I like to have a brain dump type of website (like this one) where the content is only meant for me.
But I don’t want ideas and content to be buried. The random button helps with this but it is not the only option.
As you start creating posts, categories naturally develop, then the number of posts belonging in these categories can get quite large. Once a category has a certain number of posts it’s likely better suited to have its own site. A subdomain is perfect for this.
The number of posts that warrants it own subdomain varies but I think it’s around 60-100. This amount of posts likely warrants this category to now have its own new subcategories.
“Post style” may be a reason for migrating posts to a subdomain as well. A “web development” subdomain could spin off a “courses” subdomain just because the “courses” posts are more long form and sequential in nature.
The subdomain also coincides with the idea that these small “idea breeding ground” sites cultivate content that could grow into their own standalone sites one day. To intentionally share with an audience and even potentially monetize the content.
Login to SiteGround (host)
Go to website > Domain > Subdomain
Create new subdomain (This is essentially to organize your site into different sections or smaller subsets)
In “Create New Subdomain” add the name and hit “create”
Install New application with SiteGround app manager by choosing WordPress from the app dropdown menu
your new subdomain from the domain dropdown menu
I leave the installation path as it is (/)
Define your login credentials
Click Install
Visit your new subdomain by going to newsubdomain.yoursite.com where you will see a very basic WordPress install with SSL already enabled
I typically develop Custom WP themes on Local by flywheel (now just called local) and then use wp-all-in-one-migration to migrate the site. I begin with a starter-theme cloned from github that has webpack config, basic nav menu, etc.
A few things you may need to do in your fresh WordPress install: activate the theme, create a menu with a specific name to fit with the theme. Turn off comments/folder organization, hide from search engines, etc.
If I have existing content in an existing WP database then I will use the exporter to move.
In the WP mobile app I will add website so when I want to post to the new subdomain I select the site from the dropdown when making the post.
“Couldn’t connect. We received a 403 error when trying to access your site XMLRPC endpoint. The app needs that in order to communicate with your site. Contact your host to solve this problem.”
Note: The HTTP 403 is an HTTP status code meaning access to the requested resource is forbidden. The server understood the request, but will not fulfill it. The XMLRPC is a system that allows remote updates to WordPress from other applications.
The SiteGround app installer for WP automatically installs a SG Security plugin. This plugin will disable XMLRPC by default. If you go the plugin in the WP dashboard you can re-enable XMLRPC and will now be able to connect to WP app.
Be careful this is a security sensitive topic and area.