Websites don’t break all at once. They drift: a plugin goes out of date, a form quietly stops sending, hours get stale. A short monthly check catches problems while they’re small. Here’s the routine I recommend. It takes about thirty minutes.
Security and updates
- Make sure WordPress, your theme, and plugins are up to date, or confirm your host handles it
- Remove plugins you don’t use
- Check that your latest backup completed
- Confirm the padlock (https) still shows on your site
Test the things that make you money
- Submit your contact form and confirm the email arrives
- Tap your phone number on a phone and make sure it dials
- Test any booking, checkout, or quote tools
- Click the main buttons on your home page
I can’t stress the form test enough. A broken form looks completely normal to visitors and silently loses every message.
Content
- Hours, prices, and service areas still accurate
- Staff and photos still current
- Seasonal information updated
- Copyright year in the footer isn’t years old
Speed and mobile
- Run your home page through Google PageSpeed Insights
- Scroll through the site on your phone for anything that looks off
Search
- Glance at Google Search Console for new errors
- Check your top searches and clicks compared to last month
- Reply to any new Google reviews
- Post an update on your Google Business Profile
Make it a habit
Put a recurring reminder on your calendar for the first business day of each month. Keep a simple note of what you checked and anything you fixed. Over a year, that log becomes surprisingly useful.
Questions I hear a lot
How often should WordPress be updated?
Security updates should go on promptly. Most sites benefit from checking for updates at least weekly, even if the full checklist is monthly.
Can my host do this for me?
Many managed hosts handle updates and backups. Testing forms and content accuracy is still worth doing yourself.
If you want a second set of eyes
If you’d rather hand this off, the hosting and care I provide covers updates and backups, and I can walk you through the rest in a short training session. More on hosting here.