A well-maintained website is critical for success. Whether you’re running a business, a blog, or an online store, regular website maintenance is crucial for keeping your site secure, fast, and user-friendly. For WordPress and Joomla users, maintenance involves a combination of regular updates, performance checks, and content reviews to ensure everything runs smoothly.
When maintenance is neglected, websites can face serious issues like security breaches, slow performance, and poor user experience. These problems don’t just frustrate your visitors—they can also harm your reputation and lower your search engine rankings.
This guide will help you navigate the essential tasks for maintaining your WordPress or Joomla site. From weekly updates to advanced optimization techniques, I will take you through the job of keeping your website in top shape.
Skip Ahead: For select reading, you can use the TOC (Table of Contents) below:
Table of Contents
Why Website Maintenance is Critical
Regular website maintenance is about more than just keeping things running—it’s about protecting your investment, ensuring a positive user experience, and staying competitive. Neglecting maintenance can lead to a host of problems that affect your site’s performance, security, and reputation.
1. Security Risks
Websites are frequent targets for hackers, malware, and bots. Outdated software, themes/templates, plugins, or extensions can leave vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Regular maintenance ensures your WordPress or Joomla core files, plugins, themes/templates, and extensions are updated to patch these security gaps. A secure website protects your data, builds trust with your users, and avoids potential fines for non-compliance with data protection regulations. There is also the fact that downtime can cost you money, whether it's expenses related to fixing things, and/or loss of income.
2. Performance Issues
Over time, your website can slow down due to factors like bloated databases, images that are not optimized, or unused plugins/extensions. A slow-loading site frustrates visitors and increases your bounce rate. This leads to lost opportunities. Maintenance like database optimization, caching, and performance testing can keep your site running smoothly and efficiently.
3. User Experience
A positive user experience (UX) is essential for retaining visitors and encouraging them to take action, whether that’s reading your blog, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. Broken links, outdated content, and non-responsive designs can hurt your UX and damage your credibility. Regular content reviews and testing ensure your site remains relevant and user-friendly.
4. SEO Impact
Search engines prioritize websites that offer a fast, secure, and seamless experience. Broken links, slow page speeds, or missing updates can harm your search engine rankings. Maintenance tasks like fixing technical SEO issues, optimizing images, and keeping your software updated contribute to better visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs).
By prioritizing website maintenance, you not only protect your site but also position it for long-term growth and success. Whether you’re managing a WordPress or Joomla site, consistent maintenance is the foundation of a thriving online presence.
The Core Aspects of Website Maintenance
Website maintenance involves a combination of regular tasks that ensure your site is secure, functional, and optimized for performance.
These tasks form the backbone of a healthy WordPress or Joomla website and should be part of your routine.
1. Regular Backups
Backing up your site is one of the most critical maintenance tasks. A backup allows you to restore your site in case of a cyberattack, accidental deletion, or server failure. For WordPress users, plugins like UpdraftPlus can automate backups. Joomla users can rely on tools like Akeeba Backup, which integrates seamlessly with the platform.
Best Practices for Backups
- Frequency: Perform weekly backups or daily for high-traffic sites.
- Updating Software: When WordPress, its plugins, Joomla, and Joomla extensions have updates, do a backup.
- Storage: Store backups on external servers like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.
- Testing: Periodically test backups to ensure they can be restored when needed.
2. Updating Software
Outdated software is one of the leading causes of security vulnerabilities. Regular updates for your CMS core, plugins, extensions, themes, and templates ensure you have the latest features and security patches. Often, updates include important security measures, bug fixes, and at times, new features.
Tips for Updating Safely
- Back up your site before updating anything.
- Check compatibility between plugins/extensions and core updates before you begin.
- Use a staging site to test updates before applying them to your live site.
3. Security Enhancements
Web security is non-negotiable. Maintenance tasks should include checking for malware, securing passwords, and enabling firewalls to protect against threats. I strongly recommend you install a security plugin for WordPress (especially WordPress) and Joomla.
NOTE: Ever wonder why WordPress is one of the most hacked CMS (content management systems)?
Key Security Tasks
- Install security plugins/extensions (e.g., Wordfence for WordPress, Admin Tools for Joomla).
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for logins.
