{"id":31707,"date":"2021-09-22T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=31707"},"modified":"2025-10-31T11:41:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T18:41:48","slug":"complete-website-maintenance-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/complete-website-maintenance-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Website Maintenance Checklist (20 Things You NEED to Do This Year)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your site may be running smoothly now. However, there\u2019s no guarantee that it will perform at this optimal level forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to a vehicle, your website requires ongoing work to keep it in tip-top condition. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve created this complete website maintenance checklist for your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, we\u2019ll discuss why maintenance is the key to a high-performing, secure, and profitable online presence. We\u2019ll then share a whopping 20 maintenance tasks that you need to do this year. We&#8217;ve organized the tasks based on how often you need to complete them to keep your site spick and span:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#weekly-maint\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weekly Website Maintenance<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#monthly-maint\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monthly Website Maintenance<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#quarterly-maint\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quarterly Website Maintenance<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#annual-maint\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual Website Maintenance<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-why-site-maintenance-matters\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Why Site Maintenance Matters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you neglect important maintenance tasks, then the consequences can be disastrous. During the first six months of 2021, the Wordfence Web Application Firewall blocked <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpscan.com\/2021-Mid-Year-WordPress-Security-Report.pdf\">over 4 billion malicious requests<\/a><\/span>. With people actively trying to break into WordPress websites, even a small lapse in security could put your site at serious risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress maintenance isn\u2019t<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&nbsp;just<\/span>&nbsp;about spotting the big issues, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, small problems can gradually diminish your <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/optimizing-wp-for-speed\/\">site\u2019s performance<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/boost-seo-wordpress-website\/\">search engine rankings<\/a><\/span>. By pinpointing and addressing these minor errors early, you can reduce the negative impact they can have on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintenance also involves evaluating various aspects of your site. This puts you in a strong position to identify opportunities to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/optimize-wordpress-website-speed\/\">optimize your content<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/5-wordpress-plugins-drive-conversions-website\/\">drive more conversions<\/a><\/span>. In this way, you can keep your site <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-your-competition\/\">ahead of the pack<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small\"\n>\n    <div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder.webp 1x, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder-x2.webp 2x\"  alt=\"Ad background image\" \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"content-btm\">\n    <h2\n      class=\"h2--md\"\n    >\n      Get Your Site Up to Date\n    <\/h2>\n    <p\n      class=\"p--md\"\n    >\n      Technology is constantly moving forward and keeping up can be a chore. We&#8217;ll upgrade your outdated, insecure software to get you back on track.\n    <\/p>\n\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/pro-services\/management\/site-update\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Learn More                    <\/a>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-weekly-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><a id=\"weekly-maint\"><\/a>Weekly Tasks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with regular maintenance tasks. Here are five things we recommend you perform every single week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-review-your-metrics\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">1. Review Your Metrics<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most successful websites <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/metrics-every-blogger-needs-to-track\/\">record a range of data<\/a><\/span>. This includes tracking how visitors behave, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/beginners-guide-to-marketing-your-website-increasing-traffic\/\">your best traffic sources<\/a><\/span>, and the content that drives the most conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By regularly analyzing your metrics, you can pinpoint problems that need to be addressed. Here, speed is everything. To remain competitive, it helps to review this data weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/14bf7ae3-adcd-44bd-9512-504092138ea9_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-6.jpg\" alt=\"The Google Analytics dashboard.