Introduction

Why WP Ultimo

If you got to this article, you probably heard that our plugin might be the solution to make your business idea come true. We hope you have the answers you need by the end of this piece. What is WP Ultimo? WP Ultimo is a WordPress Multisite plugin that enables you to offer customers a WaaS (a Website as a Service). With our plugin, you can have various subscription tiers and have customers pay you a recurring fee to have a site hosted in your Multisite network. WP Ultimo lets you receive your payments with different gateways (such as WooCommerce or Stripe), create site templates to make your life much easier when a new user registers on your network, map domains, and personalize your registration forms to create a customized experience for your customers. And this is just the beginning since you can extend its functions with add-ons and webhooks. Other features WP Ultimo also offers: - Domain Mapping integration with Managed WordPress hosting providers: WP Ultimo automatically adds mapped domains to the admin panels of WP Engine, Cloudways, cPanel, RunCloud, Closte, and more when a new domain is mapped, so you don’t have to do it manually. In some cases, we’ll even trigger SSL certificate fetching for you. - Webhooks: WP Ultimo has a powerful Webhook system that allows you to integrate your network with a number of different services. We even offer direct integration with Zapier, which opens your network to some 1000+ apps and services available on their platform. - Powerful Admin Pages to help your customers using your favorite page builder: WP Ultimo has a handy add-on called Admin Pages Creator, which basically allows you to add fully customized Admin Pages to your customers’ dashboard using Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Brizy templates. - Two different Admin Themes to customize the dashboard experience of your customers: Check Material WP and PRO. And more advanced stuff: - Support to Template Overrides: With WP Ultimo, you can replace the default HTML templates for the signup flow with your own versions without worrying about changing core plugin files. - Search and Replace API: You can also annotate site templates with placeholders like {{site_name}} and use the Search and Replace API to auto-populate those placeholders with information provided by your customer right after sign-up, automatically. Use cases Now it's time to see some of the possible use cases for WP Ultimo. Case 1: An Agency Typically the core skills of an agency lie in the design of websites with aspects such as their hosting or marketing being listed as additional services. For agencies, WP Ultimo presents an incredible value proposition in its ability to host and manage multiple websites on a single platform. Even more so agencies who standardize their designs on particular themes such as GeneratePress, Astra, OceanWP, or others can leverage WP Ultimo’s abilities to automatically activate these themes for each new site. Tight control over plugins and themes is maintained on a per-product basis through WP Ultimo’s settings allowing plugins and themes to be made available or hidden as well as their activation state when instantiated for a new site. Agencies will find peace of mind with WP Ultimo allowing them to do what they do best - design exceptional websites. Case 2: Niche Provider There is an old saying which says, “Do one thing and do it well”. For many specialists, this means creating a product or service around a single core idea. If you are focused on developing a niche network of sites you would probably want to provide services based on a common framework and platform. That's when site templates may help! One of WP Ultimo’s innovative features, a template site is one where the theme has been installed and activated, necessary plugins installed and activated, and sample posts or pages created. When a customer creates a new site based on the template, the contents and settings of the template are copied to the newly created site. For a provider of niche sites and services, this provides an unparalleled advantage in the ability to instantly create a site ready to go with custom plugins and design. The customer only needs to provide minimal input to complete the service. Case 3: WordPress Web Hosting There are a myriad of ways to host WordPress sites but rarely it is as simple as providing web space to a customer with a pre-installed version of WordPress. This is because a number of decisions and considerations need to come together to provide a meaningful service. WP Ultimo excels in this area by providing a comprehensive turnkey solution for the hosting of WordPress sites. Included in the solution are the core mechanisms to provide subscription services, payment collection, checkout forms, discount vouchers, and customer communications. Much of the integral work required to correctly install, configure, and maintain a WordPress Multisite is facilitated by WP Ultimo to the extent that network administrators need only consider aspects as they relate to their service or niche such as product tiers, pricing, and service offers. For developers wishing to integrate with WP Ultimo, the solution also offers a comprehensive RESTful API and Webhooks for event notification. Without reliance on a myriad of external plugins and licenses, WP Ultimo provides a feature-rich and comparable solution to that of Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com, and others.