- Regularly update passwords and enforce strong password policies.
Key Takeaways for Hacked Websites in 2023
Data revealed that WordPress was by far the most popular CMS, accounting for 96.2% of infections in 2022. Joomla (1.9%) followed in second place. Source: Securi
- A total of 39.1% of CMS applications were outdated at the point of infection.
- 49.21% of compromised websites were found with at least one website backdoor.
- 13.97% of compromised websites had at least one vulnerable plugin or theme at the time of remediation.
- The most frequently detected out-of-date plugins with known vulnerabilities included Elementor Pro, Freemius Library, and Advanced Custom Fields.
4. Performance Optimization
Website performance directly impacts user experience and SEO rankings. Maintenance tasks in this area focus on keeping your site fast and responsive.
NOTE: Google focuses on factors like SEO, page load speed, and how often you update your page content.
Performance Optimization Tips
- Image Optimization: Compress images using tools like Smush (WordPress) or TinyPNG.
- Caching: Consider using caching plugins like WP Rocket (WordPress) or Joomla’s built-in caching system.
- Database Cleanup: Remove unnecessary data like spam comments or post revisions.
5. Content Updates
Content is the heart of your website. Regularly reviewing and updating your content ensures it stays relevant, accurate, and engaging.
Content Maintenance Tasks
- Fix broken links to maintain credibility.
- Update outdated information to reflect current trends or standards.
- Add new blog posts, articles, or resources to keep your audience engaged.
- Google will revisit your website pages that have been updated.
By addressing these core aspects of maintenance, you can ensure your website remains secure, optimized, and user-friendly for the long term.
Maintenance Tasks for WordPress
Maintaining a WordPress site involves a range of tasks performed on a regular basis. These tasks ensure your site runs smoothly, stays secure, and delivers a great experience for your visitors. Let’s break it down into a manageable schedule.
1. Weekly Tasks
- Update Plugins and Themes
- Check for updates in your WordPress dashboard. Outdated plugins or themes can cause compatibility issues or security vulnerabilities. Try to avoid enabling the "Automatic Updates" feature in WordPress—always do it manually.
- Perform a Backup
- Use plugins like UpdraftPlus to schedule automatic backups. Store backups in a secure location like Google Drive or Dropbox. NEVER keep your backups on your website!
- Monitor Site Performance
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify slow-loading pages and fix issues.
2. Monthly Tasks
- Database Optimization
- Clean up unnecessary data like post revisions, spam comments, and expired transients. Use tools like WP-Optimize to streamline this process. Most caching plugins will have this type of feature built-in.
- SEO Audit
- Review your site’s SEO performance with tools like Yoast SEO or AIOSEO. Update meta descriptions, fix broken links, and check for keyword optimization.
- Check for Security Vulnerabilities
- Run malware scans using plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri Security. Address any flagged issues immediately.
3. Quarterly Tasks
- Review Installed Plugins
- Deactivate and delete plugins you’re not using to reduce site bloat and minimize security risks.
- Test Functionality
- Click through your site as a visitor to ensure all pages, forms, and links are working as intended.
- Performance Testing
- Conduct more in-depth performance tests using Pingdom or WebPageTest to identify areas for improvement.
4. Recommended Tools for WordPress Maintenance
Here’s a list of tools (many of these I have used myself) to make your WordPress maintenance routine easier and more efficient:
Task | Recommended Tool |
---|---|
Backups | UpdraftPlus |
Security | Wordfence, Sucuri Security |
Database Optimization | WP-Optimize |
SEO | Yoast SEO, AIOSEO |
Performance Monitoring | Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix |
By following this structured approach, you can keep your WordPress site running smoothly and securely throughout the year.
Maintenance Tasks for Joomla
Joomla offers robust tools and features, but regular maintenance is essential to ensure your site operates efficiently and securely. Like WordPress, Joomla maintenance can be broken down into weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks to make it manageable.
NOTE: Don't get complacent with maintenance, even for Joomla.
1. Weekly Tasks
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Update Joomla Core, Extensions, and Templates
- Check for updates on the Home Dashboard. From here, you can see what is up to date and what needs your attention:
- Ensure all updates are compatible with your Joomla version before applying them.
