Is your website not performing the way it used to when you first launched it? Are you seeing occasional lags, errors, and 404 pages? If yes, then ask the next question: Is WordPress maintenance on your bucket list?

If your answer is no, then the primary reasons behind the poor performance of your WordPress website are no mystery. Most site owners don't know the importance of WordPress maintenance. To ensure your site runs smoothly and performs consistently, you need to know the best WordPress maintenance tips.

Not sure how to maintain your WordPress website? The best solution is to approach a white label WordPress development agency. They will manage every aspect of your website to enhance its performance and reliability. 

If you want to maintain your WordPress website independently, here are the best WordPress maintenance tips you need to follow. Keep reading to find out more details.

Importance of WordPress Maintenance Tasks

Contrary to popular belief, WordPress websites are not a “set-once-leave-alone” process. WordPress maintenance mode is an ongoing process, just like SEO. It’s not something that you implement and forget about. 

Without regular maintenance, you will face numerous errors and downtime, especially while navigating the pages. 

When you implement crucial WordPress maintenance tasks, you can greatly improve the overall user experience and performance of your WordPress website. Furthermore, you can reduce security risks, as outdated websites are more vulnerable to security threats. 

Maintaining your WordPress website takes time, but it’s an essential task. Proper site maintenance is the key to a fully functional and secured website. The more time you spend maintaining your website, the fewer errors you will encounter. 

16 Best WordPress Maintenance Tips

Remember that you need some technical knowledge to complete the maintenance process. If you lack time and patience, contacting a white-label WordPress development company will prove beneficial. 

By the end of this article, you will know the best WordPress maintenance checklist to help you run your website efficiently.  

1. Full backup of your WordPress site

Your WordPress website is the storefront of your business. Like your valuable belongings, you should not leave your WordPress website unprotected. 

For peace of mind, you need to back up your website thoroughly. Many factors can lead to data loss, from technical glitches and cyberattacks to user errors. Regular backups will help you restore your website effortlessly during such challenging times. 

You can leverage any WordPress plugin for regular backup and restore. The best thing about these backup plugins is that they will store your WordPress data on third-party cloud platforms

However, remember that almost all WordPress backup and restore plugins are paid. You can also contact a white-label WordPress development service provider for website backup. 

If you’re using the backup plugins, you can automate the entire process. You can create daily, weekly, and monthly backups depending on your needs. Many plugins have advanced features that will remove outdated backups, freeing up space. 

2. Regular WordPress version updates

One of the most crucial WordPress maintenance tips is version upgrades. Despite the importance, many website owners and WordPress developers forget to check for WordPress updates. You should prioritize updating your site to the latest version to minimize website security threats

Being a leading CMS worldwide, WordPress is constantly evolving. WordPress releases a new version every two weeks with bug fixes, new features, and improvements. Regular updates ensure your site runs smoothly and secure against the latest threats. 

The best approach is to set up automatic updates for core files and themes whenever possible. If you don't want to upgrade to the live version immediately, you can test it on the staging site and make it live once it is safe

You can also use different types of plugins to automate the WordPress updation process. For instance, the BlogVault plugin will allow you to test the WordPress version.

3. Check & update WordPress plugins and themes

Plugins and themes are among your site's most crucial elements. They enhance functionality and appearance. However, if you don't upgrade them regularly, they can lead to security risks, slow down your site, and break functionalities.

If you want to prevent this, check the plugin and theme updates regularly. After this, take a backup of your site, test the plugin or theme thoroughly on a copy of your website, and only then update these things on the live website! 

Also, you should remove or change all the WordPress themes and plugins you don't use. Only install and use the best WordPress themes. These WordPress maintenance tips will come in handy in minimizing the risk of vulnerabilities and enhancing site speed.

4. Review WordPress website passwords

Strong passwords are your website's first line of defence against unauthorized access. Hackers regularly target weak passwords, so updating your passwords is crucial. I have seen countless websites getting hacked due to poor or easy-to-guess passwords.

The best practice is to utilize complex combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don't use dictionary words, personal information, or easily guessable patterns. The more complex the password you create, the better the security barrier you can generate. 

Additionally, don’t forget to enable the “two-factor authentication”. Regularly review and update your WordPress login password, database, and FTP credentials. Remember, strong passwords and reliable WordPress hosting solutions are your key to a secure website.

