WordPress multisite users can control websites from one dashboard; Plate users run a single system version with centralized updates. WP Umbrella, ManageWP, or CMS Commander can enhance multisite management. Domain mapping can be a viable multisite alternative.
Choosing Between Different Multisite Platforms
Entrepreneurs tend to have multiple websites, and a WordPress plugin is well-suited for this time-consuming task. WordPress multisite users can control the whole website network from a single dashboard. As of 2024, 1.23 million live websites use WordPress. If your sites join them, you can choose from many viable cPanel hosting plans.
Plate
Unlike WordPress, Plate is a multi-tenant hosted content management system. The team is responsible for technical aspects. Multisite is a standard feature of Plate, developed to scale and manage content better.
All Plate users run on a single CMS version and benefit from central maintenance and security updates. Multisite environments are particularly susceptible to cross-site scripting. It accounted for 40% of all plugin vulnerabilities in 2022. 98% of WordPress vulnerabilities are due to plugins and themes. In 2023, Sucuri reported that almost half of hacks involved cross-site contamination.
If you choose WordPress, you will need to configure it manually. You need a few plugins to run the platform as a stable multisite solution. These plugins sometimes have different developers, and changes to one can impact another.
Plate doesn’t need plugins. It’s easy to duplicate content between different language versions. A developer must take care of all these features in WordPress. Fewer than 0.1% of websites with known CMS use Plate. However, its use has almost doubled since August 2023.
WPCS
If you build sites for customers, you might have tried customizing the WordPress admin. With WPCS, you get enhanced control over the appearance and customization of the admin. You can design and add agency-style features for your customers as well.
You can add an admin page with instructions or a Google Analytics dashboard or transform WordPress into a self-built platform.
WPCS offers Website as a Service (WaaS), a model where a service provider offers customers websites. Maintenance, monitoring, and technical updates are part of a monthly plan.
WaaS can be expensive: the upfront cost ranges from $4,000 to $8,000. However, you’re getting a complete hosting solution with advanced tools for centralized product development and distribution. You have individual WordPress sites with shared functions but separate databases.
Best Tools to Optimize Multisite Management
If you go for WordPress, you can choose from WP Umbrella, ManageWP, or CMS Commander.
1. WP Umbrella
Used by over 10,000 businesses across the globe. It lets you manage multiple WordPress websites from a single intuitive dashboard. You can automate data backups and theme and plugin updates. Its automated reports are useful for agencies with enterprise clients.
2. ManageWP
Enables bulk updates for all websites, security checks, cleaning spam, etc. Its free cloud backup comes with offsite storage, monthly scheduled backup, and one-click restore.
3. CMS Commander
Streamlines and speeds up multisite management with one-click updates. Users can update WordPress versions, themes, and plugins across sites effortlessly.
The bulk posting feature lets you create new pages or posts on multiple sites at the same time. CMS Commander also comes with bulk plugin installation, which saves time by activating new themes or plugins on all websites simultaneously.
Bulk posting pays off. In 2023, companies that posted more than 16 times per month on Facebook saw a more than threefold increase in engagement than companies that posted fewer than five times per month.
HubSpot found that posting around four times a day on X boosted engagement, but posting more than ten times a day caused fatigue and reduced it.
How Many Sites Can a Multisite Admin Tool Manage?
Not all multisite management tools work the same way. Some are built to handle only a few similar websites made by the same developer. These tools focus on managing websites that have a lot in common, which makes updates easier.
Other tools are designed for managing thousands of different websites. For example, Mono’s Reseller Admin Interface (RAI) helps digital service providers manage large numbers of websites with various designs and purposes. RAI automates tasks and lets users organize sites by fulfillment stage, subscription type, or assigned user. This makes it easier to manage hundreds or even thousands of websites efficiently.
Domain Mapping as a Multisite Alternative
Let’s say the entrepreneur has two domains: mybusiness1.com and mybusiness2.com. They only want three pages and two blog posts on the second domain. In other words, they want those five pieces of content in a subsite of their own.
The content is managed by mybusiness1.com, but website visitors will see mybusiness2.com in the address bar.
Domain mapping does away with the need for a second site. It’s a great way to create content-based subsites for people who don’t want to deal with a multisite.
Final Words
Managing multiple websites is essential for entrepreneurs looking to grow their online presence. WordPress multisite, with tools like WP Umbrella, ManageWP, and CMS Commander, makes this easier by offering centralized control. Plate provides a simple, plugin-free option, while WPCS adds customization and a Website as a Service (WaaS) model for advanced users.
Domain mapping is a simpler alternative for those who don’t need a full multisite setup. By picking the right tools, entrepreneurs can streamline their workflow and focus on business growth.
Thomas Hyde
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