What does our WordPress update service involve?
We look after nearly a hundred WordPress sites for clients as well as all our own projects. We schedule these updates so your website doesn’t go years without attention! So what does our WordPress maintenance service actually involve?
Backups
Taking a full backup of the site is vital just in case the worst happens and a site gets hacked, and also before carrying out any updates. This can be easier said than done however – especially if the site is mature and has a huge media library! We have various ways of creating backups and a fast internet connection to download them with.
These backups are then stored in a secure cloud storage folder that can be shared with the client, keeping them safe and allowing quick restore if a site is completely destroyed.
WordPress & Plugin Updates
Most website hacks happen due to poor admin passwords or out of date software. By keeping your WordPress install and all your plugins up to date, we massively reduce the chances of security issues.
Example – a client who didn’t see the point of updating his site suddenly found lots of admin level users added to his site and other strange behaviour. This took hours to fix and caused him a fair bit of stress – luckily whoever compromised his site didn’t redirect his pages or show dodgy adverts to his visitors.
Theme tweaks
AS plugins update, there might be small tweaks needed to theme styles to support the newer versions. Our favourite contact form plugin (Contact Form 7) is constantly updated and we adjust the notification styles whenever they need it. Maybe a social network update their icon or an address or phone number needs updating. All part of the service!
Plugin Maintenance
As time goes by, some plugins are abandoned and become security nightmares waiting to happen. We take care of removing and replacing any plugins that are no longer maintained and stick to well supported plugins that in many cases don’t have a yearly cost. This keeps you safe and saves you money.
Example – the backup plugin we used to use was no longer maintained so we switched to another one after testing out nearly all the available WordPress backup plugins!
Testing Contact Forms & Checkouts
There’s nothing worse than a client contacting your to say your contact form or checkout isn’t working properly, or maybe they just leave without contacting you or buying something. As part of our WordPress update service we do a small test order to make sure your checkout and payment systems are working OK, and test your contact form.
This has been especially important in 2024 as large email providers have started silently discarding messages they think might be spammy! With regular testing and fixes, we help you keep communications and orders flowing.
Summary
Our WordPress update service includes a variety of tasks and checks to keep your website safe from hackers and keep things running smoothly. Contact us or call 01636 812551 and we can discuss a check of your site to confirm we can help.