Basic Concepts

For a new WordPress Multisite user and someone who just started using WP Ultimo, there can be a lot of new words and phrases to take on board at first. Learning them is an important task because you’ll need to understand the platform and how it works as a whole. In this article, we’ll attempt to define and explain some of the key concepts in WordPress. Some of these are more relevant for users, others for developers, and some for both. WordPress Multisite WordPress Multisite is a type of WordPress installation that allows you to create and manage a network of multiple websites from a single WordPress dashboard. You can manage everything including the number of sites, features, themes, and user roles. It is possible to manage hundreds and thousands of sites. Network In terms of WordPress, a multisite network is where a number of subsites can be managed from a single dashboard. Although creating a multisite network differs between hosting providers, the end result is usually a few additional directives in the wp-config.php file to let WordPress know that it is operating in this specific mode. There are a number of distinct differences between a multisite network and a stand-alone WordPress installation which we shall briefly discuss. Database A database is a structured, organized set of data. In computing terminology, a database refers to software used to store and organize data. Think of it as a file cabinet where you store data in different sections called tables. WordPress Multisite uses one database and each subsite gets its own tables with the blog id in the prefix, so once you install a network installation your database and create a subsite, you should have these tables: wp_1_options - options table for first subsite wp_2_options - options table for second subsite Hosting provider A hosting provider is a company that enables businesses and individuals to make their websites available through the World Wide Web. The services that web hosting providers offer will vary but usually include website design, storage space on a host, and connectivity to the Internet. Domain A domain name is an address people use to visit your site. It tells the web browser where to look for your site. Just like a street address, a domain is how people visit your website online. And, like having a sign in front of your store. If you wish to visit our website, you will have to type our web address on your browser's address which is www.wpultimo.com, where wpultimo.com is the domain name. Subdomain A subdomain is a type of website hierarchy under the main domain, but instead of using folders to organize content on a website, it kind of gets a website of its own. It is presented as https://site1.domain.com/ where site1 is the subdomain name and domain.com is the main domain. Subdirectory A subdirectory is a type of website hierarchy under a root domain that uses folders to organize content on a website. A subdirectory is the same as a subfolder and the names can be used interchangeably. It is presented as https://domain.com/site1 where site1 is the subdirectory name and domain.com is the main domain. Subsite Subsite is a child site you create on a Multisite network. It can either be a subdomain or subdirectory depending on how your WordPress Multisite installation is configured. Super Admin A WordPress Super Admin is a user role with full capabilities to manage all subsites on a Multisite network. For Multisite users, it is the highest level of access that you can provide to your WordPress installation. Plugin In general, a plugin is a set of code that adds extra functionality to your WordPress site. This could be as simple as changing the login logo or as complex as adding e-commerce functionality. Woocommerce and Contact Form are examples of a plugin. On a WordPress Multisite, plugins can only be installed from the network admin dashboard by Super Admin. Subsite Admins can only activate and deactivate plugins within their subsite. Themes A WordPress theme is a group of files (graphics, style sheets, and code) that dictates the overall appearance of the site. It provides all of the front-end stylings such as font styling, page layout, colors, etc. Same as plugins, themes in WordPress Multisite can only be installed by Super Admin and can be activated on the subsite level by subsite admins. Site Template Site Template is a boilerplate site that can be used as a base when creating new sites in your network. This means you can create a base site, activate different plugins, set an active theme, and customize it in any way you like. Then, when your customer creates a new account, instead of getting a default WordPress site with no meaningful content inside it, they will get a copy of your base site with all the customizations and contents already in place. Domain Mapping Domain mapping with WordPress is a way to redirect users to the correct host, through a website’s address. In a WordPress Multisite, subsites are created using either a subdirectory or subdomain. What domain mapping does is it allows subsite users to use a top-level domain like joesbikeshop.com to make their site address looks more professional. SSL SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a digital certificate that authenticates a web site's identity and enables an encrypted connection. Nowadays it is used as the standard technology for keeping an internet connection secure and safeguarding any sensitive data that is being sent between two systems, preventing criminals from reading and modifying any information transferred, including potential personal details. Modern browsers require SSL which makes it essential when creating and running a website. Media Media are images, audio, video, and other files that make a website. Network sites share a single database in a WordPress Multisite, they maintain separate paths on the filesystem for media files. The standard WordPress location (wp-content/uploads) remains; however, its path is altered to reflect the network site’s unique ID. Consequently media files for a network site appear as wp-contents/uploads/site/[id]. Permalinks Permalinks are the permanent URLs of your individual blog post or page within your site. Permalinks are also referred to as pretty links. By default, WordPress URLs use the query string format which looks something like this: http://www.example.com/registration WP Ultimo WP Ultimo is a WordPress plugin, made for WordPress Multisite installs, that transforms your WordPress install into a premium network of sites – like WordPress.com – allowing clients to create sites via monthly, quarterly, or yearly fees (you can also create Free plans). Checkout Form Checkout Form is a single or multi-step order form that involves the creation of subsite, membership, and user accounts through WP Ultimo registration. It consists of different fields and payment forms that a user must submit during the sign-up process. Webhook A webhook (also called a web callback or HTTP push API) is a way for an app to provide other applications with real-time information. A webhook delivers data to other applications as it happens, meaning you get data immediately. WP Ultimo webhooks open infinite possibilities, allowing network admins to do all sorts of crazy-but-useful integrations, especially if used in conjunction with services like Zapier and IFTTT. Events An Event is an action that occurs as a result of the user or another source action, such as a mouse click. WP Ultimo keeps a record of all the events and logs that are happening within your entire network. It tracks different activities happening in your multisite, like plan changes.

