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Duplicating a page in WordPress can be a useful task, especially if you want to recreate an existing layout, preserve specific formatting, or quickly create multiple pages with a similar structure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to duplicating a page in WordPress, using built-in features, plugins, and coding methods.

Method 1: Duplicate a Page Using a Plugin

If you’re not comfortable with code or want a quick solution, plugins are an ideal way to duplicate pages. Here are two popular plugins:

1. Duplicate Post by Yoast

• Step 1: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
• Step 2: Search for Duplicate Post by Yoast and install the plugin.
• Step 3: Activate the plugin.
• Step 4: Go to the page you want to duplicate by navigating to Pages > All Pages.
• Step 5: Hover over the page you want to duplicate, and you’ll see options to “Clone” or “New Draft.”
  • Clone: Creates a duplicate in your list of pages as a draft.
  • New Draft: Creates a duplicate and opens it in the editor.
• Step 6: Once duplicated, edit the title and content as needed.

1. Post Duplicator

• Step 1: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for Post Duplicator, install and activate it.
• Step 2: Go to Pages > All Pages, hover over the page you want to duplicate, and select Duplicate Page.
• Step 3: Edit the duplicated page’s title, permalink, and content as needed.

Both plugins support duplicating custom fields, taxonomies, and settings, which is helpful if your pages have complex customisations.

Method 2: Duplicate a Page Using the Block Editor (Manual Copy and Paste)

If your page content is relatively straightforward, you can manually duplicate a page using the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg):

1. Open the Existing Page:

• Navigate to Pages > All Pages and open the page you want to duplicate.

1. Copy All Content:

• In the Block Editor, click on the three vertical dots (Options) in the top-right corner.
• Choose Copy All Content. This will copy all the blocks from the current page.

1. Create a New Page and Paste the Content:

• Go to Pages > Add New to create a new page.
• Paste the copied content into the new page by right-clicking and selecting Paste or by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac).

1. Edit the New Page:

• Change the page title, permalink, and any specific content you want to modify. Then publish or save the page as a draft.

Method 3: Duplicate a Page Using Code (For Advanced Users)

If you have a custom theme or prefer not to use plugins, you can add custom code to duplicate a page:

1. Open the Theme’s functions.php File:

• Go to Appearance > Theme Editor and open functions.php. Make sure to use a child theme to avoid losing changes with future theme updates.

1. Add a Custom Duplicate Function:

• Add this code to functions.php: function duplicate_page_as_draft() { global $wpdb; if (! (isset($_GET['post']) || isset($_POST['post']) || (isset($_REQUEST['action']) && 'duplicate_post_as_draft' == $_REQUEST['action']))) { wp_die('No page to duplicate has been supplied!'); } $post_id = (isset($_GET['post']) ? $_GET['post'] : $_POST['post']); $post = get_post($post_id); if (isset($post) &amp;&amp; $post != null) { $new_post = array( 'post_title' =&gt; $post-&gt;post_title . ' - Copy', 'post_content' =&gt; $post-&gt;post_content, 'post_status' =&gt; 'draft', 'post_type' =&gt; $post-&gt;post_type, ); $new_post_id = wp_insert_post($new_post); wp_redirect(admin_url('post.php?action=edit&amp;post=' . $new_post_id)); exit; } else { wp_die('Page creation failed, could not find original page: ' . $post_id); } } add_action('admin_action_duplicate_post_as_draft', 'duplicate_page_as_draft'); function duplicate_page_link($actions, $post) { if ($post->post_type == 'page') { $actions['duplicate'] = '<a href="' . wp_nonce_url('admin.php?action=duplicate_post_as_draft&post=' . $post->ID, basename(__FILE__), 'duplicate_nonce') . '" title="Duplicate this item" rel="permalink">Duplicate</a>'; } return $actions; } add_filter('page_row_actions', 'duplicate_page_link', 10, 2);

1. Save the Code: Click Update File to save the changes.
2. Use the Duplicate Link: Now, when you go to Pages > All Pages, you’ll see a Duplicate option under each page title. Click it to create a duplicate of the page.

Conclusion

Each method has its pros and cons. If you want a quick, plugin-based solution, Duplicate Post by Yoast or Post Duplicator will be your best bet. For simple pages, manual copy and paste may suffice, while the code-based method offers more control if you’re comfortable with PHP.

Remember to check your duplicated pages for broken links or unwanted content that might have carried over, and be sure to customise the title and URL of each duplicated page before publishing.

For more help, simply get in touch and I’ll be happy to assist.

Preparing Your WordPress Site for Black Friday: Essential Tips to Maximise Success

With Black Friday right around the corner, it’s crucial to have your WordPress site optimised and ready to handle the spike in traffic and sales. Here’s a practical guide to ensure your website not only performs well but is also primed to convert visitors into customers.

