Step-by-Step WordPress Website Maintenance Workflow

Regular maintenance ensures that the site stays secure, compatible, and performs well. Here are step-by-step measures you should follow for smooth updates of WordPress themes, plugins, and core version, including backups and planning:

1. Pre-Update Planning

• Check Compatibility

  • Review changelogs of WordPress core, theme, and plugins.

  • Verify if any plugin or theme has known issues with the latest WordPress version (check WordPress forums or developer websites).

• Schedule a Maintenance Window

  • Do updates during low-traffic hours to minimize disruption.

  • Inform stakeholders (if it's a client site).

2. Take Full Backups (Mandatory)

• Use a Reliable Backup Plugin

  • e.g., UpdraftPlus, All-in-One WP Migration, BackupBuddy, or WPvivid.

• What to Backup

  • 🔹 Database

  • 🔹 All files: wp-content, theme, plugins, uploads

  • 🔹 wp-config.php and .htaccess (important configs)

• Store in Multiple Locations

  • Local copy

  • Cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)

3. Use a Staging Site (Highly Recommended)

• Create a staging version of your site using:

  • Your hosting panel (many like SiteGround, Bluehost, Kinsta offer 1-click staging)

  • Plugins: WP Staging, Duplicator, or All-in-One WP Migration

• Apply updates there first to test:

  • Theme updates

  • Plugin updates

  • WordPress version updates

• Test functionality: check contact forms, layouts, menus, WooCommerce (if used), etc.

4. Perform Updates in the Right Order

1. Plugins

   • Update active plugins first.

   • Deactivate unused plugins or delete them.

2. Themes

   • Update child themes manually if you’ve made customizations.

   • Keep a copy of your child theme before updating parent themes.

3. WordPress Core

   • Only update WordPress after confirming plugin/theme compatibility.

5. Post-Update Testing

• Functionality Checks

  • Forms, pop-ups, cart/checkout (for eCommerce), admin dashboard.

• Frontend Display

  • Responsive design, broken layouts, sliders, etc.

• Console Errors

  • Use browser dev tools (F12 → Console) to check for JS or CSS errors.

6. Monitor Logs and Performance

• Use tools like:

  • WP Activity Log (for tracking changes)

  • Query Monitor (to catch performance issues)

7. Clear Caches

• After updates, clear:

  • Plugin cache (e.g., WP Rocket, W3TC)

  • Server cache (if using NGINX, Litespeed)

  • CDN cache (e.g., Cloudflare)

  • Browser cache (test on incognito)

8. Document and Notify

• Keep a maintenance log:

  • Date of update

  • What was updated

  • Backup location

  • Issues (if any) and how resolved

• Notify client or stakeholders that updates are complete.

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🔄 Repeat Maintenance Cycle

• Weekly or bi-weekly checkups are recommended.

• Monthly deep maintenance:

  • Database optimization

  • Security scan (Wordfence or Sucuri)

  • Broken link checks