WP Ultimo Requirements

The first thing you might ask yourself before purchasing WP Ultimo is what are the requirements to run our plugin. Well, luckily, there are only a few basic requirements for running WP Ultimo: a domain name, a good hosting provider and a WordPress Multisite installation. That's all you need! Domain Name First, let's talk about the domain name. When choosing a domain name, keep in mind what is your specific niche and what you will be creating with WP Ultimo: Do you want to create an agency? Sell shop-like websites? Or maybe a WordPress web hosting? Everything is possible with WP Ultimo. Our plugin provides subscription services, payment collection, checkout forms, discount vouchers and customer communications. A great amount of the work required to install, configure and maintain a WordPress Multisite is facilitated by WP Ultimo. Any niche you choose can be managed using our plugin as long as you sell websites as a service! Make sure to choose a domain name that matches your business plan. Hosting Provider Now that you have a catching domain name that represents your niche and business, you will need to choose a good web hosting company to host your network with WP Ultimo. There are some good options on the market. Some hosting providers integrate well with WP Ultimo, which might be a decisive factor depending on what you are planning to build. WP Ultimo should work in any hosting provider. The only difference is that some hosting companies like WPMU DEV Hosting, WP Engine, Closte, Cloudways, Gridpane and Runcloud have a tighter integration for domain mapping. For other hosting, you may need to map the custom domains manually. It is also a good idea to get a hosting provider that supports AutoSSL. Closte, Runcloud and cPanel support it. When it comes to server specifications, there is no specific formula as it will depend on the features and functions you will offer and the size of your network. A shared hosting may be a good start, but as soon as your network starts to grow, you will probably need a dedicated VPS. WordPress Multisite Now, let's talk a little about a WordPress Multisite installation. WordPress Multisite allows you to have a network of sites on a single installation. This is a built-in feature, but it’s not active by default. You need to enable this feature inside your WordPress installation and web hosting control panel. Having WordPress with Multisite enabled is the base for WP Ultimo. Since the main use of WP Ultimo is to help users manage and sell websites as a service, this needs to be done on WordPress with Multisite enabled. We have an in-depth article teaching step by step what needs to be done to enable the Multisite feature on your WordPress installation. After you have Multisite enabled on WordPress, it is time to install WP Ultimo. To correctly install WP Ultimo, you must have: - WordPress: v5.3+ (Recommended: Last stable version) - PHP: 7.4.x (support to > 8.0 coming soon) - MySQL: v5+ (Recommended: 5.6, in case you don't have 8.0 available on your hosting provider) These are the only software requirements for WP Ultimo. Keep in mind that WP Ultimo may work with PHP 8.0 but we recommend running it with PHP 7.4.x. Also, we recommend installing it on main domains, not subdomains or subdirectories. It might work on subdomains/subdirectories, but it might present some errors. For a detailed guide on how to install WP Ultimo, click here.