How to Use Staging Environments to Safely Test Your Website Before Going Live

Have you ever made a website and then discovered that there was an issue? I have also. That is why I always have a staging environment. Staging environments allow you to test your updates and not affect your actual live site. Think of staging as a practice site to experiment with safely, without any ramifications.

Why Would You Want A Staging Environment?​

Testing Without Any Consequences

A staging environment can also be a copy of your live website that is not publicly displayed. You could:

• Play with new themes or plugins.
• Fix a bug or change a design.
• Run updates or major updates and not worry about anything.

Ever wonder why a professional doesn't just edit the live site? One little mistake can wreck everything! Staging environments protect the site and you.

Saving Time and Heartbreak

At one point, I pushed a major update live on a client’s site that completely broke the checkout page -- it was a complete meltdown! Now, whenever I have to push out any update, I always do it on the staging site first. Test it before you freak out!

How To Create A Staging Environment​

Using Your Hosting Provider

Most hosting providers make setting up a staging environment easy like SiteGround, Bluehost, or Cloudways:

• Log into your hosting account.
• Click “Create Staging Site.”
• Edit the copy and test any changes you are making, then push it live

This is an easy and quick way for beginners to begin and make sure staging sites are an easy process.

If You Want To Set Up Staging Manually​

If you like to have more control, you can create a staging environment on your own:

• Create an exact replica of all files and database on a subdomain. (staging.yoursite.com for example).
• Make the right setting so test emails do not go to the same users as the real site.
• Don’t skip any test.

Although this adds work, it gives you complete control of the staging environment.

Staging Then Now and Always​

• Keep the updated copy in sync with the live site. stg site is the same as the live/staging version.
• Test everything: forms, payments, all plugins, mobile views, and whatever you can test.
• Go live with caution. If it was not tested from the staging site, do not deploy it to the production live site.

Have you ever experienced a small mistake walking through? Just think how many small mistakes are made and the staging most often detects the little ones.

In closing​

Staging environments just make life so much easier! It is a facility for you to play with and test what will ultimately be shown publicly to your general audience and customer base. I would never think of launching a large update without first creating a staging site. A completed staging site will save all the stress, leaving you with only the fun of making updates.