1.2.2. Dev Site

After setting your hosting account and after getting the backup, it is time to prepare a Dev Site (a.k.a. staging site, clone site).

There are two possible methods (both are done on the hosting account).

This will be an identical clone of your existing site.
It will be possible to work on it, in the background, without affecting your live site.
This will come with a temporary domain. No need to worry about the domain. Once the staging site is ready to be launched, there is a simple action that will automatically push the changes to the live site.

Best if you're starting from scratch
Best for when moving from a non-WordPress site (like SquareSpace, Wix, PixieSet). The live site will remain on those platforms, while you'll work on the new site on the new server.
Your host likely offers 1-click WordPress installs.
This will come with a temporary domain. It can be later changed on a live domain. Check this with your hosting support team since there are differences for each hosting company.

If you are not sure which method to use, we suggest consulting with your hosting support team.

If you're currently using a platform like Squarespace or Wix, we suggest moving to a WordPress-compatible web host.

Also, here’s an article to help you pick the right web host.

Updated on: 29/07/2025