7 Critically huge website maintenance mistakes you’re making

1
7 Critically huge website maintenance mistakes
youre making
2

• Your website is your digital handshake, the first
  impression for potential customers. Its crucial
  to keep it in top shape to effectively represent
  your business. Yet, numerous businesses falter in
  their website maintenance efforts, which can
  result in underwhelming performance, security
  hazards, and overlooked opportunities. In this
  post, were unpacking seven typical website
  maintenance pitfalls and offering guidance on how
  to evade them.
• Be sure to catch our summary video on our Youtube
  Channel and remember to subscribe for more
  valuable content.
• Ignoring updates
• Updates are a vital aspect of website maintenance
  that should never be sidelined. They're not just
  about sprucing up your site with new features or
  a fresh look. In fact, updates often pack in
  essential security patches that fortify your
  website against looming cyber threats. They also
  carry bug fixes that can enhance the overall
  functionality and user experience of your site.
  Overlooking these updates can leave your site
  susceptible to a variety of security threats,
  including malware and hacking attempts. It can
  also trigger performance issues like slow loading
  times, broken links, or even total website
  crashes, all of which can sour your site's user
  experience and SEO ranking.

3

• Solution
• To dodge these issues, it's essential to
  regularly scout for updates from your website
  platform, theme, and plugins, and apply them
  without delay. However, updates can occasionally
  stir up conflicts with other elements of your
  site. So, it's always wise to trial them in a
  safe environment, such as a staging site, before
  applying them to your live site. This strategy
  allows you to spot and iron out any potential
  issues before they can affect your live site,
  ensuring a smooth and seamless update process. If
  you're not at ease handling updates yourself,
  think about hiring a professional web design
  company. They are pros on how to manage updates
  best, ensuring your site stays secure,
  functional, and always up-to-date.
• Neglecting regular backups
• Backups are a crucial safety measure in website
  maintenance that often gets sidelined. They act
  as your digital safety net. If your site crashes,
  gets hacked, or suffers a catastrophic failure
  due to a botched update or plugin conflict, a
  recent backup can bring it back to its former
  state. Without routine backups, you risk losing
  all your data, including your website design,
  content, user data, and more. This could mean a
  complete do-over, which can be a lengthy,
  expensive, and stressful ordeal.

4

• Solution
• To sidestep such a predicament, it's vital to
  pencil in regular backups as part of your routine
  website maintenance. This ensures that a fresh
  copy of your site, encompassing all its files and
  databases, is always on standby for restoration.
  Depending on your website's nature and update
  frequency, you might need daily, weekly, or
  monthly backups. This gives you peace of mind,
  knowing your data is safe and can be retrieved
  swiftly in an emergency. It also guarantees
  business continuity, minimizing downtime and
  potential revenue loss. If managing backups feels
  overwhelming, think about bringing in a
  professional web design company. They can take on
  this vital task, using trustworthy tools and
  practices to ensure your website's data is always
  secure and recoverable.
• Overlooking website security
• In today's digital landscape, websites are under
  constant threat from hackers, malicious bots, and
  various forms of cyberattacks. Without proper
  security measures in place, your site becomes an
  easy target, potentially leading to data
  breaches, loss of customer trust, and damage to
  your brand reputation. Overlooking website
  security is a common mistake many website owners
  make.

5

• This can include neglecting to install security
  plugins, failing to configure them correctly, or
  not updating them regularly, all of which can
  leave your site vulnerable to attacks.
• Solution
• To safeguard your website, it's crucial to
  implement robust security measures. Here are some
  steps you can take
• Install and Configure Security Plugins Use
  top-tier security plugins that can help protect
  your site from common threats like brute force
  attacks, SQL injections, and cross-site
  scripting. Some recommended plugins include
  Wordfence, Sucuri, and iThemes Security for
  WordPress websites.
• Active Monitoring Keep an eye on your website's
  activity logs. This allows you to detect
  potential threats early and take immediate
  action. Tools like Jetpack or Activity Log can
  help with this.
• Regular Malware Scans Conduct regular scans for
  malware to identify and remove harmful code
  before it can cause significant damage. Plugins
  like Sucuri and Wordfence can perform these scans.

