WordPress is a core content management component and software backbone for many organizations, and for good reason. It’s a reliable and popular open-source content management system (CMS); in fact, WordPress represents over 43% of all websites worldwide! Of the top 10,000 most trafficked websites worldwide, 38% run on WordPress.
Part of what has helped make WordPress so popular is the abundance of plugins and frameworks that extend core functionality. Many plugins offer essential features that most modern websites utilize, such as enhancements for search engine optimization (SEO), rich snippets for better search results, better speed performance, and social media integration.
While WordPress is a wonderful solution for companies that are looking to simplify and streamline their content strategy, there are some maintenance considerations you should account for. If you are running the self-hosted version of WordPress, the core software is open-source and is updated frequently. These updates address bugs, improve functionality, and patch security issues. Without these updates, websites can become sluggish, vulnerable to security breaches, or no longer function as intended.
Let’s take a look at how WordPress maintenance plans can help keep your website stable.
Because WordPress is such a widely used content management system, it tends to be exploited frequently by professional and aspiring hackers who are performing malicious activities. The development community does well in reporting security concerns which usually helps address issues quickly. So it’s important not to disregard the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of your website. If your site is hacked, it could cause irreparable damage to your organic SEO traffic, your Pay-Per-Click (PPC) initiatives, and the loyalty of your customers – not to mention potential legal implications if you are running an eCommerce store.
With a comprehensive WordPress maintenance plan, your website’s core functionality and security can be carefully maintained. Beyond periodic security patches and upgrades, maintenance plans should continuously monitor, identify, and address potential security concerns before they are even exposed to the community.
From DDoS attacks to unauthorized login attempts and malware injections through vulnerable code, a variety of real-world and relevant digital concerns warrant you to consider WordPress maintenance. Mitigating security threats will help you avoid the potentially disastrous consequences of a website outage.
Even seemingly secure websites can prove vulnerable to security breaches. No matter how much security is in place, no website is 100% impenetrable. While fundamental security enhancements are considered standard nowadays, increasingly savvy hackers are capable of breaching websites that are thoroughly protected. That is why including regular redundant backups of your files and database, which will help you quickly recover from a worst-case scenario, is a good idea. We usually like to keep at least two to three sets of restorable backups if possible.
If someone is able to hack your WordPress website and compromise your files and database, you will be able to easily restore from a previous secure version of your website and make security patches after restoration. Ongoing backups help ensure that you are always prepared to recover from a security breach, no matter how small or critical it may be.
When someone visits your website, they expect it to load fast and to be fully functional. Even seemingly minor issues can leave them feeling frustrated and lacking confidence in your website — which will likely mean they abandon your website altogether and never return.
A bad user experience (UX) can be a byproduct of many factors. One of the most common causes is broken functionality. Usually, these types of glitches exist because of conflicts with WordPress plugins your site depends on. These plugins extend the functionalities of the basic WordPress core software and are necessary. However, some plugins can conflict with one another, which could present compatibility and security issues if they are not maintained by the third-party vendors that develop them. Unfortunately, not all vendors are vigilant about keeping their plugin software up-to-date with new WordPress core software upgrades. So choosing the right plugins to use is a critical component of your website too.
A strong maintenance plan will include updates to the WordPress core software, plugins, and, if applicable, the theme that your website is utilizing. This will help ensure your customers don’t experience any “glitches” on the website. Of course, thorough testing of the entire website is required after upgrading.
There is no substitute for a comprehensive WordPress maintenance plan that keeps your website healthy and secure. Help ensure that you are delivering the very best product and experience to your customers. WordPress maintenance is easy with Zero Gravity Marketing. We do all the heavy lifting and dirty work, while you rest assured that your website is in good hands.
Contact us today to learn how our WordPress maintenance plans can help keep your organization’s content management efforts on track.