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When viewed in isolation, you may struggle to properly evaluate your performance. If this is the case, you might also want to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-your-competition\/\">review your competitor\u2019s metrics<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-back-up-your-site\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">2. Back Up Your Site<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/10-important-reasons-to-perform-website-backup\/\">Creating regular backups<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;is one of the most important items on your to-do list. If you fall behind, then you risk losing all of your recent work \u2014 or even your entire website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-back-up-your-wordpress-website\/\">create backups manually<\/a><\/span>, some hosting providers can perform this vital maintenance task for you. For example, at DreamHost, we offer <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/features\/wordpress-backups\/\">automated daily backups<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/etNPlNq7gqQ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to back up on-demand, you can also create a copy of your site with a single click. We store all of your backups in a central location and offer easy one-click restore for added convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-moderate-comments\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">3. Moderate Comments<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A lively comment section encourages visitors to interact with your site. However, comment sections can have a dark side. Attackers may try to trick you into publishing malicious content in the form of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-internet-trolls\/\">comment spam<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some comments may also contain irrelevant or offensive content. This can reflect poorly on your website. For this reason, you may want to use a comment moderation plugin such as <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/akismet\/\">Akismet Anti-Spam<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/c421012d-8297-49c4-9572-7ef67e534192_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-11.jpg\" alt=\"The Akismet Anti-Spam plugin.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can also hold all submissions in an approval queue, using WordPress\u2019 default settings. Visitors will expect their comments to appear on your site within a reasonable timeframe. If you withhold comments for review, it\u2019s smart to check this queue at least once per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-update-your-themes-and-plugins\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">4. Update Your Themes and Plugins<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to research, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/beginners-guide\/ultimate-guide-to-upgrade-wordpress-for-beginners-infograph\/?display=wide\">86% of hacked WordPress websites<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;contain an outdated plugin or theme or even an outdated version of WordPress. This makes sense, as updates often contain fixes for known vulnerabilities or new security features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep the bad guys out, it\u2019s smart to regularly check the WordPress dashboard for any available updates.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/7d03b6ce-27a5-4ea0-b636-fb12b7460820_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-3.jpg\" alt=\"The WordPress updates dashboard.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While we\u2019re including this task in our maintenance checklist, you may want to consider enabling auto-updates for your themes and plugins for added security. Assuming that you\u2019re running WordPress 5.6 or higher, you can also enable auto-updates for WordPress core in the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Dashboard &gt; Updates<\/span>&nbsp;menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-scan-for-malware\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">5. Scan for Malware<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress has a good reputation as a secure platform, but no software is perfect. To keep your site in tip-top shape, it&#8217;s important to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/what-is-malware\/\">check for malware<\/a><\/span>. Our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/226704048-How-do-I-enable-and-manage-DreamShield-\">DreamShield add-on<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;can automatically scan your site for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">malicious code<\/span> on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/bad3492e-2e9b-41ab-b600-eb5a4222bc0d_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-13.jpg\" alt=\"Activating the DreamShield add-on.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If DreamShield detects an issue, it\u2019ll notify you via the DreamHost panel and via email. This email will contain step-by-step instructions that show you how to resolve this problem and restore your site to optimal health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small\"\n>\n    <div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder.webp 1x, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder-x2.webp 2x\"  alt=\"Ad background image\" \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"content-btm\">\n    <h2\n      class=\"h2--md\"\n    >\n      Protect Your Website with DreamShield\n    <\/h2>\n    <p\n      class=\"p--md\"\n    >\n      For just $3\/month, our premium security add-on scans your site daily to ensure it is free of malicious code.\n    <\/p>\n\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/226704048-How-do-I-enable-and-manage-DreamShield-\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Enable DreamShield                    <\/a>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-monthly-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><a id=\"monthly-maint\"><\/a>Monthly Tasks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By monitoring your site&#8217;s speed and search engine performance, you can stay one step ahead of the competition. With that in mind, here\u2019s your monthly website maintenance checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-test-your-site-s-speed\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">6. Test Your Site\u2019s Speed<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-speed-up-a-dreampress-site\/\">Your site\u2019s performance<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;has a huge impact on its success. Studies suggest that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/neilpatel.com\/blog\/loading-time\/\">40% of people<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;abandon a site that takes longer than three seconds to load. Even if visitors do stick around, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-slow-website\/\">a sluggish website<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;is unlikely to impress potential customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Page speed can also <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/blog\/2010\/04\/using-site-speed-in-web-search-ranking\">impact your SEO<\/a><\/span>, particularly with the launch of the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/google-core-web-vitals\/\">Core Web Vitals project<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can test your site\u2019s speed using a tool such as <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/speed\/pagespeed\/insights\/\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;or <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gtmetrix.com\/\">GTmetrix<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/e8348db1-6e63-4012-9a98-565e0d1e5e86_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-2.jpg\" alt=\"The GTmetrix performance monitoring tool.