6

• Stay Updated Keep abreast with the latest
  security best practices and apply them to your
  site. This might involve using strong, unique
  passwords, enabling two-factor authentication,
  and regularly updating your website's software,
  plugins, and themes.
• By taking these steps, you can ensure your site
  remains secure against evolving threats,
  protecting your business and your customers.
• Ignoring performance checks
• Your website's performance is a critical aspect
  that directly impacts user experience and your
  site's visibility on search engine rankings. If
  your site takes too long to load, visitors can
  quickly become frustrated and decide to leave,
  increasing your bounce rate and potentially
  affecting your SEO rankings. Similarly, frequent
  downtime can damage your reputation, making
  visitors less likely to return or recommend your
  site to others. If you're not regularly
  monitoring your site's performance, these issues
  can go unnoticed and unaddressed, leading to a
  gradual decline in your site's effectiveness and
  reach.

7

• Solution
• To prevent this, it's crucial to conduct regular
  performance checks. Here are some key steps to
  ensure your website's optimal performance
• Utilize advanced tools Use advanced tools and
  services that can monitor your site's speed,
  uptime, and overall performance. These tools
  provide valuable insights into how your site is
  performing and highlight areas that may need
  improvement. Here are some of the advanced tools
  that can be utilized for website performance
  checks
• Google PageSpeed Insights This tool analyzes the
  content of a web page, then generates suggestions
  to make that page faster. It provides both mobile
  and desktop speed insights.
• Pingdom Pingdom offers cost-effective and
  reliable uptime and performance monitoring for
  your websites. It allows you to monitor your
  website's uptime, performance, and interactions
  for a better end-user experience.
• GTmetrix GTmetrix is a free tool that analyzes
  your page's speed performance. It can help you
  develop a deeper understanding of your site's
  speed and how to improve it.

8

• WebPageTest This tool allows you to run free
  website speed tests from multiple locations
  around the globe using real browsers and at real
  consumer connection speeds.
• YSlow This is a tool that analyzes web pages and
  suggests ways to improve their performance based
  on a set of rules for high performance web pages.
• Remember, each tool has its strengths and
  weaknesses, and they often complement each other.
  It's usually a good idea to use a combination of
  tools to get a comprehensive view of your
  website's performance.
• Quickly resolve issues If you identify any
  issues, such as slow-loading pages, server
  errors, or broken links, it's important to
  quickly diagnose and resolve them. This proactive
  approach can minimize any negative impact on your
  visitors and help maintain a positive user
  experience.
• Monitor changes Regular performance checks can
  help you understand how changes or updates to
  your site affect its performance. This allows you
  to make informed decisions about future updates
  or modifications.
• Consider professional help If managing these
  performance checks seems overwhelming, consider
  enlisting the help of a professional web design
  company. They can handle these tasks for you,
  ensuring your website performs optimally at all
  times.

9

• Remember, a well-performing website is not just
  beneficial for your visitors but also crucial for
  maintaining and improving your site's visibility
  on search engines.
• Forgetting SEO updates
• Search engine optimization (SEO) is a dynamic and
  ever-evolving field. The algorithms that search
  engines use to rank websites are constantly
  changing, with new updates and factors being
  introduced regularly. This means that what worked
  for your SEO strategy a few months ago might not
  be as effective today. If you're not regularly
  updating your SEO strategy and adapting to these
  changes, your site's ranking in search engine
  results could suffer, leading to a decrease in
  organic traffic and potential customers.
• Solution
• To stay ahead of the curve, it's crucial to
  conduct regular SEO audits. These audits can help
  you identify areas of your site that need
  improvement and ensure that your site is
  optimized according to the latest SEO best
  practices.

10

• Here are a few key areas to focus on during your
  SEO audits
• Keyword strategy Ensure your keywords are still
  relevant and effective. Update them as necessary
  to reflect current trends and user search
  behavior.
• Mobile-friendliness With the rise of mobile
  browsing, search engines now prioritize
  mobile-friendly websites. Make sure your site is
  fully optimized for mobile users.
• Meta tags These are crucial for telling search
  engines what your site and its pages are about.
  Regularly review and update your meta tags to
  ensure they're effective and relevant.
• Content quality and relevance High-quality,
  relevant content is key to SEO success. Regularly
  update and add fresh content to your site to keep
  it valuable and interesting to both users and
  search engines.
• In addition to regular audits, it's also
  important to stay informed about changes in
  search engine algorithms. Major search engines
  like Google often provide updates and guidance on
  their changes, which can give you valuable
  insights into how to adjust your SEO strategy.
• Remember, SEO is not a one-time task but an
  ongoing process. If managing these SEO updates
  seems daunting, consider partnering with a
  professional web design or digital marketing
  agency.

