Each website within that network can have its own users, themes, and plugins. As a super admin, you have a wide range of control over what is and isn’t allowed for those sites. For example, you can set things up so that sites can only choose from a limited selection of pre-installed themes or plugins that you deem acceptable.

That makes multisite perfect for grouping together any number of sites within an organization. Large companies, educational institutions, or like-minded communities can leverage this tool to bring several related factions under one big umbrella.

Naturally, the WordPress developer community has been on board with multisite for several years. As a result, there is a large selection of handy multisite-specific and compatible plugins to add all kinds of different functionality. Today, we’ll introduce you to some selections that we think are among the most essential.

Multisite Enhancements

Multisite Enhancements offers several helpful features for administrators. For starters, it will show you which sites are using a particular plugin – which can be incredibly difficult to discern on large networks.

In addition, it will serve up each site’s ID, current memory usage, and whether or not a site is using SSL. There are plenty of little tweaks that make for more efficient network management.

Broadcast

While it doesn’t have a large userbase, Broadcast is one of those plugins that offers something really useful: The ability to share content across multiple sites on the same network.

This is perfect, say, for a retail store that has a site for each one of its physical locations. Plus, there are a ton of commercial add-ons that offer compatibility with popular plugins, along with other desirable functionality.

WP Security Audit Log

WP Security Audit Log works for all sites but could be of particular interest to multisite admins. The plugin provides an easy way to keep track of all changes made to sites throughout your network.

What’s more, super admins can delegate access to event logs and settings across other user roles – or block everyone else out. Either way, you’ll stay on top of who’s doing what.

User Switching

Attempting to troubleshoot user-related issues on a busy multisite network is difficult.

With User Switching, admins and super admins can easily switch between any user account. This allows you to see things as individual users do and will help track down problems more quickly.

Disable Comments

Not everyone needs comments. And trying to manage them on a large network of sites is a bit like herding cats. Disable Comments lets you shut down comments (even the mere mention of them) on both the front and back end of your install. Alternately, you can block only specific post types if you wish.

NS Cloner

If you need to quickly replicate an existing site in your network, NS Cloner will do the trick. The plugin will copy virtually everything from the target site, including theme settings, plugin configurations and content. In the right situation, this could be a huge timesaver.

Inactive Logout

Inactive Logout can be very useful if your network has many users who need to access the back end. Invariably, someone is always leaving themselves logged in for hours at a time – even when they’re not at their computer.

The plugin can be set to log out inactive users after a specific period of time, helping to mitigate an unnecessary security risk.

Classic Editor

Maybe the Classic Editor is far from a multisite specialist. But it does offer some key features for super admins. First, it offers the ability to turn off the block editor (a.k.a. Gutenberg) network-wide.

Alternately, you can leave things up to individual site admins. This option allows each site in the network to use the content editor they feel most comfortable with.

Multiple Possibilities

There are several real advantages to opting for a multisite network rather than using separate WordPress installs. The biggest may be that administration is much more efficient, as everything you need can be accessed from one place.

And with the added boost provided by the plugins above, you can tweak a network to match your workflow better.

The post 8 Essential Free Plugins for WordPress Multisite appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

For example, multisite is often used by larger organizations like universities, governments, and retail franchises. There’s a level of flexibility and convenience that makes it easy to spin up new sites and perform maintenance tasks. Plus, it’s possible to have a completely different group of users on each site.

Be that as it may, WordPress multisite also adds a layer of complexity. That’s especially so when launching a redesign. The larger and more varied the network, the more difficult the process becomes.

Putting it all together requires attention to detail – and there are a lot of little details to consider. Here are some tips for making sure your WordPress multisite redesign goes as smoothly as possible.

Determine What Will Be Changed

On some levels, redesigning a multisite network isn’t all that different from a single WordPress site. Some of the same potential pitfalls apply.

It’s just that they’re now multiplied across several websites. And there are a few ripple effects that are unique to this environment.

One of the first steps is to determine exactly what will change. This will help you develop a plan for approaching the project.

When it comes to themes, they are activated on a site-by-site basis. Therefore, any required tasks that come with implementing a new one may have to be repeated several times. Theme options panels and WordPress Customizer settings are two common examples.

But what about changes to content? For older sites, you might be converting pages and posts to use the Block Editor. This will allow you to restructure content layouts, but can also add some extra steps to the launch prep process.

Page builder plugins can further complicate matters – particularly if custom styles have been added. If there is no centralized stylesheet shared by all sites, they may need to be changed individually.

