WordPress is not “Build it and Forget it”. Your new WordPress site will need some basic maintenance over time to keep it secure, running optimally and up-to-date. This is a step that is often overlooked but is vitally important if you want your site to run well.
Regular WordPress maintenance includes:Regular backups
Regular backups
Backup your database.
Your WordPress website uses a database – a special file – that contains just about everything in your site – the site settings, plugin configurations and the content for every page and post. In fact, your entire site can be reproduced almost entirely intact with just the database file and a copy of your theme and images. You can imagine that should this file get damaged somehow the result would be devastating – your site would be broken. Without a backup, your site would have to be recreated, page by page.
That is why keeping a current database backup file is so important. It does not happen often, but database files can, and do, get corrupted or damaged.
Backup your files.
Having a current backup of your database and your files means that your site can be restored with relative ease. Without a backup, restoring your site could take hour, days, or longer and you may never recover it exactly the same.
You will want to make sure that you have a current database backup before updating so that your site can easily be restored if an issue arises.
Fortunately, it is easy to make backups of both your database and your site files. There are a number of WordPress plugins that can automate this process and even send copies to your email or to off-site storage for safekeeping.
Version updates for the WordPress application
Updates to the WordPress core – the base WordPress application, are released regularly. The updates can contain bug fixes, security patches, or new or improved features and functionality. Keeping WordPress up to date helps keep your site secure and running in tip-top shape.
Plugin updates
Plugins add functionality to your website – features in addition to the WordPress core. Most sites have at least a few. Common plugins add extra security, automated backups, form processing, and social linking. There are plugins for adding a photo gallery or slideshow, managing testimonials, or even for adding an ecommerce store.
Like WordPress core files, updates are released regularly. These mostly bug fixes, added features, and to be compatible with updates to the WordPress core. It is important to keep your plugins up-to-date.
However, updating plugins can be tricky. Plugins that were working fine can sometimes cause problems when updated. Because plugin are written by different authors, sometimes they can conflict with each other. This can cause them to not work or even cause problems with your whole site not working.
Theme updates
Your WordPress theme is the set of files that govern how your site looks – the colors, where items appear on a page and the like. It can also contain code for special functionality. Themes updates are not as frequent as updates for plugins or the WordPress core. They are usually bug fixes or changes to maintain compatibility with the WordPress core.
Maintenance Agreements
While it is possible for you to perform these updates yourself, the prospect can be daunting. And sometimes, not often, something goes wrong. We’ve found that most small business owners don’t want to take on the responsibility to make these updates themselves.
That’s why we offer a very simple plan for WordPress maintenance and support services designed for busy business owners just like you.
If you’d like help keeping your WordPress site up to date, give us a call.
call: 541-582-0597
Or
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About A Street Web Design
Web design is our full time job. Since 2002, we’ve been designing websites that work for business. That means getting found. Persuading people to call you. Making sales. If you are looking for someone who can help you get a website that works for your business within your budget, call A Street Web Design – 541-582-0597.