Ultimate Guide to Take Over an Existing WordPress Website & Domain

Source: WPforms

Whether you are a WordPress developer or working on an agency, you need to prepare yourself to maintain the WordPress website. You’ll have to understand the type of client and work according to their needs. It’s good if the client is asking for a new website. However, if they want their existing website to be revamped, then be ready with its credentials and past resources.

Website creation is an easy task while maintenance of it could challenge the developer.

In WordPress, taking control of a new website might be intimidating because there are so many other components you need to work on. However, knowing what to look for makes the task much easier during a takeover is what is required.

Here is the checklist to show you how to take over an existing WordPress site and domain. The below steps will assist you in evaluating the site so that you can manage it in a better way.

Step by Step Guide To Manage The Existing WordPress Website

here are 7 steps to manage the existing WordPress website:

1. Access|Password

• WordPress Credentials: First thing first, access the WordPress dashboard including its password and credentials is the most important thing to manage the website.
• Hosting: This can be purchased from any company like GoDaddy and other local online platforms.
• Domain: Access or register the domain and hosting.
• cPanel: However, you’ll need no. of hosting with separate logins for cPanel to access the website.
• FTP access is much required to run the site.
• Email: Access to email addresses to set up third-party accounts.
• A great WordPress website requires a lot of traffic where a content delivery network (CDN) (like Cloudflare) plays an important role. Meanwhile, in troubleshooting, you want its access and password to log in.

2. Upgrade Password

Moving on, it’s time to modify the password of your domain. Just use LastPass or 1Password to create a password vault. The password up-gradation helps to create secure and protected credentials that can easily share, alter, and control.

3. Contact General Site & Access

Here, you need to access the settings, including its password and the developer’s side. Try to log in with your email address and disable the access from the previous WordPress contractor from the Admin panel access.

4. Backup Formula

Now, after you’ve done with the list mentioned above, it’s time to back up everything.

You can use cPanel and WordPress for the backup solution. Backups from cPanel will be comprehensive backups of the entire site, with a plugin like UpdraftPlus backing up (and later restoring) your WordPress installation or database if anything really bad happens. This step is quite important. You can never be sure that old backups haven’t been damaged or that they even exist if you’re a new administrator taking over a WordPress website. Therefore, taking backups is important.

5. Audit

However, after backing up data, now it’s time to make a quick audit of the site’s users. This can function by the “Go to the users” tab to check its access. You need to set up the user’s administration, reset the credentials and access the given steps.

6. Security Protocol

After doing the audit, you need to manage the code. Just run the security scans to make sure everything runs safe and secure. However, when you’re done with the security scan, verify the installation of a firewall and security plugin.

7. Maintain Plugins and Themes

Now, when you’re done with the security thing, you’re capable to set in maintaining a WordPress plugin development and themes. In contrast, it’s time to manage the stuff, deliberate the resources, and work on them accordingly. Be careful while working on existing domains and websites to make everything better. Also, you can take help from the website plugin developer for your project. But, before that don’t forget to study everything related to WordPress plugin developer that matches your needs.

Job done

After you are done with your transition phase, like accessing the password, plugins and security scan, etc., don’t forget to make a list of questions and take notes.

Moving on, the next step is to check up on the website to see whether things are going better or what changes could be required. Take notes in handy, cross-check with your supervisor and share your concerns with them. Also, always add passwords to your vaults, scan security and safety, and plugin up-gradation.

Just make sure to vet the site that has a great source of information to avoid nasty and burdensome WordPress website problems. Do your proper research on how to find and hire a WordPress developer with ease to take over an existing website.