11

• Overestimating DIY capabilities
• In the era of DIY solutions and online tutorials,
  it's tempting to think that you can handle all
  aspects of website maintenance yourself. However,
  it's important to remember that maintaining a
  website involves a wide range of tasks, each with
  its own set of complexities. These tasks can
  range from technical updates and coding
  adjustments to security monitoring and SEO
  optimization. Each of these areas requires a
  specific set of skills and knowledge. Attempting
  to handle these tasks without the necessary
  expertise can lead to mistakes, which could
  potentially harm your site, its performance, and
  its security.
• Solution
• The key to effective website maintenance is to
  understand and acknowledge the limits of your DIY
  capabilities. It's okay not to know everything,
  and it's okay to seek help when you need it. Here
  are a few steps to ensure your website
  maintenance is handled effectively
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses
  Understand what aspects of website maintenance
  you're comfortable with and where you might need
  help. This could be anything from content
  updates, which might be more manageable, to
  technical updates and security monitoring, which
  might require more specialized knowledge.

12

• Seek professional help when needed If you're not
  confident in handling a particular task, don't
  hesitate to seek professional help. This could be
  a one-off consultation or an ongoing maintenance
  agreement with a professional web design company.
• Invest in learning If you're keen on handling
  more aspects of website maintenance yourself,
  consider investing time in learning. There are
  numerous online resources and courses that can
  help you develop the necessary skills.
• Partner with a professional web design company
  Companies like ours specialize in maintaining
  websites to the highest standards. We have the
  expertise to handle all aspects of website
  maintenance, from technical updates to security
  and performance monitoring. By partnering with
  us, you can ensure your website is in safe hands,
  leaving you free to focus on other aspects of
  your business.
• Remember, maintaining a website is not just about
  keeping it running it's about ensuring it
  performs optimally, remains secure, and continues
  to serve your business goals effectively. Whether
  you choose to handle it yourself or seek
  professional help, what matters most is that it's
  done correctly and consistently.

13

• Underestimating the importance of professional
  help
• In the world of business, it's common to see
  companies trying to cut costs wherever possible.
  One area that often falls victim to this
  cost-cutting mindset is website maintenance. Many
  businesses underestimate the value of
  professional website maintenance services,
  viewing it as an unnecessary expense or something
  they can manage internally. However, this
  perspective can lead to missed opportunities and
  potential pitfalls. Professional website
  maintenance is not just a costit's an investment
  in your business's online presence, security, and
  overall performance.
• Solution
• The solution lies in changing the perspective and
  recognizing the value that professional website
  maintenance services bring to the table. Here's
  why investing in professional website maintenance
  services is a smart business decision
• Time-saving Professional website maintenance
  services save you time. Instead of spending hours
  trying to figure out technical issues or updates,
  you can focus on what you do bestrunning your
  business.

14

• Prevention of costly mistakes Without the right
  expertise, it's easy to make mistakes in website
  maintenance that can lead to bigger issues down
  the line. Professionals can help prevent these
  mistakes, saving you potential repair costs in
  the future.
• Optimal performance A well-maintained website
  performs better, providing a superior user
  experience, which can lead to increased
  engagement and conversions.
• Security Professional website maintenance
  services include regular security checks and
  updates, ensuring your website is protected
  against the latest threats.
• Peace of mind Knowing that your website is in
  the hands of professionals gives you peace of
  mind, allowing you to focus on your core business
  activities without worrying about your website's
  performance or security.
• By investing in professional website maintenance
  services, you're not just spending moneyyou're
  investing in the health, performance, and
  security of your website. A professional web
  design company, like ours, can handle all aspects
  of website maintenance, from regular updates and
  backups to security monitoring and performance
  checks. This allows you to focus on your core
  business activities, knowing your website is in
  good hands.

