What happens if I don’t update my site?

Websites are no longer a set-it-and-forget-it part of your business. Your website should be updated on a regular basis to keep fresh content in front of your site visitors, keep it secure, and maintain proper functionality. Develop a habit of doing a monthly or, at minimum, quarterly website review with your website developer to make sure that everything is up to date.

Security

It is important to update your site and all connected software, such as plugins, as outdated versions pose severe security risks. Many minor updates to these programs are made for the sake of security, while major updates are reserved for new features. Using an outdated version increases the chance that hackers may know what the weaknesses are in your version.

Search Engines

Search engines use special algorithms to assign a “score” to each website based on the relevance of the content compared to the search query. This will often prioritize recently updated sites with the goal of providing the newest and most relevant information to the user. When you do not update your site, this score can be negatively affected.

Performance

As modern-day technology changes, outdated programs will not be prioritized as heavily. Use Adobe Flash Player as an example. Ten years ago, the internet used Flash to play animations on your browser. Many website developers favored displaying a rotating hero section on a website’s homepage. After Flash’s discontinuation in 2020, all content that used it was removed or updated to a newer media player. Should your website rely on a program that becomes obsolete, it will stop functioning entirely. Most web browsers will try to warn the public of such changes months in advance, but it is always important to keep your site updated and fresh.

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By Neon Goldfish