July 27th, 2023 | 
Author: Cloning a WordPress Blog means duplicating the exact contents to use in a brand new blog.
If you’re setting up a WordPress blog more than once, you shouldn’t repeat the same steps you took before.
You should set up WordPress one time the way you want it, back it up, and restore it somewhere else. This process is called cloning.
You are taking your WordPress blog and setting up an exact copy in a new location.
The steps are, first of all, set the blog up the way you want, use a backup plug-in to generate a backup file, and restore that backup file somewhere new. It is in fact that simple.
Set up your site exactly the way you want and then use a backup plug-in to back it up.
A backup is a dump of your entire WordPress database which means your settings, your customizations, your content, and all your files and folders and it will wrap it all into one giant zip file that you can download to your computer, to be used somewhere else (your cloned blog).
Different backup plug-ins work in different ways.
Your back plug-in must be both able to backup, restore, and clone. You should also test it out and make any notes about what you had to do, so you will be prepared.
Go into your cPanel which means going to your hosting account and clicking on the link for either Fantastico or Softaculous.
Click on the link for WordPress and you can set up a brand-new blank, empty WordPress blog for your new site.
Once your new blog is created, then install your backup plug-in. With your backup plug-in, you’ll be able to put your restore file in there.
After installing and activating the backup plugin, you can restore the backup and it will duplicate everything that was on the old site including all the content, the themes, the plug-ins, and all that stuff.
I use a plug-in called Duplicator. I have used it for 5-plus years. It has both a free and paid version.
The following are detailed steps to clone an existing blog into a new blog.
Although it seems like there are a lot of steps, once you go through the process a few times you will not need instructions.
Because I have done this so many times I can go through the entire process in less than 15 minutes.
Some of the steps maybe different with newer versions of the plugin.
Make sure you have the username and password for the original blog.
1. Create a new blog in CPanel
2. Use File Manager (CPanel) and copy the wp-config.php file from the new blog to your computer.
3. Use File Manager (CPanel) and delete all files/folders from the new blog
4. Select an existing blog to clone and Use File Manager (CPanel) or FTP and copy the installer.php and archived zipped file to the New blog folder
These will be the only 2 files in the blog folder.
5. Load Your Browser and Type the URL of the New blog/installer.php
For example yourdomain.com/blog-name/installer.php
This step starts the actual creation (clone) process
Extract Archives and Install Database (Deployment)
6. On the install Database screen enter the info from the wp-config.php file
You will need the Username, Database name, and Password from the wp-config.php file that you saved onto your computer.
7. Select Test DB, Click on Next and Select OK for Installation Confirmation
Check Settings (folders) and Change Title if necessary
8. Click on Next to Update Data
On completion, the new blog has been cloned.
9. Click the Admin Login on the new blog
Use your domain name and the folder when the blog was created
(yourdomain.com/blog-folder/wp-admin)
Use the User Name and Password from the original blog
10. Delete the installer files if you see a message to remove them.
11. Select the Dashboard and Check to see if there are any updates for WordPress, Themes, and Plugins.
It is extremely important to keep your blog updated!
12. Add a new user with desired User Name and Password for the new blog and Set the role as Administrator. Do not keep the default login info!
Make sure to save the Username and Password.
13. Log off and log back in using the New Username and Password
14. Delete the old user
Attribute all content to New User
Confirm the deletion
15. Check All Settings
16. Resave Permalinks under Settings (/%postname%/)
Under Appearance
16. Add Resources for products to be promoted (Widgets)
17. Delete anything not wanted, so you have a fresh blog
18. Check out the new blog to make sure everything is set up correctly
19. Create a New post(s)
20. Backup New blog with Duplicator
If you follow the Steps, you will be able to get the new blog set up in less than 30 minutes.
After you have gone through the process 3-5 times, you will be able to do it without the instructions and it will take less time.
Set up a new blog from scratch and get it the way you want it, could take several hours of trial and error.
By cloning a blog, you are taking something that you have already created and have set up the way you want and then using it for another blog.
Then in the new blog, you can easily delete anything you do not want and add any new things you desire.
Posted in WordPress
