Looking for website maintenance checklist?
Maintaining a website is mandatory to keep it smooth, secure, and performing for all your customers. Delivering value to visitors without a properly and regularly maintained website is impossible. Website maintenance provides a positive user experience with improved SEO rankings to drive conversions.
Also, regular maintenance helps avoid potential downtime and resolve issues. This comprehensive article walks through a fundamental yet insightful website maintenance checklist. The list covers almost every essential task you should perform regularly/frequently to keep your site in optimal condition.
01. Regular Back Up of Website
- Frequency – Back up your website weekly or monthly, depending on your content updating frequency.
- Backup Tools – Use plugins/tools like Updraft Plus, SiteGround, or a cloud (Google Drive or Dropbox).
- Store Backups– Keep backups on external servers or cloud storage to ensure you have enough copies.
02. Update Software and Plugins
- CMS Updates – Always install the latest version, as updates often contain security patches, bug fixes, and new features.
- Plugin and Theme Updates – Outdated plugins/themes can pose security risks and cause compatibility issues.
- Compatibility Check – After updates, test whether everything is working correctly. Some updates may introduce bugs or conflicts with others.
03. Improve Website Speed
- Page Speed Testing – Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to analyze speed and give recommendations.
- Image Optimization – Compress images without sacrificing quality to reduce load times.
- Minify and Combine Files – Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files for reduced size. Combine files to minimize HTTP requests.
- Leverage Caching – Set up caching to store static files, reducing the need to load separately.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) – Implement a CDN to speed up content delivery by serving files from servers closest to users.
04. Optimize Mobile Responsiveness
- Responsive Design Test – Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check whether your website is optimized for mobile devices.
- Cross-Device Testing – Manually test your site on different devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) to know whether it displays properly on all screen sizes.
- Optimize Touch Elements – Confirm buttons, links, and menus are appropriately sized and can be easily clicked on mobile devices.
05. Fix Broken Links and Errors
- Use Link Checker Tools – Tools like Broken Link Checker, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs can help you identify broken links.
- Fix or Redirect – Fix broken links by updating them or setting up a 301 redirect to a relevant webpage.
- Test Forms – Frequently test all forms on your website (contact forms, sign-ups, etc.) for functionality and receive submissions.
06. Monitor and Improve SEO
- Keyword Optimization – Review your content regularly to optimize relevant keywords. SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner can identify opportunities.
- Update Content – Fresh and relevant content is always favored. Regularly update your blogs, product pages, and other content for up-to-date relevance.
- Review Meta Tags – Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and headers with targeted keywords.
- Check Crawl Errors – Use Google Search Console to find and fix crawl errors as soon as possible.
- XML Sitemap – Keep your XML sitemap up-to-date to ease search engine indexing of webpages.
07. Review Website Security
- Use HTTPS – Your website should use HTTPS (SSL encryption) to secure data transfers and protect everyone’s privacy.
- Update Passwords – Regularly update website admin and user passwords. Use unique passwords with two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
- Security Plugins – Install security plugins/services like Wordfence, Sucuri, or iThemes Security to protect against malware.
- Monitor Site Activity –Monitorsite activity for suspicious behavior or potential vulnerabilities.
- Regular Security Scans – Run regular security scans to detect malware with tools like Sucuri SiteCheck and VirusTotal.
08. Check and Update Content
- Audit Content – Periodically review your content (blogs, service pages, and product descriptions) for accuracy, relevance, and quality.
- Optimize for Readability – Keep your content well-organized, readable, and error-free with headings, subheadings, and bullet points.
- Add New Content – Regularly publish new content to keep your site engaging (blogs, studies, updates, and customer testimonials).
09. Analytics and User Behavior
- Google Analytics – Use Google Analytics to track key metrics (traffic, bounce rate, time on page, and conversions).
- User Behavior Tools – Consider using tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg to analyze user behavior, heatmaps, and click patterns.
- A/B Testing – Conduct A/B tests on key elements (headlines, CTAs, and images) to determine the best web versions.
10. Compliance and Legal Requirements
- Privacy Policy – Regularly review and update your privacy policy to keep it compliant with data protection regulations (GDPR and CCPA).
- Cookie Consent – Implement a cookie consent banner to comply with privacy laws and inform users about cookies and data collection.
- Accessibility – Check whether your site meets accessibility standards (WCAG) for effective navigation by users with disabilities.
A well-maintained website is a must-have for an impactful online presence. The site should remain competitive, secure, and user-friendly. Following the website maintenance checklist, your site should stay in optimal condition with an excellent UX while supporting your business goals. So, implementing them can enhance your website’s functionality and security to stay ahead in the digital landscape.
Contact Tectera a web development company in Toronto for more details.