- Check for updates on the Home Dashboard. From here, you can see what is up to date and what needs your attention:
-
Backup Your Website
- Use extensions like Akeeba Backup to schedule (requires the paid version) and manage regular backups. Save your backups on external storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox. I like to download the backup files to my computer and then put them on a flash drive.
-
Monitor Site Uptime
- Use tools like Pingdom or UptimeRobot to ensure your site is consistently accessible.
2. Monthly Tasks
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Review Error Logs
- Access System > Global Configuration > System Logs to review any logged errors. Fix issues such as failed database queries or broken scripts.
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Check for Broken Links
- Use RSSEO from RSJoomla, or online services to identify and fix broken links across your site.
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Optimize Your Database
- Clear out unnecessary data like expired cache and temporary files. Tools like Admin Tools can simplify this process. One of the tools included is the HTACCESS generator.
3. Quarterly Tasks
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Evaluate Extensions and Templates
- Remove unused extensions and templates to improve site performance and reduce security risks.
-
Test Website Functionality
- Click through every page, form, and link on your site to ensure everything works as intended.
-
Performance Optimization
- Enable and configure Joomla’s built-in caching system under System > Global Configuration > System (tab) > Cache Settings to improve load times.
4. My Recommended Tools for Joomla Maintenance
The following tools can streamline your Joomla maintenance routine:
Task | Recommended Tool |
---|---|
Backups | Akeeba Backup |
Security | Admin Tools |
SEO | RSSEO from RSJoomla |
Performance Optimization | Joomla’s Cache System |
Monitoring Uptime | Pingdom, UptimeRobot |
Shared Best Practices for Both Platforms
While WordPress and Joomla have distinct features and workflows, many website maintenance principles apply to both platforms. By implementing shared practices, you can streamline your maintenance schedule and safeguard your website from common issues.
NOTE: My philosophy is to always expect the unexpected. Be vigilant when it comes to keeping your website in good working order!
1. Use Staging Sites
A staging site is a clone of your live website where you can safely test updates, new features, and design changes without risking downtime or functionality issues. The last thing you want to have to happen is your live site going awry, or worse, offline!
Why Staging is Essential
- Prevents errors from affecting your live site.
- Provides a safe environment to experiment with new plugins/extensions or templates.
Types of a Staging Site
- WordPress: Use plugins like WP Staging or hosting providers that offer built-in staging environments.
- Joomla: Manually set up a staging site on a subdomain or use tools like Akeeba Backup to duplicate your site.
- XAMPP: For myself, I use XAMPP on my computer which is like having my own personal server.
2. Monitor Uptime
Monitoring uptime ensures your website remains accessible to visitors. Downtime can lead to lost traffic, revenue, credibility, and a lot of frustration.
Recommended Uptime Monitoring Tools
- Pingdom: Tracks website availability and alerts you instantly if your site goes down. *Paid service.
- UptimeRobot: A free tool for monitoring uptime and response times. *Free and paid service.
- Uptimia: Receive instant alerts when your Joomla website goes down. *Paid service.
Set up notifications to receive alerts via email or SMS whenever your site experiences downtime.
3. Document Changes
Keeping a log of updates, customizations, and maintenance tasks helps you troubleshoot problems and maintain consistency over time.
What to Log
- Date and details of updates (core, plugins/extensions, templates).
- Changes to custom CSS, scripts, or configurations.
- Backup schedules and locations.
Consider using project management tools like Notion or Excel spreadsheets to track this information.
4. Regularly Audit Plugins and Extensions
Unused or outdated plugins/extensions can slow down your site or introduce vulnerabilities. Periodically review what’s installed and remove anything unnecessary or unsupported.
Key Considerations
- Check the last update date of plugins/extensions to ensure they’re actively maintained.
- CHANGELOGS is a great way to find out what changes your theme/template, plugins, and extensions have made.
- Replace outdated plugins/extensions with alternatives that offer better performance or security.
5. Test Your Website on Multiple Devices
Ensure your website is accessible and user-friendly across different devices and browsers. Regular testing prevents issues like broken layouts or functionality problems from impacting visitors.
How to Test Effectively
- Use tools like BrowserStack to simulate different devices and browsers. However, you can find free plugins and other add-ons for your browsers.