1. Optimise Site Speed

Page load time has a direct impact on both user experience and conversion rates. For Black Friday, when customers are comparing offers across multiple sites, even a one-second delay could mean lost sales. To speed up your WordPress site:

• Compress images: Use plugins like Smush or Imagify to reduce image sizes without compromising quality.
• Implement caching: Plugins such as W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket can dramatically improve load times.
• Minify CSS and JavaScript: Minification plugins like Autoptimize reduce file sizes by eliminating unnecessary code and comments.
• Upgrade your hosting: Consider scaling to a higher performance plan or switching to a dedicated or managed WordPress hosting service if you anticipate high traffic. We highly recommend UK-based cloudabove for your WordPress hosting – use code WEBWORKSHOPS for £5 off!

2. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness

A significant portion of Black Friday traffic comes from mobile devices, so make sure your site offers a seamless mobile experience. Double-check that:

• Your site’s layout adjusts smoothly to smaller screens.
• Buttons, forms, and other interactive elements are easy to use on mobile devices.
• Mobile loading times are optimised, as mobile users tend to have even less patience for slow websites.

3. Prepare for Increased Traffic

To avoid any downtime or disruptions on Black Friday, ensure your website can handle a surge in traffic:

• Stress-test your server to simulate traffic spikes. Services like Load Impact or BlazeMeter can help you identify how much traffic your site can handle before it slows down or crashes.
• Consider a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to distribute your site’s content across multiple servers globally, reducing the load on your hosting server and speeding up delivery to users.
• Enable server-side caching if available through your hosting provider, as this is often more efficient than plugin-based caching alone.

4. Check for and Fix Broken Links

Few things frustrate customers more than a broken link, especially when they’re excited about a Black Friday deal. Use plugins like Broken Link Checker or services such as Dead Link Checker to scan for and resolve any broken links.

5. Optimise for SEO

Customers will be actively searching for deals, so having strong SEO in place can make a huge difference. Key SEO steps for Black Friday include:

• Update your meta titles and descriptions with phrases like “Black Friday Deals” or “Limited Time Offer.”
• Optimize product pages by including keywords related to Black Friday in headings, descriptions, and alt text for images.
• Create a dedicated Black Friday page to concentrate all your promotional content. Link to this page from the homepage and highlight it in your navigation bar for easy access.

6. Highlight Black Friday Deals Effectively

Your deals need to stand out and attract immediate attention:

• Create eye-catching banners: Display Black Friday banners at the top of your pages to announce promotions. Use plugins like Elementor or Slider Revolution to customise banners if your theme doesn’t have this feature.
• Use pop-ups strategically: Pop-ups can work well to capture leads or announce time-limited offers, but use them sparingly to avoid disrupting user experience. OptinMonster and Popup Maker are both solid plugin options.
• Add a countdown timer: Countdown timers create urgency and encourage quicker decisions. Plugins like Countdown Timer Ultimate can help you display time limits on your offers.

7. Test the Checkout Process

A smooth checkout process is critical, especially when customers are rushing to complete their purchases. Go through your checkout process to:

• Ensure no unnecessary fields are slowing down the process.
• Check that payment gateways are working correctly.
• Make sure your SSL certificate is up-to-date to build customer trust.

8. Review Site Security

Online security should always be a priority, especially when handling increased volumes of transactions. Protect your site by:

• Keeping WordPress, plugins, and themes updated to prevent security vulnerabilities.
• Using a security plugin like Wordfence or iThemes Security to monitor and protect your site.
• Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin logins to add an extra layer of security.

9. Prepare Backup Plans

In case something does go wrong, have a plan in place to restore your site quickly. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to create full backups of your WordPress site, including database, themes, and plugins, before Black Friday. cloudabove takes daily backups of your whole hosting account, so if the worst happens they can get you back online in a jiffy!

10. Check Analytics and Tracking

Accurate tracking is essential to measure the success of your Black Friday campaign. Before the big day, ensure:

• Google Analytics or your preferred tracking tools are set up correctly and tracking all pages and conversions.
• Goals are set up for specific actions, such as completed purchases, to measure conversion rates.
• UTM parameters are in place for email, social media, and ad campaigns to track which marketing efforts are driving the most traffic and sales.

Final Thoughts

Black Friday is a high-stakes event, but by preparing your WordPress site with these tips, you can offer a seamless, secure, and engaging experience for your customers. Good luck, and here’s to a successful Black Friday sale!

Of course we’re happy to help new and existing clients prepare – just get in touch.

Boo! It’s that spooky time of year again, where ghosts, goblins, and all things terrifying come to life. But if you’re a WordPress website manager, there’s something much scarier lurking around the corner: the common mistakes that can haunt your site and cause chaos for you and your visitors!