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re concerned about your Core Web Vitals performance, Google has also created a dedicated <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/9205520\">reporting tool<\/a><\/span>. This evaluates your site against the specific Core Web Vitals metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-create-new-content\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">7. Create New Content<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Regularly publishing interesting, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-content-marketing-strategy\/\">relevant content<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;is a tried-and-tested way to convert one-off visitors into loyal repeat customers. Content can also position you as an <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/expert-blogging-tips\/\">expert in your industry<\/a><\/span>, which is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-editorial-calendar\/\">great for conversions<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It isn\u2019t just <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">people<\/span>&nbsp;who read your posts and pages. Search engines will also use this content to understand what your site is about. So by regularly publishing materials such as blog posts and articles, you can maximize your chances of appearing in relevant search engine results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure that you\u2019re winning the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Search Engine Optimization (SEO)<\/span>&nbsp;game, you may want to consider <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/pro-services\/marketing\/seo-marketing\/\">partnering with an experienced SEO team<\/a><\/span>. Our experts can create and publish a stream of five-star content tailormade to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-do-keyword-research-wordpress-blog\/\">support your keyword strategy<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-improve-your-site-s-seo\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">8. Improve Your Site&#8217;s SEO<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/blog\/state-of-searcher-behavior-revealed\">40\u201360 billion searches<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;happening on Google in the U.S. every single month, SEO is one maintenance task that you can\u2019t afford to overlook. As an established site, chances are you\u2019ve already identified the keywords that you want to rank for. However, keyword popularity can change over time, so it helps to check whether you need to adjust your approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can view the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">current search volume<\/span>&nbsp;using a tool such as Semrush\u2019s Keyword Overview&nbsp;or Keyword Magic tools.&nbsp;We\u2019re so confident that you\u2019ll love using&nbsp;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/partner\/dreamhost-pro\/?irclickid=XndWm%3AVohxyLTjfzAwwA3wThUkBT4-SZpyg2zM0&amp;irgwc=1\">Semrush<\/a><\/span>, we\u2019ve partnered with them to give you a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/partner\/dreamhost-pro\/?irclickid=XndWm%3AVohxyLTjfzAwwA3wThUkBT4-SZpyg2zM0&amp;irgwc=1\">14-day pro trial for free<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/partner\/dreamhost-pro\/?irclickid=XndWm%3AVohxyLTjfzAwwA3wThUkBT4-SZpyg2zM0&amp;irgwc=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/5f2ac21b-ff64-4b82-a6c1-4a84a5804163_Dreamhost1202.png\" alt=\"Semrush &amp; DreamHost Start your free 14-day trial\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve made any necessary changes to your keyword strategy, you\u2019ll need to review every part of your site to ensure that it\u2019s helping you rank for those terms. That\u2019s no easy feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you out, we\u2019ve created the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/products\/seo-toolkit\/\">DreamHost SEO Toolkit<\/a><\/span>. With over 100 automated checks and verifications, you can use this add-on to create a personalized SEO plan. It can also help you implement your SEO strategy via powerful on-page optimization tools. You can add SEO Toolkit to your hosting plan for just $4.99\/mo per site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tImprove Your Rankings Using These 20 SEO Techniques\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/improve-seo\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-quarterly-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><a id=\"quarterly-maint\"><\/a>Quarterly Tasks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at some website elements that are too often overlooked. Here are seven tasks to perform every quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-change-your-passwords\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">9. Change Your Passwords<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A strong, complex password is essential for preventing unauthorized access to your website. When creating your password, it\u2019s essential that you follow <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-strong-passwords\/\">all the latest best practices<\/a><\/span>, such as using two-factor authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gxfExmn4PbA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you\u2019re following the rules, it\u2019s still smart to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/best-password-managers-for-website-owners\/\">change your password<\/a> every quarter. Then, even if your password does get compromised, it will minimize the time the hacker remains inside your hacked account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small\"\n>\n    <div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder.webp 1x, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder-x2.webp 2x\"  alt=\"Ad background image\" \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"content-btm\">\n    <h2\n      class=\"h2--md\"\n    >\n      Hacked Site? We&#8217;ll Fix It Fast\n    <\/h2>\n    <p\n      class=\"p--md\"\n    >\n      With our Hacked Site Repair service, we&#8217;ll remove any malicious code and restore your website so it&#8217;s back up and running fast.