6 Useful Tips To Consider For WordPress Maintenance

April 26, 2022Posted By: Cristopher Parmar

Website ManagementWebsite SecurityWordPress Maintenance

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of Content Management Systems, WordPress stands out as a robust and versatile player. With an impressive 34% share of the website market, it has firmly established its dominance in the CMS realm. Much like well-built structures need regular maintenance, WordPress, too, demands a consistent upkeep routine to ensure your website runs smoothly. In the era of the digital revolution, maintaining an online presence is as vital as sustaining any other business operation.

While there are various CMS options available, WordPress has consistently proven its value. It boasts the “Free and Open Source” (FOSS) status, which means users can access most of its services without incurring any costs. Before diving into WordPress maintenance, confirming your website is functioning is crucial. You wouldn’t want to be caught off guard by sudden issues with your WordPress site.

To avoid such unpleasant surprises, it’s wise to establish a maintenance schedule that keeps your website running smoothly. WordPress, an open-source content management system, is accessible to anyone on the internet, whether they have benevolent or malicious intentions. To protect your website from the latter group, it’s essential to perform regular maintenance, including frequent updates.

WordPress Maintenance

Consider These Vital Guidelines For WordPress Maintenance Services

1. Creating Back-Up

When it comes to conducting WordPress maintenance, it’s a good practice to follow the Rule Of Thumb, which suggests creating backups of your website’s data. It’s often advisable to have multiple backups stored in different locations to safeguard against unexpected issues.

2. Update All WordPress Files, Theme, And Plug-In

Just like the human body requires a variety of nutrients, a WordPress website needs regular updates to meet its evolving technological requirements. Updating WordPress plugins, themes, and files to the latest versions is essential to ensure optimal performance.

3. Removal Of Unwanted Elements

WordPress features a built-in comment system to encourage community interaction, but if you’re unhappy with the comments or suspect spam, you can enhance it by using the AKISMET plugin for anti-spam services. You can configure your comments section in the “Settings » Discussion” menu.

Remove unnecessary themes, plugins, content, or any extraneous code snippets within the theme.

4. Image Optimization

The adage holds: “Higher image resolution leads to slower websites.” Image choice and positioning significantly impact website speed. Not all images are suitable; they must be optimized for web use.

There are two main methods:

– Manual optimization via online tools.

– Employing paid plugins.

5. Fixing 404 Errors

A 404 Error signifies successful browser-server communication but an inability to locate the requested page. Typically caused by mistyped URLs, it can occasionally result from page unavailability, affecting user experience.

6. Security

When it comes to securing your WordPress site during maintenance, you can implement fundamental security measures such as:

Replace the default WP site prefix with a custom one.
Enforce strong passwords and periodically change passwords for WP admins.
Modify the default ‘wp-admin’ admin details.
Enhance file editing security via WP config settings.
Utilize Robot.txt files to bolster Google crawling security.
Incorporate spam security plugins and captchas in forms.

While these are basic security steps, there are more potent plugins available. I recommend using the All in One Security Plugin for sites of any size.

Conclusion

WordPress, an effective content management system, requires routine maintenance to ensure optimal website performance. Here are essential tips for WordPress developers as a reminder to inspect and update their WordPress websites regularly. Embracing these practices not only fortifies the security of your site but also enhances user experience and trust. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, proactive maintenance remains a pivotal element in sustaining the longevity and credibility of your online presence. Remember, a well-maintained website reflects your commitment to offering a seamless experience to your visitors.