Let’s dive into the scariest WordPress mistakes you’ll want to avoid—before they come back to bite you.

1. Ignoring Updates: The Digital Zombie Apocalypse

One of the most frightening mistakes you can make is ignoring WordPress core, theme, or plugin updates. While updates might seem like harmless notifications, leaving them unattended can turn your site into a breeding ground for vulnerabilities. Hackers prey on outdated sites, and without the latest security patches, your website could fall victim to a digital zombie apocalypse!

How to avoid it: Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated regularly. If automatic updates scare you, set a reminder to check for updates manually every week.

2. Using Weak Passwords: The Open Gateway to Ghouls

Passwords are your first line of defense. But many WordPress users still rely on passwords like “admin123” or, even worse, “password.” Using weak or easily guessable passwords is like leaving your door wide open for ghouls and ghosts—also known as hackers.

How to avoid it: Use strong, unique passwords that include a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Better yet, use a password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.

3. Skipping Backups: The Vanishing Act

Picture this: your site crashes, and you have no backups. It’s like your website has vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but a sense of dread. Failing to back up your WordPress site is one of the most terrifying mistakes you can make. Whether due to a server issue, a hacking incident, or even a plugin malfunction, not having backups can cause irreversible damage.

How to avoid it: Use a reliable backup plugin and schedule regular backups. Store backups in multiple locations (like cloud storage) to ensure you can always restore your site when things go wrong. Our preferred hosting company cloudabove will take daily backups of your site and emails!

4. Installing Too Many Plugins: Frankenstein’s Monster

Plugins are great—they help extend WordPress’s functionality and make your site more powerful. But when you install too many, you run the risk of creating a Frankenstein’s monster that’s slow, buggy, and difficult to control. Plus, some plugins might conflict with each other, leading to a site that feels like it’s alive but barely functional.

How to avoid it: Only install the plugins you really need. Regularly audit your site and deactivate or delete any plugins that aren’t essential. Be sure to check plugin reviews and ensure they’re well-maintained before adding them to your site.

5. Forgetting About SEO: Lost in the Search Engine Abyss

Even the most beautiful, functional websites can disappear into the digital abyss if SEO is ignored. Without proper optimisation, search engines won’t know how to find or rank your site, leaving you lost in the shadows while your competitors take the spotlight.

How to avoid it: Make sure your site is optimised for SEO by using an SEO plugin like Yoast or Rank Math. Pay attention to meta tags, headings, keyword usage, and image alt text. Don’t forget about local SEO if you’re targeting a specific region.

6. Ignoring Security: The Phantom Threat

One of the scariest mistakes website owners make is not taking security seriously. Without proper protection, your site could be haunted by malicious attacks, data breaches, or spam comments, wreaking havoc on your hard work.

How to avoid it: Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. Ensure your website has an SSL certificate, and consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security.

7. Not Optimising for Mobile: The Mobile Nightmare

In today’s mobile-first world, failing to optimise your website for mobile users is like wandering into a haunted house with no escape. A non-responsive website can drive users away and cause search engines to rank you lower, leaving your site languishing in the cobweb-covered corners of the internet.

How to avoid it: Choose a responsive theme and test your site on different devices and screen sizes. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your site provides a seamless experience for mobile users.

8. Leaving the Default Admin Username: The Ghastly Invitation

Using “admin” as your WordPress username is one of the most common and scariest mistakes you can make. Hackers often target websites with this default username, knowing it’s one less thing to guess during a brute force attack.

How to avoid it: Create a unique username when setting up your WordPress account. If you’re already using “admin,” create a new user with administrator privileges and delete the old “admin” account.

9. Poor Hosting Choices: The Haunted Server

Not all web hosting providers are created equal. Choosing cheap or unreliable hosting can result in slow loading times, frequent downtimes, and minimal security, turning your website into a haunted house that no one wants to visit.

How to avoid it: Invest in a reputable hosting provider that offers good performance, security, and customer support. Look for hosts that specialise in WordPress hosting to ensure optimal performance. Our preferred hosting company is UK-based cloudabove – use code webworkshops for £5 off!

Conclusion: Avoid the Nightmares!

These WordPress mistakes may seem like things that go bump in the night, but with a little vigilance, you can avoid the horrors and keep your site running smoothly. Take the time to follow best practices, and you’ll be safe from the ghosts of downtime, hacks, and lost traffic.

Have you made any of these terrifying mistakes on your WordPress site? Don’t be afraid—Web Workshops is here to help! Whether you need guidance with plugins, SEO, or overall WordPress management, we’ll help you keep your website spook-free all year round.
So who you gonna call?! Well, us hopefully…

Get in touch today.