With all of the Internet hacking happening today, it is crucial to keep your website backed up and up to date, using newer and better technology that provides improved security and simplifies website maintenance. Website security, functionality, speed, content, and aesthetics are all important factors to consider for a website to be successful, and if ignored, may even cause a loss in revenue. This article will examine and discuss how neglecting website maintenance will cost you.
Website Security Vulnerabilities
Preventing a hack is a lot less hassle and expense than the cost to fix something after it happens. Website maintenance is more important today than ever before and the worst thing that a website owner can do is to do nothing, especially when transacting money.
Protecting private information is a major concern with websites using both shared hosting accounts and private servers, regardless of the number of updates and security patches needed to maintain security.
Therefore website backups go hand in hand with maintaining security because if your website ever experiences a hack that can cripple your website or worse, it helps to have an intact starting point.
A backup allows you to make corrections, updates, and additional security before re-launching the site without the hack interfering with the integrity of your site.
Website Functionality
Older technology eventually becomes antiquated and inferior and no longer supported. For example, WordPress websites may experience errors if the PHP version is updated without making the code ready for the new version beforehand.
Newer technology is growing faster and affects website functionality. Having an SSL certificate and being mobile device-friendly both improve your site’s search engine rankings, for example, because they are deemed advancing with technology and security.
As the newer technology improves, you need to keep your WordPress website file system, theme, and plugins up to date to meet lasting account standards, as well as maintain your device and browser compatibility.
Don’t feel overwhelmed. A good web developer will help you manage the technology and keep your site functioning optimally and securely. You’ll be getting all you can from your site’s performance without the hassles of not being proactive soon enough. It’s more than worth the effort.
Website Speed Improvements
As newer and better software improvements allow for faster and more efficient operation, using the latest versions ensures smoother performance with fewer problems or potential for hacking.
Developers are consistently producing software with the ability to compress images, for example. This reduces page load times while database maintenance reduces server and page load times thereby contributing to faster and better performance which enhances the user experience.
With continual improvement and website maintenance the speed, performance, and enjoyment will enhance all aspects of the website and its operation.
Think of it as a high-performance race car with specialized parts that enables the car to handle better, accelerate faster, and brake quickly.
Website Content and Design Updates
Just like automobile manufacturers that refine and improve their yearly models, your website needs to also refine and polish its messages to better reflect more precisely your specific value to your customers.
Have you ever noticed, for example, websites that display old copyright or “last updated” date of several or many years ago? How current and how valid does that site appear and how well does it function on today’s mobile devices?
Images on your site need to be periodically updated and able to communicate with your clients, both new and older, in the way they want to be connected to.
As your clients and customers mature and change your content also needs to speak to customers in a familiar style and tone that extends trust and value that accentuates your brand.
Having periodic design updates along with capabilities, colors, typefaces, and search engine optimized content will not only add to the user experience but also improve the search results. Your brand marketing gets the added boost as more people share the information and the examples your site provides and others will reinforce.
Why Is Website Maintenance Important?
The problem with the vast majority of website owners is that they aren’t usually aware of possible problems until well after they experience problems.
Some telltale signs can include parts of the site no longer working, a site that is slow to load, slow operation, or signs that the site has been hacked from security breaches.
Web Design and Development companies can offer updates to ensure flawless operation and smooth execution of customer orders and payments, with an e-commerce site, for example. They can help you investigate if you are on a blacklist by using a security scanner such as Sucuri Sitecheck, or to see if your site has been hacked recently and if so, to take action to overcome this situation.
But don’t be impatient for results. Stick to one source you trust to maintain your website. For best results and continued quality performance limit the monthly or quarterly maintenance to one person or company—too often something gets overlooked when multiple people get involved, or something gets changed resulting in finger-pointing and blaming, leaving you without leverage due to neither source knowing what the other did or did not do.
Take a look at the article Why Your WordPress Website Needs an SSL Certificate for further information about protecting your website.
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