without needing an internet connection.