One of the most misunderstood features in WordPress is WordPress Multisite. People are drawn to it because it promises to make managing multiple WordPress sites easy. They often don’t realize that multisite configuration comes at a cost in terms of flexibility…until it’s too late.

Multisite configuration can be extremely helpful in certain cases, but in others it can lead to an administrative catastrophe. It’s important to understand what Multisite is and what problems it was designed to address before you make the decision to use it.

What Is WordPress Multisite?

WordPress Multisite is a version of WordPress that allows you to run multiple websites from a single installation of WordPress and dashboard. This dashboard allows you to manage everything including the number of sites, features, themes, and user roles. It is possible to manage hundreds, thousands, and (theoretically) millions of sites. The best example of WordPress Multisite is WordPress.com, one of the largest WordPress networks on the Internet.

WordPress Multisite started out as an offshoot of WordPress designed to enable site owners to easily manage multiple blog sites under a single network. The project was eventually added into WordPress Core during the WordPress 3.0 release. This means any current version of WordPress you use today can be converted into a multisite installation.

When Should You Use Multisite?

WordPress Multisite is best used when you’re creating a network of sites sharing similar functionality. Ideally, this similar functionality has been added through plugins, custom applications, or specific server configurations. It truly works best when used on a limited number of themes specifically curated for the purposes of the network, as opposed to allowing members of the network to upload their own custom themes. If your network consists of widely different WordPress sites (different in terms of plugins, themes, and customization), then multisite is not a good fit for you.

Universities are a great example of successfully using a Multisite environment. A lot of them use Multisite to provide their staff with a way of posting internal blogs.

Real estate companies are another example. It provides as an easy way to offer their real estate agents with a basic website. The designs of these sites are the same, only the content is different from realtor to realtor.

WordPress Multisite Best Practices

If you find that you are an excellent candidate for Multisite (i.e. you need to offer similar WordPress websites to a large number of users), there are a couple of Multisite best practices that you should follow to ensure success.

We recommend that you work with a WordPress consultant who is an expert on scaling WordPress Multisite. If the network grows, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the number of server resources your site uses, as well as the upkeep of your database. It’s perfectly manageable as long as you are proactive, and it helps to work with an expert who can guide you through the growth phase of your network.

It’s also important to use a really good managed WordPress hosting provider who already supports the various features of a Multisite environment. At Pressable, for example, we host quite a few large subdirectory URL format networks and have developed technology and procedures to ensure our subdirectory deployments run smoothly and efficiently. A hosting provider with a great track record will dramatically increase the likelihood of continued success for your projects.

We hope this information makes it easier for you to determine if this approach is right for you. If you have questions about your specific Multisite configuration, we’d be glad to help. Contact our accounts team with your questions.