15

• Why choose us for your website maintenance needs?
• At Reversed Out Creative, we understand the
  importance of regular website maintenance. Our
  team of experts specializes in web design, web
  development, graphic design, app development, and
  WordPress maintenance. We offer comprehensive
  website maintenance services, ensuring your site
  is secure, functional, and optimized for search
  engines.
• We also provide public relations, copywriting,
  printing, web hosting, media buying, and SEO
  services, making us a one-stop-shop for all your
  digital marketing needs. If you're struggling
  with website maintenance or simply don't have the
  time to handle it yourself, we're here to help.
• Key website maintenance takeaways
• Regular updates Keep your website updated with
  the latest versions of software, plugins, and
  themes to ensure optimal performance and
  security.
• Routine backups Regularly back up your website
  to safeguard your data and enable quick recovery
  in case of any mishaps.
• Robust security measures Implement strong
  security measures, including the use of security
  plugins, active monitoring, and regular malware
  scans to protect your website from cyber threats.

16

• Performance checks Regularly monitor your
  website's performance, including load times and
  uptime, to provide a seamless user experience and
  maintain good SEO rankings.
• SEO updates Stay on top of SEO best practices
  and algorithm changes to ensure your website
  remains visible and competitive in search engine
  results.
• Recognize DIY limits Understand the limits of
  your DIY capabilities and seek professional help
  when necessary to avoid costly mistakes.
• Value of professional help Recognize the
  importance of professional website maintenance
  services in saving time, preventing mistakes, and
  ensuring optimal website performance.
• Use of tools Utilize various tools for
  performance checks, security monitoring, and SEO
  audits. Some recommended tools include Google
  Analytics, Wordfence, Sucuri, and Yoast SEO.
• FAQ's
• What is website maintenance?
• Website maintenance involves regularly checking
  your website for issues, keeping it updated, and
  ensuring that it is always in optimal shape. This
  process includes updating content, fixing broken
  links, optimizing web pages for SEO, and ensuring
  the website's security.

17

• Why is regular website maintenance important?
• Regular website maintenance is crucial to ensure
  an optimal user experience. It helps keep the
  website running smoothly, improves site
  performance, and secures it from potential
  threats. Regular updates also ensure that the
  website remains compatible with the latest
  technologies and meets search engine standards.
• How often should I update my website?
• The frequency of website updates depends on the
  nature of your website and business. However, as
  a general rule, you should check your website for
  updates and issues at least once a month. For
  websites with high traffic or those that handle
  sensitive user data, more frequent checks may be
  necessary.
• Can I handle website maintenance myself?
• While it's possible to handle some aspects of
  website maintenance yourself, it can be a complex
  and time-consuming task. If you lack the
  necessary technical skills, it's easy to make
  mistakes that could harm your website's
  performance or security. Hiring a professional
  web design company for website maintenance can
  save you time and ensure your website is in good
  hands.

18

• What services does a professional website
  maintenance company provide?
• A professional website maintenance company
  provides a range of services, including regular
  updates, backups, security checks, performance
  optimization, and SEO management. They ensure
  that your website is secure, functional, and
  optimized for search engines. They can also
  provide expert advice and solutions for any
  issues that arise. Reversed Out specializes in
  WordPress and can provide a list of what
  WordPress website maintenance costs.
• How much does website maintenance cost?
• Costs can vary depending on the level of service.
  Basic hosting that includes some level of
  maintenance could start at around 50/mo and
  escalate from there. It is not out of the
  question for some businesses to spend 3,000/mo
  for hosting and regular full-service maintenance
  packages that include off-page SEO. Contact an
  agency like Reversed out to learn more and build
  a package for your budget and needs. We can
  provide you with a full website maintenance
  services list.

19

• How long does website maintenance take?
• Basic website maintenance for a WordPress website
  can take a couple of hours to update the version
  of WordPress and also all of the plugins. There
  always seems to be additional configurations that
  need to happen while performing updates. If SEO
  is included in the maintenance package this can
  take an additional 20 hours to perform the
  off-site tasks that need to happen.
• Contact us
• At Reversed Out Creative, we understand the
  challenges and opportunities presented by AI
  disruption. Our team of experts specializes in
  web design, SEO, graphic design, and digital
  marketing services. Reach out to us through our
  contact form to learn more about navigating the
  evolving job market and embracing the potential
  of AI. Together, let's shape a future that
  combines human ingenuity with the power of AI.

20
(No Transcript)