10 Step Guide to Web Maintenance. Keep Your Site Running Smooth
Our 10 Step Guide to Website Maintenance. An easy step by step guide to keeping your site running smoothly. There are a lot of things that can go wrong on your website. From security issues to broken links, there’s always something you need to worry about. Taking care of your website doesn’t need to take a lot of time or energy. LairdPage has created a 10 step guide that will help you get back on top in no time!
1. Update your website with fresh content
I’ve been in the website development business for years and I know how hard it is to keep your site fresh with new content. People don’t realize that their website should be updated on a regular basis, but when you think about it, this shouldn’t be surprising. Websites are living organisms that need care and feeding just like any other plant or animal. If you don’t have the time-check out ai copywriting or our own copywriting services!
2. Check for broken links and fix them
When was the last time you checked your website for broken links? If it’s been more than a week, then there might be some issues that need to be addressed. Broken web links can lead to higher bounce rates and lower rankings with Google. A quick way to check for broken links is by using the ‘Broken Link Checker’ tool from SEO Toolkit Pro.
Broken Link Checker Tool
This free tool allows users to quickly scan their websites for 404 errors and redirects, as well as other types of dead-end pages like ‘page not found’ messages or ’parked domains’. You’ll also get a list of all URLs which are either missing or contain invalid content – fix them right away!
3. Delete any unnecessary files on the server
The more files you have on your server, the slower it will run. If your website is running slowly or experiencing problems then there might be one simple answer: Unnecessary files. A cluttered server slows everything down from uploading to downloading. This makes it difficult for visitors to find what they’re looking for.
Ask yourself if any of these are true about your site:
- Do I need all these images?
- Are my videos out of date?
- Do I have poor ranking pages?
Perhaps it’s time for some website maintenance!
4. Update plugins, and themes, to their latest versions
Do you ever find yourself behind on updating your WordPress plugins, themes, and other software? If so, stop what you’re doing right now and take care of it. Every time a new update is released for one of your installed plugins or themes, the old version becomes vulnerable to cyber attacks which will exploit security vulnerabilities.
You should always be up-to-date on your WordPress plugins, themes, and other software in order to keep your blog safe. If you have a lot of traffic or heavy load times make sure everything is updated.
5. Check that your pages are loading without 404 errors
It’s always frustrating when you come across a page that doesn’t load. Whether it’s a 404 error or another HTTP status, it can be hard knowing what to do next. You can try refreshing the page, but sometimes that just leads back to the same error message and frustration.
Set up 301 Redirects
Find the error and fix them. A 301 redirect is a permanent move from one web page to another. It’s important to create these redirects for any old links, and top of your list when moving your site to a new domain or hosting provider.
6. Run a backup and make sure a previous version of your site is stored
You know that sinking feeling when you realize you’ve made a mistake on your site and have lost some content. Or, worse yet, when disaster strikes and your site is hacked? It’s scary!
Back up your website to a local hard drive
Another reason why website maintenance is important. Always find time to set up an automatic backup of your WordPress website. You can do this by adding a back up on your server and also installing a plugin like All in One Migration. This will save a copy of all your website files locally so if anything happens on your hosting provider or server, both versions are safe.
7. Check that your contact forms are still working
So you’ve just launched your website and it’s looking beautiful. You’re finally ready to start driving traffic through your site, but before you can do that, there are a few things you need to check first. One of the most important parts of any web project is making sure that your contact forms are still working, so visitors can reach out to you with questions or feedback. You should regularly check them for errors! We check our forms every few days!
8. Remove spam comments from pages and posts
It’s a nightmare. A spammer has infiltrated your blog and you’re struggling to remove their comments. The truth is that dealing with spam is just a part of blogging life! Find the right method for you and regularly delete them, so you can get back to what matters: writing content for your followers.
9. Submit your website to Google Webmaster and Check for errors
It’s no secret that Google is the most popular search engine in the world. So if your site isn’t properly optimized, you’re missing out on a lot of traffic and potential customers. Regularly check that your website is up-to-date with SEO standards and Google Webmaster Guidelines.
10. Continue to Exchange Links with Other Relevant Websites
We all know how important it is to continue to exchange links with other relevant websites. When you share your content on social media, for example, the more people that like or comment, the higher ranking your page receives in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). Increase your website’s rankings with backlinks on a regular basis!
Website Management and Maintenance Conclusion
Running a website can be stressful. There are always things that need to get done and you never seem to have enough time. We created this guide for keeping your site up and running smoothly. It will you make sure nothing falls through the cracks so that your website is always performing at its best! If you would like to know more about website maintenance costs or monthly website maintenance fees get in touch with us.
