**EDIT: I have decided to use option 2.**
Original Post:
Before the pitchforks and torches come to my office or home…not my site.
A friend’s parents run an ethnic restaurant (let’s say they were Vietnamese, they have a mom-n-pop Vietnamese restaurant). Here are some stats of the website:
* Website running on 3.8
* No SSL certificate
* Too many of the same plugins
* Think of the person that did their website installed Yoast SEO, then deactivated it and moved on to another SEO plugin then repeat. Same for security and other plugins.
* I think almost EVERY plugin needs to be updated
* The website is essentially just the menu of the restaurant and nothing else. No ordering, no seat reservations, nothing else.
The restaurant is busy, they want the option for people to reserve seats, along the menu. They are on ubereats, skipthedishes, etc…so no need for anything e-commerce/online ordering.
1. **Option 1**: Update WordPress, change the theme as there has not been an update in years, update the plugins, add SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt.
2. **Option 2**: DELETE EVERYTHING and restart over with a fresh install and only one SEO plugin, and other similar plugins so there isn’t 2+ plugins for the same features.
Obviously I changed the passwords for all related accounts. Parents don’t know about technology much.
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Start from. A fresh WP install and build a new website.
The WP now isn’t used for any ordering, correct? Just a contact form?
If so, you’ll easily be able to make a new website, move it to a good host, and put it live with no downtime
To make edits to the site now might be more work then just building a new website.
I say take a backup and then go crazy and send it
Just start with a fresh install and build from scratch. Sounds like they don’t have much to even port over. If you need to port content or posts use core export/import functionality and just build on a fresh install
Option 2. Start fresh, since it’s doubtful there’s really anything of value on the current site.
Start fresh. Not worth spending enormous amount of time upgrading an outdated install.
I’ve updated a lot of old software to get to current, and even for applications that anticipate this and publish the recommended upgrade paths, I’ve run into problems. I can’t imagine the potential nightmare awaiting trying to upgrade all of these different parts with dependencies on software that is 5+ years out of date.
I legit can’t think of a single pro in option 1. I’d start here if you want to go the upgrade route:
https://make.wordpress.org/hosting/handbook/upgrading/#upgrading-from-wordpress-0-7-3-6-by-migration
Option 2.
I’ve worked for a major hosting company that’s had these issues daily. Depends on the theme. If you need more info DM me.
Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
🤞 good luck
As many here have already mentioned, start fresh. The version of WordPress is completely outdated, so is the theme and the plugins. Most likely the restaurant menu would’ve changed in that time, and the photos might be old and unoptimized. Too many things can go wrong trying to salvage a site this old, that it’ll be quicker and less hassle to start with a fresh new install. Just make a backup of the old site first, in case you need to refer back to the old content.
Surely there are laws to protect fossils this old?
I find it unlikely you’ll be able to get the site all updated and running as it was, if you wanted to give updating it a go, I’d familiarise yourself with the functionality, back it all up and then disable all the plugins and upgrade core wordpress.
You’ll likely need to update php version of the server it’s hosted on, think you need 8 now? Not sure on that though.
If the site still works with all the plugins deactivated you’re in a good position, then enable them one by one and see what breaks. Good opportunity to clean out useless plugins.
>Before the pitchforks and torches come to my office or home…
Love it. LMAO.
As some others have recommended, don’t waste the time and effort.
Spin up a new site with a solid theme. Personally, I like GeneratePress Pro with one of their pre-built restaurant sites from their Site Library. Gives you a designed, starter site to get things up and running quickly.
There’s a nice, free menu plugin if you want to get fancy: [Five Star Food and Drink Menu](https://wordpress.org/plugins/food-and-drink-menu/)
Or, a quality PDF for viewing and download is fine, too.
You can install a restaurant reservations plugin (free or pro). Checkout the WP Plugin repo to see what’s best for you. Else, go 3rd party like OpenTable and integrate their system into a page or widget on the site.
Be sure to add all delivery services somewhere on the homepage, with each linked to the restaurants ordering page.
Be sure to install Google Analytics to start tracking your traffic.
Put the site behind Cloudflare (DNS) and get a reliable host.
Feel free to DM, if you like.