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WordPress Multisite is a feature for managing the structure and multiple sites from a single WordPress installation.
In this article, I’ll share the step-by-step approach to creating a new WordPress website or converting an existing WordPress website into a WordPress Multisite.
But before that, let’s understand the basics of WordPress Multisite.
WordPress Multisite enables you to create and run multiple websites on the same WordPress installation. It is like having one central hub to control an entire network of sites.
Websites on a Multisite network share core files and databases, making it easy for network administrators to manage all websites from one WordPress user account.
The reason why businesses opt for Multisite is because it helps save both time and money. Plus, it takes less server space than separate installations.
To know WordPress Multisite better, let’s look at some of its significant features:
To understand the functionality of WordPress Multisite, you need to understand WordPress user roles and how they differ. By default, a standard WordPress site has five user roles:
However, for WordPress Multisite, there is one more user role called super admin. There are six user roles for WordPress Multisite:
For a regular WordPress website, the site admin has administrative access to only one website. As there is just one website on the network, the admin controls only that website.
Site admins can add users, but only to the websites they administer. They cannot install WordPress plugins or themes, but they can choose which ones to activate or deactivate.
However, in WordPress Multisite, the super admin has access to more than one website.
The super admin, also known as the network admin, controls a whole network of websites and has activated Multisite initially.
They also have access to every website’s network admin setting and dashboard within the network. Super admins can also map custom domains.
After weighing the pros and cons of WordPress Multisite, it will become easy for you to decide if it aligns with your specific needs and technical expertise.
Here are some of the drawbacks of using multisite:
Here are some use cases when using a WordPress Multisite is a good idea:
If you have a franchise business, opting for Multisite can be one of the best decisions.
Every franchise will get a separate website, but you will have control over the look and functionality of all of them.
Subway, McDonalds, Dominos, and many other brands use this to give every location a unique online presence while ensuring brand consistency.
Imagine a university where every department needs its own website. Using Multisite, offers each department its own space while maintaining brand consistency and centralized management.
LMS websites are created for various schools and universities, but they have a similar structure and functionality.
WordPress Multisite can be a great idea for businesses that target a global audience. It also offers a solution for managing multiple language versions of a website.
Every language gets its own site, which makes it easier to manage translations and localized content.
Using WordPress Multisite is a perfect option for ecommerce sites. It creates different versions of the same service or product website.
For instance, you can create different sites on the same product line, accounting for differences in language and culture. Furthermore, you can delegate network administrator control to business representatives in every region.
WordPress Multisite can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to leverage social commerce.
By creating separate subsites for different product categories or target audiences, businesses can tailor their offerings and marketing messages to specific demographics.
Additionally, plugins can be integrated to allow for direct product sales from social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, creating a seamless shopping experience for customers.
A Multisite installation could be useful for government sites, SaaS businesses, educational organizations, magazines and media publications, ecommerce, etc., or simply where you want to create a well-structured website with an easy approach.
Here are some of the use cases that explain when you should think twice about using WordPress Multisite capability:
1. Have Different Website Requirements
WordPress Multisite is not recommended for websites with varied functionalities, structures, plugins, or purposes.
For example, if you have three types of businesses that provide healthcare, LMS, and SaaS services, Multisite won’t help.
2. Can’t Afford Sufficient Hosting
WordPress Multisite is resource-intensive, especially when your business grows.
It requires substantial hosting plans, as inadequate hosting can lead to slow load times across all your sites. To avoid this, you should ensure that you have a WordPress Multisite optimized hosting for your website.
3. Security Risks
All the websites in a multisite network share a single database, potentially compromising data isolation. This shared structure might also not comply with industry-specific regulations.
Thus, if you have security concerns, it might not be an ideal choice for you.
4. Don’t Have A Permanent Programmer
If you run a small company without a dedicated programmer or IT team, opting for Multisite might get you in more trouble than it’s worth.
Multisite demands more technical know-how to set up and maintain, so if any issues arise, they will be challenging to diagnose and fix without expert help.
Before you start creating a WordPress Multisite, you need to choose a domain structure for Multisite – either a subdomain or subfolder structure.
Example of Sub-domain structure: blog.website.com/ uk.website.com/
Examples of Sub-folder structure: website.com/blog/ website.com/uk/
WordPress Multisite also allows using a different domain for each website of the network. For example, you can use the website.us domain for the USA-targeting website and website.ca for the Canada website.
You can follow this guide to set up domain mapping for your WordPress website.
Once you have these essentials, you can start with the process of creating a WordPress Multisite.
To enable this, you need to install a new WordPress as you normally do. You need to enable a WordPress Multisite network feature on an existing WordPress website if you want to convert it into a Multisite.
But before that, you should completely back up your website.
Follow these steps to enable the Multisite feature:
/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );
Save the changes and close the wp-config.php file.
Before doing anything, you need to deactivate all of your plugins to complete the process.
Then go to Tools > Network Setup page.
Now, you should choose between subdomains (e.g., site1.yourdomain.com) or subdirectories (e.g., yourdomain.com/site1) for the Multisite structure. Then Click “Install.”
Now, WordPress will show you some code snippets to add to your website’s wp-config.php and .htaccess files.
You need to edit the wp-config.php file and add the code just below the line (code) you added before.
Then, edit the .htaccess file and replace the existing code with the new code of the WordPress Multisite installation.
Don’t forget to save the changes.
After finishing it, you need to re-login to your website to access the Multisite network.
After logging in to your website, go to Network Dashboard to add new sites and change network settings. For this, go to My Sites > Network Admin > Dashboard.
Settings and other things are the same as those for the normal WordPress installation.
It’s done. This is how you can create your first site in your Multisite network.
If you want to convert your existing website into a Multisite, then here are the steps.
By default, WordPress allows you to convert an existing WordPress site into a Multisite sub-domain only.
If you want to convert a WordPress Subdomain Multisite, then you can follow the above-mentioned steps.
But if you want to convert an existing site into a Multisite Subfolder, then follow these steps:
(Pro tip: Take a complete website backup before starting the process.)
You need to edit the wp-config.php file and add this code:
/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );
Before the line: /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
To do this, go to Dashboard > Plugins. Then select all and deactivate them.
You need to refresh the page to see changes.
Then, go to Appearance > Theme Editor > Theme Functions to edit the functions.php file, and add the following code at the end.
add_filter( 'allow_subdirectory_install', create_function( '', 'return true;' ) );
Save it.
Now, you can find and choose the subfolder option for your Multisite. To do this, go to Tools > Network setup.
Then, choose the Subfolders option, and click the Install button.
You need to add the code shown by WordPress to the wp-config.php and .htaccess files, as shown above in Step 3 of creating a new multisite.
Once you have done it, you can create your first subfolder site. For this:
Go to My Sites > Network Admin > Sites.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully converted your WordPress site to a Multisite.
Here are the major differences:
Some of the best tips for managing WP multisite are:
Setting up a WordPress Multisite network is like creating a digital theme park where visitors can effortlessly explore all your attractions.
Converting a WordPress site to a Multisite subdirectory is a powerful solution whether you are managing multiple brands, creating a network of niche sites, or simply planning for future growth.
Use this guide to create a WordPress Multisite for your business.
More Resources:
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