Keeping your WordPress website running smoothly is not a one-time task. Just like a car needs regular service, a WordPress website also needs monthly maintenance. Many people build a site and forget about it. But without proper care, websites can become slow, insecure, or even stop working properly. That’s why monthly WordPress maintenance is so important. In this article, we’ll walk you through the most important things to check every month to keep your website healthy and working at its best.
Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring professionals, these tips will help make sure nothing is missed.
Check for WordPress Core Updates
WordPress often releases updates to improve performance and fix security issues. At least once a month, log into your dashboard and check if the WordPress core has any new updates. Updating the core ensures that your site is safe from known bugs or threats. Delaying updates can make your site vulnerable to hackers. However, before updating, it’s always good to take a full backup, just in case anything goes wrong during the update.
Update Themes and Plugins
Just like the core, themes and plugins also get regular updates. These updates often include bug fixes, added features, or patches for security problems. If themes or plugins are outdated, they can stop working or even break your website. You should regularly go to the plugins section and check for pending updates. Always make sure your active theme is up to date too.
Also, delete any plugins or themes that are not in use. Keeping unused plugins or themes is risky because they still can be a target for hackers.
Backup Your Website
Backups are one of the most important parts of WordPress maintenance. If something goes wrong, a recent backup can save your website. Make sure you back up both the files and the database.
You can use plugins for automatic backups or back up manually using hosting tools. Store backups in a secure location, like cloud storage. Monthly backups are good, but if your site changes often, consider weekly or even daily backups.
Udaipur Web Designer always recommends setting a backup schedule based on your website’s activity level.
Check Website Security
Security should be checked every month. This includes scanning your website for malware or suspicious files. Use reliable security plugins that can scan and alert you to any problems. Also, review user accounts and remove any users who should not have access.
It’s a good idea to enable two-factor authentication for your admin panel. Changing passwords every few months is another simple step to keep your site safe.
If you’re not confident handling all of this alone, a WordPress Development Company in Udaipur can assist in setting up strong security systems.
Test Website Speed and Performance
A slow website can frustrate visitors and cause them to leave quickly. Every month, test your site’s loading speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. These tools will show you which parts of your website are slowing it down.
Try to keep your website fast by optimizing images, reducing the number of active plugins, and using caching plugins. Fast websites give better user experiences and also help with SEO rankings.
Review Website Forms and Functionalities
If your website has forms, like contact forms or sign-up forms, test them regularly. Sometimes, forms stop working due to plugin conflicts or outdated tools. Check whether form submissions are being received in your email. Also, test payment systems if you run an e-commerce site.
These checks will help ensure that visitors can contact you or buy from you without problems.
Fix Broken Links and 404 Errors
Broken links are bad for both users and search engines. Monthly, scan your site for broken links using tools like Broken Link Checker. Fix any links that lead to pages that no longer exist or have moved.
Also, check your site for 404 errors. If a visitor lands on a non-existing page, they’ll see a 404 error. You can fix this by setting up proper redirects or restoring the missing page.
Clean Up Database
Over time, your WordPress database gets filled with unnecessary data like spam comments, post revisions, and trash. This can slow down your website. Every month, clean your database using plugins like WP-Optimize.
A clean database helps your site load faster and perform better. But always take a backup before making any changes to the database.
Monitor Website Traffic and Analytics
Use Google Analytics or similar tools to track your website traffic. By reviewing your monthly data, you can see how many people are visiting your site, what pages they visit most, and where they come from.
This helps you understand what’s working and what’s not. If traffic drops suddenly, it might mean there’s a problem that needs fixing.
Udaipur Web Designer suggests checking bounce rates and traffic sources as part of your monthly review to better understand user behavior.
Check for Mobile and Browser Compatibility
More and more people use mobile phones to browse websites. Each month, check how your website looks and works on mobile devices and different browsers.
Sometimes, updates to plugins or themes can make your site look strange or break a feature on some devices. Use your own phone or tools like BrowserStack to test the display.
Ensure SSL Certificate is Active
Your website should have an SSL certificate. This means visitors will see “https” instead of “http” in the address bar. It’s also important for SEO. Check every month that the SSL is still valid and hasn’t expired.
If you see a “Not Secure” message on your site, it’s time to fix the SSL issue immediately.
Review User Roles and Comments
Check if there are any new users on your site and review their roles. Only trusted people should have admin access. Also, review the comments section to remove spam and reply to genuine comments.
Keeping this section clean shows that your site is well managed and that you care about user interaction.
If managing all of this seems too much, many businesses use WordPress Website Maintenance Services in Udaipur to handle these monthly tasks. They take care of everything from updates to backups and performance checks.
Conclusion
Monthly maintenance of a WordPress website is essential to keep it safe, fast, and user-friendly. Skipping regular checks can lead to broken features, security risks, and poor user experience. Whether you manage the site yourself or take help from experts, follow this checklist every month. It will help you keep your website healthy and working at its best.
If you’re looking for reliable guidance or assistance, Udaipur Web Designer is a name trusted by many for consistent WordPress website support.
