WordPress maintenance: what you must do every month
An unmaintained WordPress site is an easy target for hackers and loses performance over time. Discover the complete monthly checklist to keep your site secure, fast and performant.
What you need to know
The essential elements to understand this topic and make the right decisions for your web project.
WordPress updates
Update WordPress core as soon as each version is released. Security updates (e.g., 6.x.1) must be applied within 48h. Always test in staging before production.
Plugin updates
Update each plugin after checking release notes. Outdated plugins are the #1 cause of WordPress hacking (53% of attacks). Delete unused plugins.
Backup verification
Monthly test restoring a backup. An untested backup is not a real backup. Keep 30 days of backups on external storage (cloud).
Security audit
Check login logs, scan the site with Wordfence or Sucuri, check admin users and change passwords if necessary. Enable two-factor authentication.
Performance test
Measure your PageSpeed score monthly. If the score drops, identify the cause (new plugin, unoptimized image, problematic update). Maintain 85+ on desktop.
SEO check
Check Search Console for crawl errors, manual penalties and new keyword opportunities. Verify your sitemap is up to date and error-free.
Steps to follow
A concrete action plan to move forward effectively on your web project.
Week 1: Updates and backups
Make a full backup (files + database). Update WordPress, plugins and theme. Test the site after each update to detect conflicts.
Week 2: Security
Scan your site with Wordfence or Sucuri. Check login logs for intrusion attempts. Review user accounts and delete inactive ones.
Week 3: Performance
Measure your PageSpeed score on the 3 most important pages. Analyze Google Analytics to detect pages with high bounce rate or loading time.
Week 4: SEO and content
Check Google Search Console (404 errors, indexing issues). Update outdated content. Check broken links with a tool like Broken Link Checker.
Monthly: Report and optimizations
Write a monthly performance report (traffic, conversions, keywords). Identify 2 to 3 priority optimizations for the next month. Document all actions taken.
Quarterly: Full audit
Every 3 months, conduct a full audit: hosting, security, performance, SEO, content and UX. Identify necessary investments for the next 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don’t maintain my WordPress site?
Without maintenance: high risk of hacking (SQL injection or malware), performance degradation, exploited security vulnerabilities and potential Google blacklisting.
Can WordPress maintenance be automated?
Partially. ManageWP, MainWP or Jetpack can automate backups and updates. But post-update testing, security auditing and SEO monitoring require human intervention.
What does outsourced WordPress maintenance cost?
Between €49 and €200/month depending on included services. WebSteve offers complete maintenance from €49/month including updates, backups, security and 1h of modifications.
Should database and files be backed up separately?
Yes. The database contains your content, configuration and settings. Files contain themes, plugins and uploaded media. Both are essential for a complete restoration.
How to know if my site has been hacked?
Signs: sudden slowdown, unexpected redirects, new admin accounts, unknown content, Google ‘dangerous site’ warning, emails marked as spam. If in doubt, scan with Sucuri.
Are WordPress automatic updates safe?
Minor automatic updates (6.x.y) are generally safe. Major updates (6.x → 7.0) must be tested in staging first as they may break plugins or themes.
Ready to start your project?
Free quote within 48h — No hidden fees — WebSteve, your web agency in Val-de-Marne
Leave a Reply