- Manually test critical pages (e.g., home, product, contact) on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Advanced Maintenance Tips
Once you’ve mastered website maintenance basics, adopting advanced practices can further enhance your site’s performance, security, and reliability. I've included additional tips useful for growing websites or those with complex functionality.
1. Auditing Your Plugins/Extensions
Even though we touched base on this, unused or outdated plugins/extensions can slow down your website and create security vulnerabilities. Regularly auditing these tools is essential for maintaining a fast and secure site.
Steps for Auditing Plugins/Extensions
- Identify Redundant Tools: Look for plugins/extensions that duplicate functionality.
- Check for Active Development: Remove tools that haven’t been updated in over a year.
- Review Support: When using a third-party tool, drop any that provide poor support and find an alternative.
- Monitor Performance: Use tools like Query Monitor (WordPress) or built-in Joomla logs to identify plugins/extensions that impact load times.
Pro Tip: Replace bloated tools with lightweight alternatives to boost performance.
2. SSL Certificate Management
An SSL certificate encrypts data transmitted between your site and visitors, ensuring security and building trust. Modern browsers flag websites without SSL as “Not Secure,” which can deter visitors. Make sure your website has this set up and actively working.
*Notice the small lock icon next to my domain address, above?
SSL Maintenance Checklist
- Verify SSL Installation: Use online tools like SSL Checker to confirm your certificate is active and properly installed.
- Renew Certificates: Ensure certificates don’t expire—many hosting providers offer automatic renewal. Some web hosts offer free SSL certificates, like the one I use at WHC (Web Hosting Canada) which is their AutoSSL. Some will also offer Let's Encrypt. Both auto-renew.
- Monitor HTTPS Configuration: Regularly check that all URLs redirect to the HTTPS version of your site.
3. Disaster Recovery Planning
Even with dedicated maintenance, unforeseen events like hacking or server failures can occur. Having a disaster recovery plan ensures you can quickly restore your website and minimize downtime.
Key Components of a Disaster Recovery Plan
- Backup Strategy: Schedule regular backups (weekly or daily, depending on site activity).
- 3-2-1 Rule: Consider the concept of the 3-2-1 rule which is 3 copies on 2 types of media and one kept off-site (more on this below).
- Restore Testing: Periodically test your backups to ensure they can be restored without issues.
- Emergency Contacts: Maintain a list of contacts for your hosting provider, CMS support forums, or freelance developers.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Akeeba Backup (Joomla) or UpdraftPlus (WordPress) for seamless backup and restoration.
What is the 3-2-1 Rule?
The 3-2-1 Rule is a data protection strategy that recommends having three copies of your data backups, stored on two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site (another location).
As a widely embraced data backup strategy, the 3-2-1 Rule breakdown is:
- Keep three copies of your data: This includes the original data and at least two copies.
- Use two different types of media for storage: Store your data on two different types of media to enhance redundancy.
- Keep at least one copy off-site: To ensure absolute safety, have one backup copy stored off-site.
4. Optimize for Scalability
As your website grows, you may encounter challenges with traffic spikes or content management. Being proactive with scalability measures can prepare your site for increased demands.
Scalability Optimization Tips
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Distribute content across multiple servers to improve load times and handle traffic spikes. Services like Cloudflare are a popular option. Some web hosts will have their own, as well.
- Upgrade Hosting Plans: Move to a VPS or dedicated server if you outgrow shared hosting.
- Database Optimization: Regularly clean and optimize your database using tools like WP-Optimize or Joomla’s database cleanup options.
Outsourcing Maintenance
While many website owners prefer to manage maintenance themselves, outsourcing these tasks to experts can save time, reduce stress, and ensure your WordPress or Joomla site is in the best hands. This is especially beneficial for busy business owners or those with limited technical expertise. This will also be the case if your website activity becomes too large to manage.
1. Benefits of Hiring Experts
Outsourcing website maintenance offers several advantages, including:
- Time Savings: Professionals handle time-consuming tasks like updates, backups, and performance optimization, freeing you to focus on your business.
- Expertise: Experienced professionals understand the nuances of WordPress and Joomla, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently.
- Proactive Monitoring: Many services include 24/7 monitoring to detect and resolve issues before they impact your site.
