Ultimate Website Maintenance Checklist | Keep Your Site Secure & Optimized

Security & Backups

  1. Update WordPress core, plugins, and themes.
  2. Run malware scans (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri).
  3. Check firewall settings and block suspicious IPs.
  4. Limit login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
  5. Verify SSL certificate validity and HTTPS enforcement.
  6. Audit user accounts (remove inactive admins, enforce strong passwords).
  7. Review file permissions (e.g., wp-config.php set to 644).
  8. Remove spam comments and disable trackbacks/pingbacks.
  9. Enable security headers (e.g., CSP, X-Content-Type).
  10. Monitor for vulnerabilities (e.g., WPScan, Patchstack).

Backups

  1. Schedule daily/weekly automated backups.
  2. Store backups off-site (e.g., Dropbox, Amazon S3).
  3. Test backup restoration process.
  4. Review the backup retention policy (keep it for 30–90 days).
  5. Enable incremental backups for large sites.

Updates & Compatibility

  1. Apply minor WordPress core updates immediately.
  2. Delete unused plugins/themes.
  3. Check PHP version compatibility (7.4+ recommended).
  4. Test updates on the staging site before pushing live.
  5. Review plugin changelogs for critical fixes.
  6. Ensure theme/plugin compatibility after significant updates.
  7. Prepare a rollback plan (e.g., BackupBuddy, UpdraftPlus).

Performance Optimization

  1. Run speed tests (GTmetrix, PageSpeed Insights).
  2. Clear caching (server, plugin, browser).
  3. Optimize images (compress, lazy load, WebP format).
  4. Enable CDN (Cloudflare, StackPath).
  5. Clean database (remove spam comments, post revisions).
  6. Minify CSS/JS files and defer non-critical scripts.
  7. Check server resource limits (CPU, RAM, bandwidth).
  8. Monitor uptime (e.g., UptimeRobot, Jetpack).
  9. Audit third-party scripts (remove slow widgets).

SEO & Analytics

  1. Check meta titles/descriptions for accuracy.
  2. Validate the XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
  3. Fix broken links (e.g., Broken Link Checker plugin).
  4. Audit 301 redirects for dead URLs.
  5. Update Google Analytics tracking code.
  6. Review Search Console for crawl errors.
  7. Ensure schema markup is functional.
  8. Monitor keyword rankings and core web vitals.

Content & Functionality

  1. Proofread content for typos/formatting errors.
  2. Update outdated blogs, pricing, or contact info.
  3. Optimize media library (delete unused files).
  4. Test contact forms, checkout, and CTAs.
  5. Check GDPR compliance (cookie consent, privacy policy).
  6. Moderate comments and disable spam accounts.

General Maintenance

  1. Verify domain and hosting expiration dates.
  2. Test cross-browser compatibility (Chrome, Safari, Firefox).
  3. Audit mobile responsiveness (e.g., Google Mobile-Friendly Test).
  4. Review error logs (PHP, server, plugin conflicts).
  5. Document changes and update site documentation.

Frequency Guide

  • Daily: Backups, uptime monitoring, security scans.
  • Weekly: Updates, broken links, spam cleanup.
  • Monthly: Performance audits, SEO checks, content reviews.
  • Quarterly: PHP/server updates, user audits, GDPR compliance.
  • Annually: Domain/hosting renewal, full-site audit.

To learn about WordPress website maintenance pricing packages, click the link below.

WordPress Website Maintenance Packages

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