Top Tools for Managing Multiple WordPress Websites From a Single Dashboard

If you have invested some time or money into understanding WordPress, at one point you will realize that it is a gift that keeps on giving.

Be it by systematically putting the time and effort into understanding how WordPress works, or slowly building knowledge from trial and error, practical knowledge of running a WordPress site is both rewarding and lucrative if you know what you are doing.

Ever since the internet became mainstream technology, there has been no shortage of new talent in the field of programming. Programming as a profession has garnered a lot of interest and there seems to be no stopping in sight. On top of that, this branch of employment is today seen a one of the most secure and flexible.

Our society and culture are yet to see or even imagine a scenario where this knowledge would be obsolete, or even lacking in importance. A few years ago, the meme “learn to code” caught on as evidence of these claims.

“Learn to code” is a meme stemming from an article which explored soon-defunct careers and advised employees to switch to programing for financial security. And it was not wrong in any way, considering the fact that in the last 10-15 years, the market for teaching how to code has grown immensely, from online courses and websites to whole universities.

Yet, there are a few drawbacks or “cons” regarding this career:

1. It is not easy and it is not for everyone

Even though it is a straight-forward discipline, programming is not easy. Some people just aren’t made to be programmers.

It takes a lot of work and a lot of practice no matter how talented you are. And if this kind of work does not vibe with your character it can be grueling and demotivating.

2. It is one of the fastest-changing professions right now

A common saying is that we are living in a time when everything is changing faster than ever before. And a running joke is that everything you learn during your programming education is near worthless at the end of it simply because the field has developed so much that previous knowledge is not up to date.

This is of course an exaggeration, but the point stands. If you think programming is a good way to put in a few years of work and then watch the money roll in, think again.

Programming takes a lifelong learning approach. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme, it is a career choice.

Programming is Not the Only Option

Not all programming languages are the same. Some of them are more difficult, and some have smaller learning curves. Some have a pretty narrow application, while others can be applied to more ventures.

If you do choose to walk this road, there still are some preferences that you can build upon. And of course, learning a full programming language is not your only choice.

Seeing how website development has been growing, there is a lot you can do without being fluent in a programming language. And some platforms have removed the need for knowing a programming language altogether.

Take WordPress for example. It is possible to make a perfect, functioning website using WordPress without ever learning a strip of code. Even though knowing PHP (WordPress programming language) will help you a lot, it is not necessary.

This however doesn’t mean that knowing how to code is irrelevant. Knowing how to code will immensely help you build a site, not to mention tailor it to your own needs.

But knowing how to use a website, and having just a small amount of knowledge in coding and programming can go a long way – it can even earn you a living.

WordPress Development as a Career

Many people have found a way to earn money from their knowledge of WordPress. After honing their craft on their own sites, some have decided to offer their services to others and become WordPress site developers.

If you have tried to build a WordPress site, the idea of hiring someone else has surely crossed your mind. And if you have set up a site, monitored it, and helped it grow, the thought of doing this for others must have also crossed your mind.

A good thing is that site development doesn’t have to end with finalizing the design. A lot of people are interested in finding somebody to set up their site and manage it for them.

If you have designed a site for someone who doesn’t have the necessary knowledge to do so, it only makes sense that you manage it as well. And this is precisely how many people have entered the world of developing and managing sites.

You find a few clients, set them up, and keep managing their sites. Throw in some basic SEO services too, and you’ve got yourself a small business, or at least a lucrative hobby.

How to Manage Multiple WordPress Sites

If you do choose to go this route of WordPress development there are a few things you will need. First of all, you will need to have a lot of experience.

It’s not about just knowing how to operate WordPress, you need to be fluent in it and you need to find a tactic that works for you. After making a few websites, or at least helping with them, you will find your own logic behind it and your own little routine of how to set it all up. This will save a lot of time and will help you organize yourself.

Second, you will need to acquire some tools for managing multiple websites.

Managing multiple sites can get very time-consuming and very complicated. And the last thing you want when doing the same kind of job for multiple clients is confusion.

Using a management tool will allow you to make updates on all your websites, automatic backups as well, and manage users, comments, and other options.

1. Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode

Although it’s not intended for managing entire sites, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode can manage one very important aspect of them which is the coming soon/under maintenance page.

So, besides building amazing pages quickly and easily, with this plugin, you can also remotely turn on or off a coming soon/under maintenance page on any website where you have your license activated. On top of that, you will also be able to manage your licenses, view analytics for each coming soon/under maintenance page, completely rebrand the plugin, and do much more all from one dashboard.

We covered the plugin pretty in-depth in this article, so you might want to give it a read!

2. InfiniteWP

With InfiniteWP you can manage an infinite number of WordPress sites completely free. But even though the number of sites is unlimited, the number of options isn’t. It is limited to managing plugins, themes, and, core updates.

The premium version however has a host of different options that will allow you to establish full control over multiple websites. Options like malware scans, uptime monitoring, client reports, and broken link scans are just one part of the package.

3. iThemes Sync

iThemes Sync is also a free tool, however, it is a long shot from managing infinite WordPress sites. Instead, it allows you to manage 10 websites from a single unitary dashboard.

The setup of this tool is very intuitive which is important when you are running 10 sites – you need it to be as simple as it can.

The premium plan does not increase the number of sites you can manage, however it does share many of the features listed already for InfiniteWP. So for a small price of $11 a month, you can have all the control you need for managing 10 sites.

4. Jetpack

Jetpack is one of the most popular WordPress plugins. It is often cited as an all-you-need-in-one plugin and as the first plugin you should install.

Jetpack really is a perfect toolbox for managing a WordPress site. And with it, you can also manage multiple websites.

The free version comes with all the basic managing options, downtime monitoring, and basic protection. And one thing you should keep in mind when using Jetpack is that you will need a WordPress.com account because you will be managing all your pages from the WordPress.com dashboard.

5. ManageWP

If you choose to use ManageWP as your tool for managing your sites, you will be managing them from the ManageWP dashboard. From the dashboard, you can install one-click updates for all your plugins, themes, and core files.

This basic function is free for unlimited sites, which makes it similar to InfiniteWP. The premium version however, features options like performance analysis, SEO ranking, and keeping historical logs.

ManageWP is a favorite among agencies because it has a good customer report system. It also has a white labeling option, which means that as an agency you can offer your clients a user experience with your own branding included.

6. MainWP

MainWP works a little bit differently than the previous ones. It comes as an admin plugin that you install on a separate website which acts as your base. You then install child-plugins of MainWP on the sites you want to manage.

The basic package includes uptime monitoring, vulnerable plugin detection, content management, and more. On top of that you can add extensions for bulk uploading articles, client reports, access control, and more.

Conclusion

Getting to know these tools and choosing the best for you is non-negotiable if you choose to do this kind of work. So take some time, even invest in a premium version just to check a tool out.

Trust me, it will make things much easier for you once you start your job.