5. Performance checks

Modern users have a short attention span. If your website is slow, it will frustrate them. They don’t think twice before leaving your site and visiting your competitors. 

This will ultimately increase the overall bounce rate on your website, which is not good for SEO. You will also see a solid drop in the SERP results pages. 

Therefore, it is essential to check website performance regularly. You must focus on crucial things like broken links, site speed, and SEO. These aspects not only determine your website's performance but also your user experience. 

To check the thorough performance of your WordPress site, you can use performance-checking tools or third-party plugins like GTMetrix or Google Page Speed Insights. These provide you with all the necessary insights to improve your site. You can work on your site accordingly and ensure it performs optimally.

6. Seach Engine Optimization

SEO optimization is one of the best WordPress maintenance tasks to perform. As I mentioned earlier, WordPress maintenance is an ongoing process like SEO. If you don’t pay close attention to SEO aspects, there’s no point in creating a website and offering services. 

The current business market has changed a lot. Online visibility is key to getting high traffic and ranking on search engines. Your website ranks higher on Google by implementing proper search engine optimization tactics.

You will receive more organic traffic as your website ranks higher on the SERPs. This is because users always engage with websites or businesses that appear on the first page of SERPs. 

Make sure you update your SEO strategy regularly to align with current algorithms. These can significantly improve your site's traffic. It includes using the right keywords, optimizing meta tags, and ensuring your content is high-quality and relevant.

WordPress provides different types of SEO plugins. While Yoast SEO is one of the most popular WordPress SEO plugins, the Rank Math SEO plugin is also a close competitor.

7. Database optimization

Your WordPress database stores all your website's content and settings. The database is the heart of your WordPress website. A single corruption can become a nightmare, as you may lose data permanently. 

While the database will be much smaller during the initial stage, it will grow as your website grows. Over time, it comprises unused revisions, spam comments, and deleted data. This clutter can slow down your website and impact performance. 

Optimizing your database is one of the most essential WordPress maintenance tips. You need to ensure you’re removing unnecessary data, optimizing tables, and repairing potential issues

Leveraging the WordPress database plugin is the most suitable method for optimizing your database. There are tons of WP database plugins available in the market. Installing the right one ensures your site runs flawlessly.

8. Dealing with spam comments

Spam comments can clutter your website and detract from the user experience. Implementing effective spam protection measures, such as CAPTCHA and comment moderation, is necessary. 

Monitoring and deleting spam comments is crucial to maintaining your site’s professionalism and credibility. With these span protection measures, you don’t need to worry about cluttering websites. 

The most effective practice here is to use comment moderation plugins to identify and remove spam comments easily. Consider disabling comments altogether for less interactive pages. Remember, a proactive approach keeps your WordPress comment section clean and your website's reputation intact.

9. Test your WordPress forms

Forms are crucial for user information, feedback, and lead generation. Broken or malfunctioning forms can hinder communication and frustrate visitors. Regularly test all your forms to ensure they function across different devices and browsers.

One good practice is to use or integrate clear labels, intuitive designs, and error messages to inform users. You can even use testing tools to identify and fix usability issues. Remember, well-functioning forms create a smooth user experience and help you achieve your website's goals.

10. Handling 404 errors and broken links

Any 404 errors and broken links on the website can disrupt the user journey. Therefore, fixing or redirecting them is crucial for maintaining a smooth user experience. 

Let’s assume you have spent hundreds of dollars creating and marketing a WordPress website. You’re capturing the attention of your target audience, only to witness higher bounce rates. This is because users cannot access specific pages of your website due to a 404 error

Implement a user-friendly 404 page that offers alternative navigation options and helps visitors find their needs. Moreover, you can even approach a white label WordPress development company that can help you manage 404 errors and broken links. This maintenance task ensures your site remains navigable and user-friendly.

11. Perform a content & SEO audit

Do you know WordPress is good for SEO? A content and SEO audit is crucial for maintaining your site’s relevance and ranking. Conducting such audits is vital for identifying areas of improvement on your website

This process involves reviewing your site's content for quality, relevance, and SEO optimization, ensuring it meets the latest standards and practices. An audit can reveal opportunities to enhance your site's visibility and engagement. 

You can even utilize some popular WordPress plugins to audit your WordPress site effectively.

