Last updated on May 20th, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Do you know the crucial areas on your WordPress site that need routine attention?
Do you skip any of them when maintaining your website?
The obvious areas that need your attention are the red notifications on the Updates menu of the Dashboard. These notifications tell you which tools (plugins, themes, WordPress versions) need an update.
The not-so-obvious ones are those in the background, like your site’s security, database, and website users.
Knowing exactly what areas on your site need to be maintained gives you clarity when you do WordPress maintenance. You’ll be more conscious while doing it and won’t keep wondering if you forgot anything or if you did enough.
Most importantly?
Not only does it help harden your site’s security and improve its efficiency, functionality, and performance, but also reduces the electricity required to run your site. Thus, fewer carbon emissions. This is a huge benefit for our planet. Thanks to you for doing the right thing.
So, let’s discuss what you need to maintain on your WordPress site; the 9 areas to not overlook. I also included some plugin suggestions whenever applicable.
What you need to maintain on your WordPress site; the 9 areas to not overlook.
#1: WordPress Core Updates:
WordPress core includes files and folders that allow you to manage web content and functions through the WordPress dashboard. It’s like the backbone of your website. Updating the WordPress core version when it’s released helps ensure that known vulnerabilities are patched, and bugs are fixed. Your site will become more secure.
#2: Theme Updates:
Themes affect your site’s look and feel. Keep them updated to make sure their vulnerabilities are patched, theme features are fixed, and that they’re compatible with your WordPress core.
#3: Plugin Updates:
Plugins unlock functions in your WordPress site. However, they can also introduce security vulnerabilities if not updated regularly. Keep them updated to ensure compatibility with your WordPress core, and to fix any bugs or flaws.
#4: Regular Backups:
Have a copy of your website files and database. ALWAYS. Not only should you rely on your web host, but you should also keep a copy on your computer and another in remote storage. These backups will save you in case of unforeseen issues, security breaches, or if you can’t access your web host.
Plugin suggestions: All-in-One WP Migration, UpdraftPlus
#5: Site’s Security:
Beyond using a security plugin to scan for your site’s vulnerabilities, you should also implement security practices at a foundation level and check on them periodically. For example, use strong passwords for all site users, limit login attempts, and clean up spam comments and inactive users.
Plugin suggestions: Patchstack, Wordfence, Sucuri
#6: Database Optimization:
Optimize your WordPress database periodically to remove unnecessary data, such as trash posts, and post revisions can help reduce website weight and improve its performance.
Plugin suggestions: WP-Optimizer
#7: Content Updates:
Update existing content, improve your search engine optimization (SEO) scores, and add new relevant content to keep your website fresh and engaging for visitors. This will help increase discoverability for your content, encourage return visits, and increase conversion.
Plugin suggestions: Yoast SEO, Rank Math SEO, The SEO Framework
#8: Broken Link Checking:
Check for broken links on your website once in a while and fix or remove them. Broken links can quickly turn your visitors away and negatively impact your SEO ranking.
Plugin suggestions: Broken Link Checker
#9: Website Speed Optimization:
Monitor and optimize your website’s loading speed. Many factors affect your site speed, such as large image file size, excessive scripts, no-cache setup, bad web host, etc. Slow-loading websites lead to a poor user experience and lower search engine rankings.
Plugin suggestions: Smush (image optimizer), W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache (caching tools)
Lastly:
Make sure to include all these areas in your web maintenance routine if you haven’t done that already! Is there anything else you want to add to the list? Let me know.