\n    <\/p>\n\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/pro-services\/management\/hacked-site-repair\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Learn More                    <\/a>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-check-and-fix-broken-links\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">10. Check and Fix Broken Links<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/common-wordpress-errors\/\">Broken links<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;can occur for many reasons. For example, you might delete a page or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-redirect-loop-wordpress-error\/\">implement a redirect incorrectly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They may be common, but these URLs are disastrous for the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/what-is-user-experience\/\">User Experience (UX)<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;and your SEO. When search engine bots encounter a broken URL, they\u2019ll crawl that link to verify that it\u2019s broken. This wastes precious crawl budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can scan for broken URLs using tools such as <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/partner\/dreamhost-pro\/?irclickid=XndWm%3AVohxyLTjfzAwwA3wThUkBT4-SZpyg2zM0&amp;irgwc=1\">Semrush<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/250050ee-0e54-42f6-99fc-d6db2e78ad14_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-4.jpg\" alt=\"Semrush\u2019s Site Audit feature.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/partner\/dreamhost-pro\/?irclickid=XndWm%3AVohxyLTjfzAwwA3wThUkBT4-SZpyg2zM0&amp;irgwc=1\">Semrush<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;will scan your site and display any broken URLs in the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Crawled pages <\/span>section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, you may be able to fix a broken link by manually adjusting the URL. Alternatively, you can use a plugin <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/redirection\/\">such as Redirection<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-11-delete-unnecessary-plugins-and-themes\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">11. Delete Unnecessary Plugins and Themes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every theme or plugin adds code to your website, which is a potential loophole for hackers to exploit. In fact, themes and plugins account for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/patchstack.com\/wordpress-security-2020\/\">96% of WordPress vulnerabilities<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to regularly take stock of the themes and plugins installed on your site and delete any you no longer require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be tempted to simply disable the software in question, just in case you need to reactivate it at a later date. However, hackers may still be able to access deactivated code, so deletion is always the safest option.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/e8d3bf69-13de-4c4e-8232-d5c7df78083a_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-9.jpg\" alt=\"The WordPress plugin management page.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can further reduce your attack surface by removing any images, videos, or audio files that you no longer require. To achieve this, connect to your site using a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/ftp-sftp-guide-for-wordpress-users\/\">Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client<\/a><\/span>, then head to the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">wp-content<\/span>&nbsp;directory to locate and delete those unnecessary files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tFrom Clicks to Customers: 23 Techniques &amp; Tools To Improve Website Conversion Rates\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/increase-website-conversion-rate\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-12-optimize-your-database\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">12. Optimize Your Database<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress stores all of your data and content in a database. The larger your database, the longer it will take the server to retrieve information from your tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By optimizing your database, you can reduce the server load and boost your page load times. You can optimize your database using phpMyAdmin. DreamHost customers can <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360002440711-Accessing-your-DreamPress-database\">access this tool<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;via their hosting account.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/28d4db2f-2078-4eaa-b45f-83f3a2e07871_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-5.jpg\" alt=\"Logging into phpMyAdmin through your DreamHost panel.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In phpMyAdmin, navigate to<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">&nbsp;Databases<\/span>. You can then select the database that you want to optimize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tHow To Build a Website This Weekend: Complete Beginner\u2019s Guide\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/beginners-website-guide\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-13-test-your-site-s-forms\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">13. Test Your Site\u2019s Forms<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many websites use forms to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-get-website-visitors-fill-out-lead-forms\/\">capture leads<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;and drive conversions. Some forms also deliver core functionality, including login forms.