And what if only some of your network sites are being redesigned? Be sure to consider how this may impact any content or functionality that will be shared across the network.

Establish a Place to Work

Choosing a place to work on your multisite’s redesign is an important decision. That’s because it can have a major impact on how you launch the refreshed network of sites.

Perhaps the easiest path is to duplicate your multisite to another spot on your server. Even better if your web host provides a staging environment. The entire process may be automated.

From there, you can work on it in the background. This helps to avoid inconveniencing users on your production sites.

The other advantage of using a duplicate network is that, when ready, you can repoint your domain(s) to the new install. This minimizes downtime while ensuring that the design and content are perfect.

However, that’s not always feasible. If your network is content-heavy and constantly updated, keeping two WordPress installations synced can be a chore.

In that case, it may be worthwhile to create duplicate sites on your existing network. From there, it’s possible to use a plugin like Broadcast to share content across the old and new versions of each site. Content will stay current, even while you work on that sparkling new look.

Look at the WordPress Install’s Database

Here’s where things start to get tricky. Depending on how you plan to launch the redesign, you may need to make changes to the install’s database.

Pushing your WordPress multisite network from staging to production may do all the heavy lifting. Some hosts will automatically search and replace URLs for you. But other methods aren’t so simple.

For example, if you’re switching your network’s main site to a different location on the network, that means remapping your domain name. You’ll also have to edit your installation’s wp-config.php file. There are several database tables that you might need to access, including:

• wp_blogs
• wp_options
• wp_site

In addition, there could be site-specific tables where URLs will need to be swapped out. You’ll need to know the site’s ID to do this correctly, as tables include it in their name. Each site’s ID can be found by hovering over its domain listing on My Sites > Network Admin > Sites.

The ID will be shown at the end of the URL: https://www.domain.com/wp-admin/network/site-info.php?id=1

When possible, a search-and-replace tool like the one included with WP-CLI or a separate plugin is recommended. That’s much easier than making changes manually via a database tool such as phpMyAdmin or MySQL Workbench.

But be careful! Even a simple mistake – a misspelling, for instance – could cause some serious problems. Make sure to create a backup of your database before attempting any changes.

Test All the Things (Again and Again)

The impacts of a redesign can reach across your multisite network – even to sites that aren’t part of the project. Therefore, testing is key to catching issues before launch.

To start, click through each site in the network. Verify that each page is displaying as expected. Ensure that any custom functionality is in working order.

It can also be helpful to mimic your typical workflow. Carry out tasks such as adding new posts, editing existing content, and uploading media files. In short: try to replicate everything you typically do across several sites.

Plus, there’s always a possibility that any new themes or plugins can conflict with existing software. Make sure that plugin settings screens are accessible and allow you to make changes. Open your browser’s developer tools and watch for any console errors.

Be as thorough as possible to try and avoid any unwelcome surprises at launch.

Redesigns Are Complex, but Planning Helps

The very idea of redesigning a WordPress multisite network can be intimidating. Indeed, no one could blame a web designer for getting a bit nervous. After all, there are a lot of details on which to fixate.

Thankfully, planning provides a dual purpose. First, it helps us determine the best way to proceed. Second, the knowledge we gain from the experience can help to steady those nerves.

That’s not to say that you won’t find a few bugs after launch. Quite honestly, it’s part of the job. As such, you may be better off expecting some little issues to pop up. But thorough testing can eliminate the most impactful problems.

Even better is that it’s a learning opportunity. Once you’ve successfully launched a network redesign, subsequent projects will become easier.

We hope this guide will help you streamline the process and reach your project goals!

The post How to Plan a Redesign of a WordPress Multisite Network appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

It’s a powerful tool for large, multi-faceted organizations and those who want to build online communities. Everyone from universities and governments to niche bloggers can benefit.

At its core, a Multisite network is still WordPress. Each site features the same familiar styles and settings you’re accustomed to. A network settings area adds a way to create new sites and tweak specific settings that have a broader impact.

But running a stable and secure WordPress Multisite network is a whole different animal. There are plenty of unique considerations that depend upon your specific needs. Items such as user permissions and plugin and theme choices need to be thought about ahead of time. In addition, it’s important to determine whether Multisite is even the right choice for your project.

Today, we’ll share some tips for ensuring that your Multisite network is the best it can be.

Is WordPress Multisite the Best Fit?

