So, you’ve decided to turn off your WordPress site. Whether it’s because you’re rebranding, shutting down your business, or simply taking a break, unlaunching your site can seem like a daunting task. But fear not, with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to unlaunch your WordPress site in no time.
Backup Your Site
Before you start the unlaunching process, it’s important to backup your site. This will ensure that you have a copy of all your content and data in case you decide to relaunch your site in the future. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or manually backup your site through your hosting provider.
Inform Your Visitors
by Sarah Dorweiler (https://unsplash.com/@sarahdorweiler)
The next step is to inform your visitors that your site will be shutting down. You can do this by creating a banner or pop-up on your site, or by sending out an email to your subscribers. This will give your visitors a heads up and allow them to save any important information they may need from your site.
Disable Comments and Forms
To prevent any unwanted activity on your site while it’s unlaunched, it’s important to disable comments and forms. This will prevent spam and ensure that your site remains secure. You can do this by going to the Discussion settings in your WordPress dashboard and unchecking the boxes for allowing comments and trackbacks.
Set Up a Maintenance Page
To let visitors know that your site is temporarily unavailable, you can set up a maintenance page. This can be done through a plugin like WP Maintenance Mode or by creating a simple HTML page. This will give your visitors a professional and informative message while your site is unlaunched.
Remove Your Site from Search Engines
To prevent your site from showing up in search engine results while it’s unlaunched, you can use the “noindex” tag. This will tell search engines not to index your site, making it invisible to users. You can add this tag to your site’s header or use a plugin like Yoast SEO to add it automatically.
Unlaunch Your Site
Now it’s time to actually unlaunch your site. This can be done by either deleting your site’s files through your hosting provider or by using a plugin like WP Reset to reset your site to its default settings. Make sure to double check that you have a backup of your site before proceeding with this step.
Redirect Your Domain
If you’re shutting down your site permanently, you can redirect your domain to a new site or page. This will ensure that any visitors who try to access your site will be directed to a new location. You can do this through your hosting provider or by using a plugin like Redirection.
By following these steps, you can successfully unlaunch your WordPress site. Remember to keep a backup of your site in case you decide to relaunch in the future. Have you ever had to unlaunch your site? Let us know in the comments.