Website Maintenance Checklist: Weekly to Yearly

Most websites do not break all at once. A plugin falls behind, a form stops sending, a page slows down, a certificate expires. Each problem is small, and together they cost you enquiries and trust.

This checklist covers what to check and how often. Use it to look after your own site, or to compare what a maintenance provider offers.

Every week

• Check that the site is up and loads on a phone
• Send a test message through each contact or booking form, and confirm it arrives
• Make sure backups ran, and that the latest one is stored away from your server
• Look at security alerts from your host or security plugin

Every month

• Update the CMS, themes and plugins, ideally on a copy of the site first, then live
• Remove plugins you no longer use: every plugin is code that needs updating
• Test page speed on mobile with Google PageSpeed Insights
• Check Google Search Console for errors, pages that dropped out of search and security issues
• Fix broken links and pages that return errors
• Review content: prices, opening hours, team members, offers and contact details
• Check analytics: which pages bring enquiries, and which lose visitors

Every three months

• Restore a backup to a test copy, to prove that it works
• Review user accounts, and remove people who no longer need access
• Change important passwords, and turn on two-factor login where you can
• Re-test the full checkout or booking flow, from start to finish

Every year

• Renew the domain name and hosting, and make sure they are registered in your name
• Check the SSL certificate renews automatically
• Review your hosting plan: is it still fast enough for your traffic?
• Update legal pages: privacy policy, terms and cookie settings
• Look at the design and content with fresh eyes: does the site still match your business?

Signs you need help now

Do not wait for the next check if you see any of these:

• The site shows warnings, strange redirects or content you did not add
• Forms or the checkout stop working
• Pages take more than a few seconds to load on a phone
• Your host warns you about outdated software or a security problem

Doing it yourself, or handing it over

A simple site can be maintained in-house if someone has the time and follows the list every month. The risk is that it slips when the business gets busy, and problems are discovered by customers.

If you would rather hand it over, compare providers on what they check, how often, and what you get in writing. We explain how we approach it in why choose KamiKode for website maintenance.