The thought of being able to run multiple websites under a single WordPress installation can get your creative juices flowing. It might lead you to conjure up all sorts of potential use cases. However, there are some situations when utilizing Multisite isn’t the best option.

Freelancers, for example, may think about hosting all of their clients under a single network. Imagine the ability to hop from site to site and perform updates with ease. Sounds pretty tempting, right?

This is not a recommended use for WordPress Multisite. Why? If something goes wrong, it has the potential to negatively impact every single site in the network. Since all sites share a database, a crash or bad case of malware could be particularly disastrous. Not to mention the possibility of server downtime.

WordPress Multisite generally makes sense when the network of sites has something in common. Think of a retailer with multiple locations or a sports league where every team needs their own website.

There should be some solid logic as to why these sites are being combined into one installation. Short of that, it might be best to avoid using Multisite altogether.

Be Judicious with Themes and Plugins

The common thread between websites goes beyond organizational. While each site can run its own unique theme and choose from an installed pool of plugins, there could be some concern about what can or should be allowed.

Ideally, each website will have similar requirements when it comes to both looks and functionality. This makes it easier to install only the items that will be utilized throughout the network.

Of course, there may be times when a particular network site needs a theme or plugin that won’t be used by the others. An online store that requires a shopping cart is a prime example.

That’s OK, as the network’s Super Admin can limit the availability of those items to just the site that needs them. This lessens the possibility of a theme or plugin being misused or taking up precious server resources.

This doesn’t mean you should go wild with plugins, however. It’s still important to choose carefully. Installing a plugin with security flaws or lots of bugs can bring about network-wide problems.

Speaking of which, WordPress Multisite includes the ability to network activate plugins. Any plugin with this designation will automatically run on every website within the network. Therefore, you’ll want to reserve this for items that you know you’ll need on each site.

As with any website, themes and plugins can affect your network’s security and performance. Determining what gets installed and who has access to it should be at the top of your to-do list.

Provide Back-End Users with Access to What They Need

Just like a traditional WordPress website, Multisite networks support various user roles and capabilities. Likewise, you can also create custom roles if need be. This empowers Super Admins with fine-grain control over every site and the network as a whole.

But for large organizations with a lot of sites, managing users can be tricky. This is particularly so when a user needs access to multiple websites.

By default, all registered users are assigned to the lowest user level (subscriber). That won’t allow for any meaningful access in the back end.

Thus, there may be a temptation to assign them to the Super Admin role for the sake of convenience. That allows a user to access everything. It’s not the most solid policy in terms of security, though.

The more secure option is to assign users only to the sites they’ll need access to. This can be done by first creating the user account via the Network Admin Users Screen. From there, visit My Sites > Network Admin > Sites and assign each user to the appropriate sites via the Edit Site link.

If a user only needs access to a single site, it’s easiest to visit the site’s dashboard and navigate to Users > Add New.

As always, carefully consider which user role each person should have. Think about the permissions they’ll need to do their job and assign them to the appropriate level.

Ensure That Your Server Can Handle the Load

Multisite networks, particularly large ones, can eat up a lot of server resources. They can push storage capacity, memory, bandwidth, and processing power to their limits.

That’s why web hosting is one of the most important components of a healthy WordPress Multisite network. Without the right configuration, your sites can take a massive hit in terms of performance and reliability.

Choosing a web hosting package can be challenging. Even if your initial choice appears to have enough resources, future growth also has to be considered. You don’t want to find out that you’ve outgrown your hosting a few months down the road.

Cost is also a major factor – but you tend to get what you pay for. Sure, some managed WordPress hosts charge a premium for Multisite installs. However, you may have access to a larger pool of resources.

Traditional shared hosting typically allows WordPress Multisite installations. That may work well enough in some instances. But don’t expect great performance for large, heavily-trafficked networks.

The bottom line is to know what you’re getting into before you sign up for hosting. Make sure that you’ll have the horsepower you need both now and in the future.

One WordPress Installation, Many Websites

There are plenty of similarities between administering a standard WordPress website and a Multisite network. But this special configuration does come with its own set of challenges.

First, the web hosting requirements are generally greater. Multiple sites mean a bigger database and more strain on server resources.

In addition, it can be difficult to keep track of plugins, themes, and users. Maintaining great performance and top-notch security requires constant vigilance. Administrators must take care to cut down on overhead and ensure that users have only the permissions they need.

That being said, the potential for a Multisite network is awesome. The added convenience and interoperability allow both developers and organizations to achieve some incredible things.

The post Tips for Running a WordPress Multisite Network appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.