If you’re selling infoproducts on WordPress—like online courses, eBooks, coaching services, or membership communities—keeping your site running smoothly while making updates can feel like a juggling act. That’s where version control and DevOps come in. These concepts might sound technical, but they’re powerful tools to help your infoproduct business grow by ensuring your site stays reliable, secure, and easy to improve. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll break down what version control and DevOps mean, why they matter for your WordPress site, and how they can drive better business outcomes for selling infoproducts.
What Are Version Control and DevOps?
Version control is a way to track and manage changes to your site’s code, files, or content—like a history log that lets you save, compare, or roll back versions. Think of it as a “Ctrl+Z” for your WordPress site. DevOps (short for Development and Operations) is a broader approach to streamline how you build, test, and launch updates, making your site more efficient and stable. For infoproduct sellers, these tools mean less downtime, fewer mistakes, and a site that’s always ready to sell.
Why Version Control and DevOps Matter for Infoproduct Success
Your WordPress site is your sales engine, and keeping it in top shape directly impacts your business. Here’s how these practices boost your infoproduct outcomes:
Reduces Downtime and Risks
A bad update—like a buggy plugin—can crash your site during a course launch, losing you sales. Version control lets you revert to a working version fast, while DevOps ensures updates are tested before going live, keeping your store open.
Speeds Up Improvements
Want to tweak your checkout or add a new eBook? Version control tracks changes so you can experiment safely, and DevOps streamlines the process, getting features to customers quicker—think faster sales boosts.
Protects Your Revenue
A stable site means no interruptions to your membership signups or download deliveries. These tools cut the risk of errors that scare off buyers, keeping your cash flow steady.
Grows Your Business Confidently
As your infoproduct catalog expands, managing updates gets trickier. Version control and DevOps let you scale without chaos, ensuring your site keeps selling as you add more courses or services.
Version Control Basics for Beginners
Let’s start with version control—it’s simpler than it sounds and super useful for your WordPress site.
What It Does
Tools like Git save snapshots of your site’s files—think themes, plugins, or custom code. You can:
- See who changed what and when.
- Go back to a previous version if something breaks.
How to Start
- Install Git: Use it on your computer or via your hosting (many like SiteGround offer it).
- Set Up a Repository: This is your project’s storage spot—try GitHub (free for basics) to save your site’s files.
- Commit Changes: Each time you tweak your site, “commit” it to save a version.
WordPress Example
Say you update your theme and it breaks your checkout. With Git, roll back to the last working version in minutes, keeping sales alive.
DevOps Basics for Beginners
DevOps builds on version control to make your site’s updates smoother and more reliable.
What It Involves
- Testing: Check changes in a safe space before launch.
- Automation: Use tools to handle repetitive tasks—like backups or updates.
- Deployment: Push updates to your live site without hiccups.
How to Start
- Use a Staging Site: Tools like WP Staging create a test copy of your site.
- Automate Backups: Set up UpdraftPlus to save your site daily.
- Deploy Safely: Push tested changes from staging to live with a plugin or hosting feature.
WordPress Example
Test a new course page on staging, automate its backup, then deploy it live—your customers see the update without ever noticing a glitch.
Tools to Make It Easy
These beginner-friendly tools get you going fast:
- GitHub: Free storage for your site’s versions at github.com.
- Bitbucket: Another Git option with WordPress-friendly features.
- WP Stagecoach: Simple staging for testing updates.
- DeployHQ: Automates pushing changes to your live site.
Start with GitHub and WP Staging—they’re free and straightforward.
How Version Control and DevOps Drive Business Outcomes
Imagine launching a new membership tier. Version control tracks your site tweaks—like a custom login page—letting you undo mistakes if signups fail. DevOps tests it on staging first, ensuring it works before launch, so your revenue rolls in without a hitch. Or picture updating your eBook store during a sale—automation keeps backups safe, and a smooth deployment means no lost customers. These practices turn your WordPress site into a reliable sales machine.
Real-World Wins
A stable site can cut downtime by 80%, saving sales during peak times. Faster updates—say, from days to hours—mean you beat competitors to market with new offerings, boosting profits.
Avoid These Beginner Mistakes
Keep it simple and safe:
- Don’t Skip Backups: Always save your site before changes—use UpdraftPlus.
- Test First: Never update live without a staging check.
- Start Small: Try version control on one file before your whole site.
Conclusion
Version control and DevOps might sound like tech jargon, but they’re your secret weapons for a WordPress infoproduct business. They keep your site stable, let you improve fast, and protect your sales—whether you’re pushing courses, eBooks, or coaching services. Start with Git for versioning and a staging site for DevOps basics, and watch your business grow without the stress.
Ready to take your WordPress site to the next level? Contact OptSites via our contact form below. We’re experts in setting up version control and DevOps for infoproduct sellers—let’s make your sales unstoppable!