WordPress can be seen as a security risk because the admin dashboard is accessed directly in the web browser. It is also one of the world’s most widely used CMS (Content Management Systems), making it an attractive target for devious hackers. Two big points of vulnerability are weak (or compromised) passwords and outdated software. The WordPress team does a great job continuously making updates to enhance the functionality of the platform and patching security issues.
Here are some ways to keep your WordPress website more secure:
Most website maintenance updates are small changes published without a preview however, we can accommodate if you do have a change that you want to see before the update is available for the entire world to see. The method for sharing the preview depends on the task. Updates in a CMS (like WordPress) can be shared in draft mode and reviewed before publishing. Graphic design changes can be mocked up and shared using software like Adobe XD for approval. A complete website redesign is executed using a development site that serves as a live version allowing you to experience a fully operational version of the website before formally launching the new website. Your project manager will work directly with you to make sure our team follows your preferred methodology for performing website maintenance updates.
Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress require frequent updates to ensure you’re running the most recent and secure software version. These updates can be performed by simply clicking the update button on the back of the WordPress CMS. Still, it runs the risk of potential conflicts between the new WordPress core updates and plugins being used to execute specific functionality.
Website updates can be performed manually periodically or by leveraging software designed to detect and perform updates automatically. This software creates a backup copy of the website before the updates occur to allow us to revert to a previous version should the update impact website functionality. Websites not using WordPress can also be updated manually with a specified checklist to ensure an efficient process is followed.
While it would be straightforward to just hit the big “update” button or set up automatic updates, there is a risk that an updated version of the software can cause issues. Similar to how outdated software can cause security issues, new updates can cause instability. There is a careful balance of making sure that you have the newest version of software, but that the software is stable on your site.
While it is important to ensure that your site and its software are up to date it is also important that the newest version of a program does not cause severe problems that lead to a broken website. One of the easiest ways to prevent yourself from being caught with your website down is to make a backup copy of the site before updating. The backup is a copy of your site and all related software in the current version. After performing the update, you can check for issues on your site. You can use the backup to restore your site to its previous version if the update impacts your website’s functionality or design.
A slow website is not fun for anyone. Visitors to your website will become impatient if they have to wait for pages to load, and search engines will prioritize faster-loading websites above yours in their search engine rankings.
Some common reasons for a slow website include:
The trick is finding a balance between creating a website your site visitors will engage with while also loading quickly. The fastest loading website is a white background with black text and no images. Once you add an image or a script for your chatbot, it begins to slow down. Keep the essentials but be willing to compromise to optimize your site speed.
There are several different tools available to help measure your website speed. Use these tools as a barometer and realize there might be limitations to how much you could speed up your current website. You can’t make a 1984 Chevy Celebrity go 100 MPH… I’ve tried.
No, your website does not need to be offline to perform routine maintenance. Your website files are backed up, and the maintenance updates are completed and published, ready for the next website visitor to see.
There are instances where a site with malware or security issues might need to be removed for a short period to remove the infected files. A simple landing page can quickly be published in the event your full website will be offline for an extended period. This will give people looking for you a website presence to experience.
Website maintenance is your first line of defense for bugs, errors, and other technical issues that may arise. Bugs and other glitches can occur for a multitude of reasons, including compatibility issues, updates, and code errors.
Resolving issues with your site positively impacts your search engine rankings. Regardless of your location in the world, consistent bug fixes and glitch resolution are crucial for a high-performance site
In the modern age of information, keeping your content new and relevant is the key to success. Your content should be engaging and captivating, helping your ideal customer quickly understand how the value you provide can help them overcome the problem they are facing. Having content people enjoy will give you an edge over competitors who lack a content marketing strategy.
Most websites get as many, if not more, visits from mobile devices as they do desktops and laptops. This makes it essential that your website responds to the size of the screen the website visitor uses to view your website. This is called responsive website design. Google recently announced that mobile-friendly websites will be a priority in their search engine rankings.
Proactive and preventative website maintenance will keep your website running smoothly and save you from costly interruptions to your business from a poorly performing or broken website. Your website is the online front door to your business. Any issues that site visitors experience can have a significant impact on your lead flow, the first impression of a potential customer, your brand perception, and the time it takes for you to stop whatever you are doing that day to figure out how to get your website fixed.
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.
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 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.
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.
If your site is acting oddly, it doesn’t always mean you have been hacked, but being aware of the possibility is important. There are ways to identify if you have malware or another virus; it is also possible for hackers to breach your data.
Getting Server errors (HTTP 500) is an early indicator of something wrong with your site, whether it is malware or an internal issue. After discovering server issues, you may also want to look for 401 Unauthorized or 403 Forbidden, as these errors are related to access issues. If you have not recently changed passwords or permissions this is a good indicator of a potential hacker.
If you cannot log in to your admin dashboard, such as WordPress, first try resetting your password. If you do not receive the emails or see an error message “Error: The username ‘yourusername’ is not registered on this site,” there should be a concern as a hacker may have changed the passwords and associated emails.
Google Safe Browsing services scan sites for malware and warn users before they enter a site. If your site is being warned against with this alert, there is a good chance you have been hacked.