2. What to Look for in a Maintenance Service
Not all maintenance services are created equal. When selecting a provider, prioritize these qualities:
- Transparency: The provider should offer clear details about the tasks included in their service.
- Experience: Look for expertise specific to WordPress or Joomla. A provider familiar with both platforms is a bonus if you manage multiple sites. At the least, a provider with experience with the CMS you choose for your website.
- Responsiveness: Ensure the service offers timely support, especially for critical issues.
- Customizable Plans: Choose a provider that tailors their services to your needs, whether it’s security-focused maintenance, performance optimization, or content updates.
3. Costs and Considerations
The cost of outsourcing maintenance varies based on the provider’s experience, the complexity of your site, and the range of services offered.
Typical Pricing Models
- Monthly Retainers: Flat monthly fees for ongoing maintenance (e.g., $50–$300+ per month).
- Hourly Rates: Pay for specific tasks as needed, with rates ranging from $50 to $150 per hour.
- Comprehensive Packages: Some providers offer bundled services, including updates, backups, security monitoring, and performance optimization.
Is Outsourcing Right for You?
Consider outsourcing if:
- You lack the time or expertise to manage regular maintenance.
- Your website is critical to your business operations and requires high uptime and performance.
- You run multiple sites and need centralized maintenance management.
By outsourcing website maintenance, you can rest easier knowing your site is well-maintained, secure, and optimized for performance without having to handle the technical details yourself.
Tools and Resources for Maintenance
A well-maintained website requires the right tools to streamline tasks, monitor performance, and ensure security. I talked about some of these tools earlier, but here’s a list of essential tools and resources to recap for both WordPress and Joomla.
1. WordPress Tools
These tools that I have used over the years and should help automate and simplify your WordPress maintenance tasks:
Task | Recommended Tools | Description |
---|---|---|
Backups | UpdraftPlus, Akeeba Backup for WordPress | Schedule regular backups and store them securely. |
Security | Wordfence, Sucuri Security, AdminTools WP | Protect your site with malware scans and firewalls. |
Database Optimization | WP-Optimize | Clean up your database to improve performance. |
SEO | Yoast SEO, AIOSEO | Optimize meta tags, keywords, and content for search engines. |
Performance Testing | Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix | Analyze site speed and identify performance bottlenecks. |
2. Joomla Tools
Joomla users have access to a range of extensions and tools designed specifically for the platform. These are also one that I have and still use:
Task | Recommended Tools | Description |
---|---|---|
Backups | Akeeba Backup | Create and store full-site backups effortlessly. |
Security | Admin Tools for Joomla | Enhance site security with malware scans and firewalls. |
Database Optimization | Joomla’s Built-In Cleanup Tools | Remove unnecessary data to keep your database lean. |
SEO | RSSEO by RSJoomla | Improve search engine rankings and fix technical SEO issues. |
Performance Testing | Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix | Monitor load times and site responsiveness. |
3. Universal Resources
Some tools and services are platform-agnostic, making them useful for both WordPress and Joomla:
- Cloudflare:
- A content delivery network (CDN) to improve site speed and security.
- Google Search Console:
- Monitor your site’s health and search engine performance.
- UptimeRobot:
- Track site uptime and get instant notifications for downtime.
- Canva:
- Create professional graphics to enhance your site’s visual appeal.
- Notion:
- Organize and document maintenance tasks for consistency.
Using these tools and resources, you should be able to simplify your maintenance efforts and lower risks to keep your site running smoothly. Whether you’re a WordPress or Joomla user, these resources are key to effective website management.
Your Next Steps for a Healthy Website
Maintaining your WordPress or Joomla website is not just a task—it’s an investment and valuable asset. Regular maintenance ensures your site remains secure, fast, and user-friendly, providing an excellent experience for your visitors while protecting your hard work.
From backups and software updates to performance optimization and security enhancements, each maintenance task plays a critical role in the long-term success of your site. By following a structured routine and using the right tools, you can prevent issues before they arise.
Take Action Today
Don’t wait until problems arise to prioritize maintenance. Start by implementing the weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks outlined in this guide. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need assistance, consider outsourcing maintenance to a professional service for peace of mind.
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