A website is not finished the day it launches. Software ages, security issues are found, links break and plans change. A little regular care keeps it safe, fast and trustworthy. Here is a simple routine you can follow yourself or hand to someone else.
Every week
- Check the site loads on a phone and on a computer.
- Test the contact form. Send yourself a message and make sure it arrives.
- Look at your enquiries and orders. A form that silently fails costs you customers.
- Review comments or submissions for spam, if your site has them.
- Confirm backups ran, if they are automatic.
Every month
- Apply updates to the site's software, plugins and themes. Updates often contain security fixes.
- Back up the site and store a copy away from the server. Test that you can restore from it.
- Check the speed. A slow page loses visitors and hurts search visibility.
- Look for broken links and fix or remove them.
- Review security: user accounts, passwords and who has access.
- Test payments and bookings, if you take them, with a real end-to-end run.
- Read your search data in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. Look for errors and for pages that are not being found.
Every quarter
- Review your content. Are prices, opening hours, team details and services still correct?
- Refresh your best articles with new information and links to your newer pages.
- Check how the site looks on several phones and browsers.
- Review who has admin access and remove anyone who should not.
- Check your domain and hosting details are current, and that renewal payment methods work.
Every year
- Renew your domain, hosting and certificates before they expire. Expired ones take sites offline or show browser warnings.
- Take a fresh look at the design and structure. Does the site still reflect your business and what customers want?
- Review accessibility and mobile use.
- Consider a refresh or redesign if the site feels dated or slow.
What can go wrong without maintenance
- Security holes in old software that attackers look for.
- Lost data with no recent backup.
- Broken forms or checkout that nobody notices.
- Slow pages that drive visitors away.
- Expired domains or certificates that take the site offline.
- Outdated content that damages trust.
Who should do it
You can do the basics yourself if you are comfortable with it. Many owners prefer to hand it over, because it is easy to postpone when the business is busy. A servicing plan can cover updates, security, backups, performance checks and small content changes, and tell you what was done. See our website servicing and maintenance. If you run cameras or a Starlink setup as well, our hardware maintenance covers those, so one team looks after both.
Questions to ask a maintenance provider
- What exactly is covered, and what costs extra?
- How often are updates and backups done, and where are backups stored?
- How quickly will you respond if something breaks?
- Will I get a report of what was done?
- Can you maintain a site you did not build?
Frequently asked questions
How often should I update my website?
Software updates should be checked at least monthly, and security updates applied promptly. Content should be reviewed whenever your business changes.
What should a good backup include?
The site files, the database and any uploaded media, stored in more than one place. Test restoring from a backup so you know it works.
Do I need maintenance if my site is simple?
Even simple sites need hosting, domain renewals and occasional updates. The routine is shorter, but it still matters.
Can you maintain a website that someone else built?
Often yes. A review first helps us understand what we are taking on and agree what the servicing covers.