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How to Safely Copy and Move Your WordPress Website

Name: How to Safely Copy and Move Your WordPress Website
Rating: 4.6 (56 reviews)

Duplicate, clone, backup, move and transfer your entire WordPress site from one location to another — like a pro!

Created byKathleen Farley

Last updated 9/2015

English

What you'll learn

In this course, we'll copy and move a pre-existing WordPress website from one web server to another
We'll focus on what each step means and WHY we do it –– so you can develop an intuitive understanding of the entire migration process
By the end of this course, you'll be able to copy and move an entire WordPress website with confidence, following best practices every step of the way!

Course content

6 sections • 19 lectures • 1h 38m total length

Course overview4:06
In this course, we'll talk about how WordPress migration works, how to prepare your existing site and your site's destination, and what tools you need to clone and move your entire WordPress site. If you have any questions, please post a discussion in the course dashboard! I'm happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability. Happy learning!
Who is this course for?7:50
Is this the right course for you? Learn more about who this course is for, and what you need to get started.
Why is it so hard to move WordPress sites?6:19
Moving a WordPress site involves more than just copying files to a new location. In this lecture, I explain a bit more about how WordPress works, and what potential challenges can come up when migrating an existing WordPress website to a new location.
Disclaimer!4:35
Uh-oh — it's an official Robobunnyattack disclaimer! But please don't let this discourage you. I just put this in here to make sure you're 100% informed about any potential issues you might have to deal with when moving a WordPress site.

Migration scenario: Moving from one webhost to another3:18
In this lecture, we review our example migration scenario: Moving an existing WordPress website from one web server to another.
Prepping your existing site2:25
Before we attempt a migration, let's prepare our website. We need to make sure that (1) we're running the latest stable version of WordPress; (2) all our plugins and themes are up-to-date; and (3) our existing site is fully backed up (just in case!)
Setting up your tools2:39
Next, let's install the tools we'll use to automate some of the migration process for us.
Building and downloading your website package9:53
Finally, we need to build our website package and download it to a safe location on our computer.

EXTRA: What to do when you're keeping the same domain name1:48
Are you moving your WordPress site to a new webhost, but keeping the same domain name? Read this before proceeding!
Setting up your new location11:14
Setting up your database at the destination location requires some behind-the-scenes configuration. This is typically the step that confuses the most people. Never fear! While the process can seem intimidating at first, it's actually very straightforward once you wrap your head around what's happening. (Your web hosting provider can provide you with additional assistance here too if you need it.) PS Don't forget to write down the hostname, username, database name, and the password you chose when creating your database!
Using cPanel to create a MySQL database and user1:03
Here's a written overview of the last step, in case you need further guidance.
Uploading your files3:24
Finally — it's time to upload our files! We'll use our favourite FTP software (Cyberduck) to upload our installer file and our archive file to the destination directory. (Make sure you're uploading to the correct directory — if you're unsure, consult your web hosting provider for further guidance.)

Running the installer6:44
Now comes the fun part — running the installer. We'll use a web browser to run the installer we just uploaded. Make sure to copy your new database credentials correctly and test your connection before running the deployment.
Site testing and cleanup6:44
You're almost done! All that's left to do now is to save permalinks, test your site thoroughly, and clean up the installer and archive files.
WordPress migration checklist1:00
Here's a handy one-page WordPress Website Migration Checklist to print out and keep by your desk.

Understanding FTP: File Transfer Protocol10:35
What is FTP, and how do you use it? In this lesson, you'll learn:

The purpose of File Transfer Protocol

Where your live website files are stored, or "hosted"

What kind of software program you need to use FTP

How to use an FTP client (like Cyberduck) to connect to a web server

What three pieces of information you need to connect to a web server
Getting your files online using FTP8:37
How do you upload and download files to and from a web server using FTP (File Transfer Protocol)? In this lesson, you'll learn:

How to navigate through files and folders on another server using an FTP client (such as Cyberduck)

How to use an FTP client (such as Cyberduck) to move files between your computer and a web server

How to view a website's stylesheet through any web browser
Editing your files online via FTP5:16
How can you edit files directly on a server using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and a plain text editor? In this lesson, you'll learn:

How to save time when editing files online

How to configure Cyberduck to use your preferred text editor (TextWrangler or Notepad++) to edit files online

How to check the modification time of the files on your server using an FTP client (such as Cyberduck)

Course review — and thank you!1:56
Yay, you did it! Thanks for taking this course, and I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please consider writing a review for this course — it helps me become a better teacher, and it helps other Udemy students discover courses that best suit their learning style. And as always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to post a discussion. Happy learning!

