A WordPress website needs regular upkeep to stay fast, secure, and ranking well. Here’s the checklist I run every month for client sites.
Core, theme, and plugin updates
Outdated plugins are one of the most common ways sites get hacked. Updates should be tested on staging before going live.
Backups
A recent, working backup is the difference between a quick fix and starting over after something goes wrong.
Uptime and speed monitoring
Sites should be checked for downtime and load-time regressions, especially after any update.
Security scans
Regular malware scans catch issues before they affect visitors or search rankings.
Broken link and form checks
Contact forms and links should be tested monthly — a broken contact form can quietly cost a business real leads.
If this list feels like a lot to manage yourself, that’s exactly what a website developer maintenance plan is for.