WordPress tutorials

For sites already running WordPress on Traxio. You'll make WordPress emails arrive reliably, take a backup and prove it restores, and work through a measured speed-up where every change is tested against a baseline. Installing WordPress itself is in the Get online track, and moving an existing WordPress site is in Moving to Traxio.

1. Make WordPress emails arrive (SMTP setup)

   Create a sending mailbox, configure an SMTP plugin and a contact form correctly, and prove the emails authenticate.

   Covers: Create a sending mailbox; Install an SMTP plugin; Enter the settings; Send a test; Fix your contact form; Submit the form.

   Intermediate20 min
2. Back up WordPress and prove you can restore it

   Take a complete WordPress backup, store it off the server, and restore it to a staging subdomain to prove it works.

   Covers: Export the database; Archive the files; Store both off the server; Create a staging subdomain; Create a new database; Restore files and database; Point the copy at its database and address; Check it; Clean up.

   Intermediate45 min
3. Speed up a slow WordPress site

   Measure, cache, trim plugins, optimise images and update PHP — re-measuring after each change so you know what worked.

   Covers: Record a baseline; Update PHP and WordPress; Add page caching; Find heavy plugins; Optimise images; Reduce front-end weight; Clean the database; Move WP-Cron to a real cron job; Compare with the baseline.

   Advanced60 min