Requirements

A website built using the latest stable release of WordPress, hosted on a webserver or on your own local machine (NOT wordpress.com)
Any FTP client (e.g. Cyberduck, FileZilla)
Some basic computer skills (cutting and pasting text, saving files into folders)
Familiarity with the WordPress interface
A desire to learn!

Description

Learn how to duplicate and transfer your entire WordPress site from one location to another — like a pro!

Want to know the best, safest, and easiest way to copy and move your own WordPress site?

In this course, we'll talk about how WordPress migration works, how to prepare your existing site and your site's destination, and what tools you need to clone and move your entire WordPress site.

Whether you plan to migrate your own WordPress website from one web host to another, from your local computer to a web server, or from a web server to your own local computer — understanding how WordPress migration works will help you feel more confident and secure about the process!

HOW IS THIS COURSE DIFFERENT?

My name is Kathleen, and I've been teaching technology to beginners under the moniker Robobunnyattack! since 2009. I believe that with the right approach, anyone can learn anything.

My goal is to help you develop an intuitive understanding of web technologies, and how to make them work for YOU.

The lessons in this course are perfect for "advanced beginners" who:

Are comfortable using WordPress;
Know (or are willing to learn) how to use FTP software to move files to and from a web server;
Know (or are willing to learn) how to perform some basic configuration tasks via their web hosting provider's web hosting control panel (e.g. cPanel).

If this describes you, then you're ready to learn how to migrate your own WordPress website!

In this course, we'll copy and move a pre-existing WordPress website from one web server to another. As we work together, I'll explain what each step means and WHY we do it, so you can learn more quickly and with more confidence. We'll cover:

Why moving a WordPress website is so complicated (and how to approach this);
How to prepare your existing site for a successful migration;
Free tools you can use to automate and simplify the process;
Essential steps for setting up your destination location;
Testing, cleanup, and more!

By the end of this course, you'll be able to copy and move an entire WordPress website from one location to another, following best practices every step of the way!

Here's a sample of what my students have to say about my other WordPress courses on Udemy:

"Love, love, love. . . LUUURVE RoboBunny's online lectures. I've worked a bit with WordPress here and there over the years, but RoboBunny certainly has filled in many of the missing parts and I have a much better understanding." —Kimberly M.

"This helped build my confidence to go ahead and take action. Tutor has a passion and super knowledge of her subject." —Tania Y.

"Course was just the right amount of information at the right price. A clean and concise format. Thank you." —Lori J.

"Kathleen's instruction is clear, down-to-earth, and spot on. Her style is devoid of geek-speak and enthusiastic." —Leslie S.

"Thank you Kathleen for sharing this information. ... My working life is now a lot easier thanks to your clear, concise and illuminating presentation here." —Paul B.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

This course includes lifetime access to over 90 minutes of step-by-step videos.
I've included a downloadable "WordPress migration checklist" for you to print and keep.
You'll also get supplementary text lectures and links to helpful tools and resources.

BONUS: I've also included a FREE bonus section ("SECTION 6: FTP Basics") explaining how FTP (File Transfer Protocol) works. Understanding how to use FTP software is essential in order to move WordPress sites. If you aren't already familiar with FTP or you need a quick refresher, you can start there!

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME?

This completely depends on your availability and learning preference. You can work through all the video lectures in one afternoon, or pace yourself over several days or weeks — it's up to you!

WHAT IF THIS COURSE ISN'T FOR ME?

This course comes with an unconditional 30-day Udemy-backed guarantee. Try out this course for 30 days and see for yourself if this course is right for you. If you're not 100% satisfied, simply request a full refund within 30 days — no conditions, no questions asked!

I'm confident you'll LOVE this course, and I'm excited to help you learn. Enrol now and add this essential skill to your WordPress toolbox today!

—Kathleen Farley (aka Robobunnyattack!)

Who this course is for:

WordPress site owners and administrators who want to be able to copy and move their site with confidence
Web designers seeking to strengthen their WordPress administration skills

How to Safely Copy and Move Your WordPress Website

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction4 lectures • 23min

Getting started4 lectures • 18min

Next steps: The destination4 lectures • 17min

Let's do it!3 lectures • 14min

(EXTRA CONTENT) FTP Basics3 lectures • 24min

In conclusion...1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: