One of the most common questions we get at Define Marketing is: How often should I update my website? The answer depends on several factors, but for simplicity, we’ll focus on what you need to know from a WordPress perspective.

When it comes to website updates, the rule of thumb is that more frequent updates are generally better. Having worked with small business owners across Australia and New Zealand, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of regular website maintenance. At Define Marketing, we offer ongoing WordPress Care Plans to help businesses stay on top of their site’s health, but in this article, I’ll provide some practical tips you can use to keep your website running smoothly on your own.

Step 1: Perform a Backup Before Updating

Before updating your website, always start with a full backup. This protects you in case something goes wrong. Many business owners think updating their website is as simple as clicking a button, but problems can arise. Having a reliable backup ensures you can recover your site quickly without losing data or functionality.

For WordPress backups, we recommend the following tools:

• Updraft Plus – Allows you to back up your website and store it on a third-party server like Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Duplicator – Creates a full, transferable backup of your site that can be restored or moved to another server.

Tip: Always store a backup on a third-party server like Google Drive, Amazon S3, or Dropbox to safeguard your data.

Step 2: Updating Themes

When updating your website, I always recommend starting with the theme. This ensures your site’s appearance stays intact after updates. After updating the theme, go through each page of your site to confirm that the content and visuals still look as intended.

Step 3: Updating Plugins

After you’ve checked your site’s visuals, it’s time to update your plugins. It’s crucial to update plugins before updating the WordPress core to avoid compatibility issues. Once the plugins are updated, test your site to ensure everything is functioning as expected.

Step 4: Updating WordPress Core

Finally, update the WordPress core files. This step carries the highest risk, as major updates to the core can sometimes affect the functionality of your website. For example, with WordPress’ upcoming major release, the main editor will be updated, which may cause issues for older websites.

How Often Should You Update Your Website?

As a general rule, I recommend the following update schedule:

• Theme Updates: At least once a month.
• Plugin Updates: Weekly, to ensure compatibility and security.
• Core Updates: As needed, especially for major releases.
• Backups: At least weekly, to protect against data loss.

Additionally, regular security scans should be part of your routine to keep your site safe.

A Word of Caution

While it may seem simple to click the “update” button on WordPress, things can—and do—go wrong. A plugin may fail, a theme might break, or the core update could cause issues. Without a proper backup or technical know-how, fixing these problems can be costly and time-consuming. For peace of mind, consider hiring a professional team like Define Marketing to manage your website updates and maintenance.