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/5cf32a30-530a-4a53-a53e-1b9cdc11e8d7_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-10.jpg\" alt=\"An example of a login form.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since they\u2019re so important, it\u2019s wise to check that your forms are functioning correctly. We recommend reviewing the entire submission process, including ensuring that you\u2019re logging user input correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-14-test-your-checkout-process\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">14. Test Your Checkout Process<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you accept payments via your website, then the checkout process is at the heart of your business. If there\u2019s an issue with this process, then you could be missing out on countless sales. In the worst-case scenario, your system may be completely broken, which will bring your revenue to zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this in mind, we recommend verifying that your checkout is working as expected. Most <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/10-online-payment-gateways-compared\/\">payment solutions<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;have a dedicated testing mode, including the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.woocommerce.com\/document\/payments\/testing\/\">popular WooCommerce platform<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During testing, it\u2019s smart to look for any opportunities to improve the purchasing process. A complex payment process can prevent customers from crossing that finish line. In fact, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salecycle.com\/blog\/strategies\/infographic-people-abandon-shopping-carts\/\">34% of shoppers<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;will abandon their carts if they\u2019re forced to create an account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can streamline the payment process as part of your review, it may do wonders for your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tFrom Clicks to Customers: 23 Techniques &amp; Tools To Improve Website Conversion Rates\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/increase-website-conversion-rate\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-15-check-your-social-media-links\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">15. Check Your Social Media Links<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-promote-your-blog-on-social-media\/\">Social media<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;is a powerful tool for reaching a wider audience and retaining your existing one. By <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/easy-social-media-tricks-hard-working-small-business\/\">frequently posting across social platforms<\/a><\/span>, you can keep your company at the forefront of your followers\u2019 minds and ensure that they remain engaged over the long term. Many websites feature prominent social media buttons, including links to follow your accounts and share your content.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/c6708a69-d9c5-479e-aa0c-ecf4f3775bd6_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-12.jpg\" alt=\"Social sharing buttons on the DreamHost blog.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, when dealing with third-party tools, there\u2019s always a chance they may change how they process your requests. They may even implement technological changes that affect your site\u2019s social content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your social URLs are broken, then you could be missing out on countless followers and shares. Therefore, it\u2019s important to check them once in a while to make sure that they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-annual-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><a id=\"annual-maint\"><\/a>Annual Tasks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to perform these tasks multiple times a year. However, we recommend setting aside the time to perform them annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-16-schedule-user-testing\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">16. Schedule User Testing<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you evaluate how intuitive your website is by <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/ab-testing-your-website\/\">testing<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;it on real-life users. Chances are you performed at least one round of usability testing when you first designed your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the way people interact with websites has a tendency to evolve over time. New technical innovations, devices, or browser updates can dramatically change how your typical internet user interacts with your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure that you continue to provide a good experience, we recommend scheduling annual usability testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-17-review-your-domain-and-hosting-renewals\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">17. Review Your Domain and Hosting Renewals<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/best-practices-for-buying-a-domain\/\">Choosing a domain name<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;is one of the most important decisions you can make. A good domain will become an integral part of your branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, imagine losing&nbsp;this essential part of your online identity. If you fall behind on your renewals, then you might try to access your site one day, only to discover that your domain has expired. Therefore, it\u2019s smart to check your domain and hosting renewal status.