Even with malware present, your site may still load, but irregularly long load times or timeout errors can often be a warning sign. This is usually a sign that your server is being overloaded. This can be caused by a hacking attempt, a faulty plugin, or something else as well.
Security plugins can help you in the fight against malicious programs and hackers. A good security plugin will log who signs in and where they signed in. If, for example, an unknown user appears in the security logs, realizing that you did not authorize a user by this name to have access to your site, you become aware of a security breach.
If you see a bunch of notifications asking you to update your website’s software, there’s usually a reason. While most people think that frequent updates are just a way to bloat your storage and fill it with unnecessary data, most updates will help keep your site running smoothly and avoid security threats.
People all over the world can find and report flaws in a system, leading the developer to update their programs; you then must apply the update for your site. Using WordPress as an example:
Hackers use scanners to search the web and find WordPress sites running on the old version. After they find your site, it’s easy to hack because they know exactly what the security weaknesses are.
Using outdated software can cause issues with speed and compatibility, especially when working with multiple programs that need to interact seamlessly. If some programs are designed to be compatible with newer versions of others, an outdated program can fall behind and run incorrectly, often slowing down other features of the site. This leads to long loading times and lower search engine scores, which may cause your site to be visited less often.
Before diving into what a website maintenance contract covers, you should know what it is. In essence, a website maintenance contract is an agreement between your company and a website maintenance company. This contract will lay out the cost of services, the standards by which the services will be provided, and the timeframe in which services will be provided.
A basic website maintenance contract will include the rate at which service hours are charged, what services will be provided, and when services will be rendered. Website maintenance can include anything from fixing errors on your site to updating graphics and creating new pages. Most website maintenance systems will include a form of ticket submission where you can create a service ticket similar to work orders for maintenance crews in a physical sense, such as an apartment. Many maintenance contracts will cover preventative maintenance as well as corrective maintenance.
Scanning for weaknesses such as missed spam assures you aren’t attacked or taken over. This concern for security drives all other maintenance services forward. Security is the backbone of a good website maintenance plan.
Repairs and bug fixes are all about functionality and sealing cracks in your site. Frequent checks for broken links, both external and internal, will help prevent hackers from being able to mislead your visitors to a fake site with malicious intent.
Critical software your site relies on should be updated regularly. A content management system such as WordPress, its plugins, and themes should be in their newest versions to maintain access to support systems and help avoid known security weaknesses.
Site speed is key to an enjoyable user experience. Using tools such as the Google Pagespeed Insights page, you can analyze where your speed is limited. Using this data, you can optimize your site. A faster site is also ranked higher by search engines.
Optimizing your site to have a higher search engine ranking is essential to lead generation. SEO maintenance is the key that unlocks the door to high ranks. Having proper meta descriptions and titles will increase your score and relevance to keywords.
Using Google Analytics to track traffic and navigation will allow you to identify what you need to do for a better ranking site. Analytics will also help you identify which pages people first enter your site on. Landing pages will act as a landing pad, directing visitors to the information on your site relevant to the reason they visited.
Poorly optimized images take longer to load on your site. Make sure your images are of a reasonable size and resolution. Downsizing images will help speed up your site. Make sure that you prioritize text rather than putting important information in images, as this will improve loading times and is in better compliance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
Having poorly made code on your site, especially javascript, will drastically lower the rate at which your site will load, leading to user complaints. Optimizing your HTML and JavaScript code will lead to faster run times and smoother performance.
Many pages use advertisements on their site to help support the cost of hosting a website. There is a careful balance between having enough ads on a page to earn revenue and having too many ads, which will slow your site and reduce the quality of customer experiences.
A cache is a small amount of data stored on the device accessing a site. When properly set up, these caches will lower loading times and make it easier for users to view your site. Improper caching can lead to a lack of data available, causing some elements to load incorrectly or not at all. This can lead to issues with styles added to the text and delays in loading images.
All websites have a purpose, whether it be to sell a product or service or just to inform the masses. Websites need to be maintained to keep performing their goal effectively.
Having a recent backup of your site will help ensure that should anything have a critical error. You can easily restore your site to a functioning state. No matter how large or small your site is, you should always strive for stability when it comes to the health of your site.
Websites, regardless of size, need to have security. The last thing anyone wants is to have their data stolen because the sites they visit are insecure. Hackers will pull at threads and try to find every little entry point. This can pose a severe risk, especially for small sites that don’t think they need security updates.
Plugins and Themes are the anchors of your site when it comes to appearance and functionality. It’s important to make sure that these are updated and maintained as they pose risks to security and can cause loss of function altogether.
Nearly 90% of all online interactions begin with a search engine. Your visibility is important, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) maintenance is key to gaining traffic on your site. Even being at the top of the second page of a search engine is detrimental to you. According to one study, being on the second page or farther only gets about 6% of traffic. Using SEO Maintenance to improve your ranking can drastically improve your chances of being viewed. Make sure your pages have set keywords, proper length titles, and meta descriptions. All these things increase your score to give you a higher chance of being one of the first results.
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