Having a web page is, nowadays, a simple task to carry out thanks to content management systems such as WordPress. But after the web is up and running, it is vital to carry out some maintenance tasks.
The only way to guarantee that your page is protected from cyber threats and that it works optimally is by knowing the different web maintenance tasks on WordPress that you must perform and the frequency with which it is you need to run them.
What is web maintenance? How often do you have to do it?
WordPress web maintenance consists of the execution of various tasks to optimize your web page, keep it protected and ensure its high performance.
So, these tasks, in addition to including updates and backing up the database, also means repairing broken links, removing inactive plugins and review the general operation, among other actions.
Each maintenance task requires a different frequency. Some must be done weekly, some monthly, or quarterly, and others are done every year.
Some weekly maintenance tasks for your WordPress
Among the tasks that you should perform at least once a week are:
- Visit your website
It may seem simple or unnecessary. But visiting your website as a user, exploring it and using the main functions is a key task to detect errors or problems that, as an administrator from your control panel, you have not noticed.
- Update WordPress, themes and plugins
Every week you need to check if there is any updating the WordPress core, themes or plugins that you have installed. If it exists, perform the update immediately. It is essential for the protection of your website and to ensure its optimal functioning.
- Make a backup copy
You can install a plugin to obtain backups automatically from time to time. But if you haven’t automated this process yet and your web host doesn’t provide it, then it’s vital that you manually make a backup of your page.
In the event that your website is static, you do not make blog posts and there are no comments, you can make the backup copy monthly.
- Verify Google Search Console
This task must be executed if you have connected your WordPress with Google Search Console. In the event that Google has detected any problem with the SEO of your web page, the Google search console will indicate the alert.
Some monthly web maintenance tasks for your WordPress
Among the web maintenance tasks that can be executed on a monthly basis are:
- Check the speed and performance of your website
It is essential that web pages load quickly, both to provide a good user experience and to achieve
the first positions in the search engines.
You can use Google PageSpeed. It is a free online tool that analyzes the speed and performance of your page, both in the desktop and mobile versions.
→ It may interest you: How to improve WordPress loading speed
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- Check SEO
If SEO traffic is relevant to you or your business, then you should check it out. Use analysis tools. For example, Ubersuggest, is an online application that will show you a report of your organic traffic per month.
It is also important that you review the data provided by Google Analytics about your website.
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- Run a security scan
Run security scans in order to detect any problems with the protection of your website. You can do this analysis from your WordPress Security plugin generally all these plugins include this feature.
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- Check for broken links
The broken links decrease the level of user experience in your website and can interfere with the search engines that crawl the pages.
To check if your page has any, you can install a WordPress auditing plugin. This tool will check for any issues and list any broken links.
Some annual web maintenance tasks on WordPress
Every year, it is important that you take the following actions:
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- Change password
One of the basic security measures is to change your password at least once a year. Make sure the password is unique and secure. In addition, it employs other tactics such as limiting login attempts.
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- Remove or disable non-essential plugins
Each plugin you install on your website creates a potential security risk and can also decrease page performance. Therefore, make sure that you only have plugins installed that are actually used by your website. The rest, the non-essential ones, delete or deactivate them.
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- Optimize content
Carry out a content audit of your page to find out what content is ineffective and what content the user likes the most.
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- Remove ineffective content or that is not read by users. You can merge it with other content or make a change of focus.
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- Update content that users like. Increase its value by adding information that interests readers.
Why is it necessary to do web maintenance on WordPress?
WordPress Core is constantly updated to stay ahead of cyber threats, fix bugs, and add new features.
You go functions.
As a consequence, developers of WordPress themes and plugins also submit their updates. In addition, they deliver innovations that automate some tasks and allow integration with other tools.
From another angle, there are changes to your own website, publication of new content, design changes, comments, new subscribers, etc.
Therefore, to maintain a web page updated, that works correctly, that offers an excellent user experience and is protected against cyber threats, it is essential that you perform the weekly, monthly and annual tasks of WordPress web maintenance.
These benefits make the price of WordPress web maintenance, or the effort and attention that goes into it, take a backseat.
It is always advisable to have the assistance of your trusted web development agency. In addition to helping you with your design, they will be able to assist you in the necessary web maintenance.
At Doowebs, web page design agency, we advise and assist you in the management of your web page.