12. Check device & browser compatibility

Just because you’re eager to create a WordPress website doesn’t mean you need to neglect device compatibility. User behavior has changed a lot, with the primary shift to mobile devices. If your website is not compatible with mobiles, PCs, and tablets, you will lose a huge chunk of organic traffic

To reach a wider audience, you must ensure your website displays correctly across different devices and browsers. You also need to test responsiveness and functionality across various platforms regularly. Having a mobile-optimized website guarantees a seamless experience for all users. 

You can use browser testing tools or online emulators to check compatibility on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Adapt your website's design and layout to cater to various screen sizes and resolutions.

13. Check overall UX

User experience (UX) is mandatory for website success. Moreover, it is the key to retaining visitors. 

Regularly evaluating your site's UX involves assessing navigation, loading times, content organization, and overall design to ensure it meets users' expectations

When you focus more on UX will lead to higher engagement, increased retention rates, and better conversion rates. 

Make sure you contact a white label WordPress development service provider. They can offer expert UX analysis and improvements, making your site more intuitive and user-friendly. 

14. Perform a security check

Out of all these WordPress maintenance tips, this is the most important one. Your website's security is vital to protect your data and user information. Failing to do so will result in data theft and damage to reputation

Thus, you must conduct regular security checks. This way you can protect your WordPress site from hacking, malware, and other vulnerabilities. However, the process is easier said than done. 

Manual checking of the security aspects of your website takes a lot of time. You need to know the different aspects, in addition to technical knowledge, to ensure everything is in order. 

The best practice is to install a plugin that helps you identify vulnerabilities like outdated software, weak passwords, or malicious code. 

While you let plugins handle the heavy lifting, focus on easier tasks like updating your WordPress core, plugins, and themes. Remember, proactive security measures safeguard your website and build trust with visitors.

If you don't have a team of WordPress experts, you can use a maintenance mode plugin. These plugins will help you maintain your site properly. 

15. Modify images on the WordPress site

Online users love consuming visual content. Creating a website with large chunks of text without images will affect visibility. Your target audience may not find it appealing. 

This is why you need to include high-quality and relevant images on your WordPress website. They are crucial in enhancing your website's visual appeal and user experience. Well-optimized images attract users while also ensuring your site performs optimally.

However, unoptimized images can slow down your website. They will take forever to load and increase pressure on your website. 

You can use WordPress image optimization plugins to compress files without sacrificing quality. Resize images to the appropriate dimensions for your website layout. Consider using “alt text” to improve SEO and accessibility. 

16. Review Google Search Console and Analytics

You need to monitor your website data continuously. This is one of the best WordPress maintenance tips to help your site stay healthier. This tip will also help you monitor your WordPress security performance. 

Through Google Analytics, you can know if there’s any major spike in visitor traffic. If it’s from any particular country without any particular reason, it’s highly likely a malware attack. Similarly, Google Analytics will help you know the content and page your visitors engage with. 

Google Search Console comes with a security tab. This will let you know if Google has detected any type of malware or spam on your website. Thus, you can take care of it before your website gets blacklisted. 

Ready to implement these WordPress Maintenance Tips?

In conclusion, you need to pay close attention to the maintenance aspects of your WordPress website. When you perform WordPress maintenance tips, you can ensure your website's proper functionality.

I recommend collaborating with a white label WordPress development company. They can further streamline these tasks, providing expert support and services tailored to your site's needs

I hope you found this maintenance service blog helpful. Which WordPress maintenance plan do you find most helpful? Let me know in the comment section below. 

Frequently Asked Questions

While WordPress maintenance is simple, the process may feel mundane. To get rid of manual maintenance, you can install WordPress maintenance plugins. However, to ensure the best functionality, contact a white label WordPress development company.

There are various aspects that will make your website better. From choosing the best WordPress hosting to installing different types of themes and plugins, many factors play a crucial role. Make sure you hire a WordPress developer for a seamless experience.

Yes, maintenance is one of the most crucial aspects of your WordPress website. If you don't maintain your WP website regularly, you will notice performance and security issues.

WordPress maintenance mode is a feature that allows website administrators to temporarily display a maintenance page to visitors while performing updates, upgrades, or changes to the site. When maintenance mode is activated, visitors to the website will see a predefined message informing them that the site is undergoing maintenance and will be back online shortly.

The time taken for WordPress maintenance will depend on various factors, such as the size and complexity of the site itself. Normally, it would take between a few minutes to a couple of hours.