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ec99a1d8-0d69-4616-aaa7-653170c925c5_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Even if you activate auto-renewals, we still recommend manually verifying that everything is set up correctly, particularly your payment information. If your credit card has expired, the renewal will fail, and you may lose access to your domain or web hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tThe Ultimate Guide To Web Hosting (What You Need To Know)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/web-hosting-guide\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-18-update-your-header-footer-and-legal-policies\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">18. Update Your Header, Footer, and Legal Policies<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your header and footer are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/website-footer-guide\">prime digital real estate<\/a><\/span>. Typically, you\u2019ll use these elements to display useful information, such as your contact details or opening hours. If this information is out of date, then you may lose out on conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/bac50a9e-300c-4a11-8d1b-38ac9298db0c_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-8.jpg\" alt=\"The DreamHost footer.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you make any significant changes to your operations, you must immediately update the header and footer. However, it never hurts to perform an annual check just to ensure that no changes have slipped through the cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The header and footer also appear across your website. This makes them perfect for putting your most important pages at the audience\u2019s fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While reviewing these elements, consider removing any links that are no longer relevant. There may also be some new content that deserves a top spot in your header or footer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most websites feature various legal policies, including a privacy policy and copyright information. Laws can evolve over time, so it\u2019s always worth verifying that you\u2019re in line with the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/what-to-know-about-gdpr-data-security\/\">latest regulations<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-19-review-your-about-page\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">19. Review Your &#8216;About&#8217; Page<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A compelling <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-about-us-page\/\"><em>About<\/em> page<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;can convince customers that you\u2019re a company worth doing business with. It can also give people a sense of who you are as individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/266a4d84-bba1-4ff6-9b7c-4cff6b03786f_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-1.jpg\" alt=\"The DreamHost About Us page.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Despite its importance, too many companies write their <em>About<\/em> page and then never revisit it. To ensure that this page is always representative of your company, it\u2019s worth performing an annual review.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/491cd87d-a0b7-4466-a204-853d192d34ec_Website-Maintenance-Checklist-DreamHost-7.jpg\" alt=\"An example of an About Us page.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can look for opportunities to add exciting developments, such as a major new client. You might also update any outdated information, such as changing an employee\u2019s bio to reflect their new job title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-20-perform-a-content-audit\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">20. Perform a Content Audit<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Publishing engaging, relevant content signals to visitors that your site is active and that you\u2019re an expert in your field. This content can also help you improve your search engine rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure that you\u2019re getting maximum value from this content, we recommend performing an annual <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-do-website-content-audit\/\">content audit<\/a><\/span>. This is where you catalog all of your site\u2019s content and evaluate its performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This way, you can identify the topics and formats that attract the largest traffic and drive the most conversions. Conversely, you can pinpoint the content that doesn\u2019t appear to resonate with your target audience. This is invaluable information that you can use to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-come-up-with-new-content-ideas\/\">refine your content strategy<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tHow To Update Old Blog Posts To Keep Your Content Fresh\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/keep-your-blog-fresh-how-to-repurpose-old-posts\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-ready-to-try-the-wordpress-website-maintenance-checklist\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Ready to try the WordPress Website Maintenance Checklist?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The hard work doesn\u2019t end just because you\u2019ve published your website. Running a successful WordPress site requires ongoing effort \u2014 and regular maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By breaking this challenge into 20 tasks, you can keep your site in tip-top shape without becoming overwhelmed. In addition, if you add the right tools and services to the mix, you may be able to further reduce your workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Running a website isn\u2019t always easy, so why not let us lighten the load?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/pro-services\/management\/dreamcare\/\">DreamCare Service<\/a><\/span>&nbsp;puts a team of DreamHost experts at your fingertips. With our 24\/7 professional website monitoring, managed updates, and monthly security reviews, you can be confident that you\u2019re smashing every item on your maintenance checklist.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your site may be running smoothly now. However, there\u2019s no guarantee that it will perform at this optimal level forever. Similar to a vehicle, your website requires ongoing work to keep it in tip-top condition. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve created this complete website maintenance checklist for your WordPress site. In this post, we\u2019ll discuss why maintenance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1060,"featured_media":31723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Just like a car, your WordPress site requires ongoing upkeep to ensure it stays in great shape. 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