WordPress Website Maintenance: Do I really need it for a successful website?
WordPress Website maintenance is key to a successful website for many reasons:
- Security: Websites are vulnerable to hacking, malware, and other security breaches. Regular website maintenance can ensure that the website is protected from such threats.
- Functionality: Over time, a website’s code and plugins can become outdated and may cause problems with the website’s functionality. Regular website maintenance can ensure that everything is up-to-date and functioning properly.
- User Experience: A well-maintained website is easy to navigate and provides a good user experience. Regular website maintenance can ensure that the website’s design and functionality are user-friendly and accessible.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Search engines prioritize websites that are regularly updated and maintained. Regular website maintenance can help improve a website’s SEO ranking and visibility.
- Reputation: A poorly maintained website can reflect poorly on a business or organization’s reputation. Regular website maintenance can help maintain a positive image and reputation.
So, website maintenance is crucial to keep a website secure, functional, user-friendly, SEO-friendly, and maintain a good reputation. A well-maintained website can ultimately lead to increased traffic, better user engagement, and improved business or organizational success.
I just had my website built, do I really need maintenance?
Websites are not “set it and forget it.” While it may be tempting to launch a website and then leave it alone, website maintenance is an ongoing process that is crucial to ensuring the website remains secure, functional, and up-to-date.
Websites require ongoing maintenance to keep them functioning properly, and to ensure that they remain secure against new threats and vulnerabilities. As technology evolves, updates to a website’s software, plugins, and themes may be necessary to keep the website running smoothly and efficiently.
Additionally, regular content updates, including new blog posts, product updates, and other website updates, are important to keep the website engaging and relevant to users. This can help drive traffic to the website and improve the website’s search engine ranking.
Websites require ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure that they remain secure, functional, and engaging to users. A “set it and forget it” approach is not recommended as it can lead to a poorly performing website and potentially put the website and its users at risk.
Can’t I just do my own website maintenance?
While there are benefits to doing some website maintenance tasks yourself, there are also potential dangers to consider. Here are some of the dangers of Do It Yourself (DIY) website maintenance:
- Lack of expertise: If you do not have the necessary expertise and knowledge to perform certain website maintenance tasks, you could inadvertently cause more harm than good. This could result in website downtime, data loss, or even compromise the website’s security.
- Time-consuming: Website maintenance can be time-consuming, particularly if you are not familiar with the process. This can take time away from other important tasks and responsibilities.
- Incomplete maintenance: If you are not aware of all the necessary website maintenance tasks, you may overlook critical areas of maintenance, which could lead to problems down the line. This can result in the website being vulnerable to hacking, malware, and other security breaches.
DIY website maintenance can be risky if you do not have the necessary expertise, knowledge, and tools to perform the maintenance tasks correctly. It is important to carefully consider the risks and benefits of DIY maintenance and determine what tasks you are comfortable performing yourself and which tasks require the assistance of a professional.
It Costs More to Fix Than to Maintain
It is often true that it costs more to fix a website than to maintain it properly. Neglecting website maintenance can result in technical problems, security breaches, and other issues that can be costly to fix. Here are some of the ways that neglecting website maintenance can lead to higher costs:
- Security breaches: Neglecting website security can leave your website vulnerable to hacking, malware, and other security breaches. If your website is compromised, it can be costly to fix the damage and restore your website’s reputation.
- Downtime: Technical problems can cause your website to go down, which can result in lost revenue and a damaged reputation. If your website is down for an extended period of time, it can be costly to fix the problem and get your website back up and running.
- Lost data: Failing to back up your website can result in lost data in the event of a crash or other disaster. Recovering lost data can be time-consuming and expensive.
- Outdated software: Failing to update your website’s software can result in compatibility issues, which can cause your website to malfunction. Fixing these issues can be time-consuming and costly.
In summary, neglecting website maintenance can lead to a variety of issues that can be costly to fix. By investing in regular website maintenance, you can help prevent these issues and save money in the long run. It is important to view website maintenance as a necessary investment in the long-term success of your website.
Call in a Professional
Would you try to fight that court battle without a lawyer, or deal with the IRS without an accountant? Of course not! And yet many people try to maintain their own website. By securing an experienced web professional to update and maintain your site properly you minimize the likelihood of potential site failures, lost sales and missed visitors. Why not deal with what you know best and let web experts deal with what they know best?
WebArc has you covered, with WordPress website maintenance and hosting services that make it easy for you to properly maintain your WordPress website. If you’re interested in securing a maintenance contract for your web site, contact us to learn how we can keep your site working properly. It’s the best way to be a good friend to your website.