extending wordpress multisite for fun and profit by angie meeker at wordpress columbus meetup

EXTENDING

WORDPRESS

MULTISITE/

NETWORK

FOR FUN AND

PROFIT

Creating a network of websites

from one WordPress install

that shares themes, plugins

and users… and then extending

it. Perfect for entrepreneurs

and startups.

@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

•To create an unlimited number of sites with one WordPress installation

•To share users, themes and plugins across those sites

•To manage those sites within one Dashboard

Why usemultisite?


ALL THISFROMONE

DATABASE

If you donIf you donIf you donIf you don’’’’t need to do all three of these bullets, t need to do all three of these bullets, t need to do all three of these bullets, t need to do all three of these bullets, Multisite might not be the right use for your Multisite might not be the right use for your Multisite might not be the right use for your Multisite might not be the right use for your project. Sometimes category templates with a project. Sometimes category templates with a project. Sometimes category templates with a project. Sometimes category templates with a Role Role Role Role MangementMangementMangementMangement pluginpluginpluginplugin like Role like Role like Role like Role ScoperScoperScoperScoper will do will do will do will do more simply what you might try to do with more simply what you might try to do with more simply what you might try to do with more simply what you might try to do with Multisite.Multisite.Multisite.Multisite.

Examplesof multisitein the wild

WORDPRESS.COMhttp://www.wordpress.com

BEST BUYhttp://stores.bestbuy.com/527/

BOWLING GREENhttps://blogs.bgsu.edu/

YOUR CRIME SITE

http://www.yourcrimesite.com


Your child sites will either use subdomains:www.subdomain.yourdomain.com

or folders (also called subdirectories or paths)www.yourdomain.com/yourfoldername

If you want to use subdomains (which I do), your host must support the use of wildcard subdomains. (*.yourdomain.com)

And, you’ll need to add a wildcard subdomain pointing to the folder of your installation. If they don’t, you have to use folders.

If your original site is older than 30 days, the folder option will not be allowed (easily).

Before you start…Decide on your format


You’ll need to make edits to your wp-config and htaccess files,so be sure you can both see them and edit them.

These are two single files located in the root of your WordPressinstallation.

Before you start…get permission


Backup.*

*Really. Do it.


Multisite is like your wife.She’s already in bed,

you just have to turn her on.

/* Multisite */define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

in wp-config.phpbefore /* That's all stop editing */


Log back in.Expand tools.Click on“Network Setup”


Paste into your wp-config.phpright under the other stuff:

define( 'MULTISITE', true );define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', true );$base = '/';//define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com' );//define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/' );//define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );//define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );


don’t copy from herethis info is dynamically generated for YOUR site on that admin screen.

Replace your current .htaccess:

RewriteEngine OnRewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]# uploaded filesRewriteRule ^files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$1 [L]RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -dRewriteRule ^ - [L]RewriteRule . index.php [L]


Add two foldersto wp-content:BLOGS.DIRMU-PLUGINS


Log back in.

That’s it! You’re all Multisite’d up.


My Sites will include “Network Admin” for Super AdminsLinks to Dashboards of sites for which user is a subscriber


Multisite User Roles

• Super Admins: Can do everything across the entire network• Administrators: Masters of their own…websites, but can’t install themes or plugins. If Super Admins give them the option, they may be able to activate existing plugins and choose from given themes.• Subscribers: All users are automatically added as subscribers to the parent site, and can be subscribers to individual sites.


Theme “Network Enable”Plugin “Network Activate”

Themes and Plugins can be installed on your Network…but not ACTIVE or ENABLED on an individual site.

OROROROR

Network Enabled (themes)Network Activated (plugins)


That’s WordPress.com.Let’s make it more efficient.

WordPress MU Domain Mapping

WordPress MU Sitewide Tags/ Pages

WP MultiSite Replicator


Recommended Plugins For Many Networks

WordPress MU Domain Mappinghttp://http://http://http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpresswordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpresswordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpresswordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress----mumumumu----domaindomaindomaindomain----mapping/mapping/mapping/mapping/

(to give your child sites their own top(to give your child sites their own top(to give your child sites their own top(to give your child sites their own top----level domain)level domain)level domain)level domain)

WordPress MU Sitewide Tags Pageshttp://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-mu-sitewide-tags/

(to start the process of aggregating content to the parent site from within the

network, like at wordpress.com/tags)

WP MultiSite Replicatorhttp://wpebooks.com/replicator/

(to quickly replicate an existing, perhaps default, site within the network)

Google Analytics Multisite Asynchttp://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analytics-multisite-async/


Now let’s make money,and maybe protect content.

s2member


s2Member is a membership plugin that integrates incredibly well with Multisite.

Use it to charge for access to your site, for access to your content, for the ability to create a site on your network.

Or all three.

One time payments.Trial memberships, then one time or recurring.Recurring memberships.All integrated with various payment gatewaysAND your WordPress user base.

(read: no pay = no play)


We’re making money.Now let’s build community.

BuddyPress.(and really you should do that the other way around)


BuddyPress allows you to create a social network with your WordPress installation. It can be used with or without Multisite.

Coupled with Multisite (with or without s2Member), your NICHE network of websites can have their own social networks, and also participate in the larger network of your ENTIRE Multisite network.

Imagine:

•A campus wide social network for your university, school or college.•An internal communication tool for your company.•A niche social network for your interest topic.•A focused social network for your new product.


Hey! It must be the money!No, it’s not.

Sensei.BuddyPress Courseware.


Education is undergoing a revolution as students turn more and more to the web as a resource for learning that is pacing with today’s technologies and quickly changing world. Printed textbooks – not so much.

Multisite in the education sector, combined with these learning management systems allow educators to begin moving their curriculum online and offering it to a greater number of students at once.

Hint: it’s not just for K-12 and colleges. Everyone can teach something.

Sensei – WooThemes.com (very user friendly, not as big as BC)

BuddyPress Courseware (in Repo, hugely powerful, originally made for

universities)


She ain’t nothingbut a golddigger.

MarketPress.


MarketPress is a free ecommerce platform that works on Multisite installations. It is available in the WordPress repo.

Used most simply with S2Member, offer one membership which does not include an ecommerce store, and one that does.

MarketPress also has a PRO version which allows you to take a percentage of the sales made from the stores on your network, and provides a series of tools (widgets, tags, scripts)for displaying featured items, categories, etc… from across your network on your parent site.

Other WordPress e-commerce solutions work on Multisite, too. The

“take a cut of the sales” feature? I think is specific to MarketPress.


Other Plugins I’ve Mentioned…

s2Member

BuddyPress

Sensei

BuddyPress Courseware

MarketPress


TO LEARN MORE…

http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network

http://wpebooks.com/

@andrea_r � taught me everything I know about Multisite

@ipstenu | Mika@cgrymala | Curtis@markjaquith | Mark

Come to WordCamp Columbus.


extending wordpress multisite for fun and profit by angie meeker at wordpress columbus meetup

Technology