WordPress Website Maintenance Checklist
What Needs Doing and When on your WordPress Website
A WordPress website is not something you set up once and forget about. Like a house, car or garden, it needs regular attention to stay safe, functional, reliable and looking good.
This checklist breaks website maintenance down into simple timeframes so you can see exactly what should be done daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.
Use it as a reference, whether you handle things yourself or just want to understand what’s involved behind the scenes.
Daily/Ongoing WordPress Website Checks
These are light checks that prevent small issues from being missed.
- Check the website loads properly on desktop and mobile
- Keep an eye out for error messages or broken layouts
- Watch for unusual traffic spikes or sudden drops
- Make sure contact forms and enquiry emails are coming through
Weekly WordPress Website Tasks
Weekly tasks keep your site secure and reduce the risk of things breaking unexpectedly.
Updates
- Update WordPress core when available (you will get a notifcation in your Dashboard when there is an update available)
- Update plugins and themes carefully, one by one, not in bulk
- Check the site after updates for layout or function issues
- Remove plugins that are no longer used
Security
If we host your website, items 1 & 2 are covered automatically.
- Run a malware scan
- Check for failed login attempts
- Review user accounts and remove anyone no longer needing access
Monthly WordPress Website Tasks
Monthly maintenance focuses on performance, content and reliability.
Website Backups
If we host your website, items 1-3 are covered automatically.
- Confirm backups are running correctly
- Make sure more than one backup copy exists
- Check backup storage locations are accessible
Website Performance
- Run a speed test
- Optimise large or newly uploaded images (this means make sure the file sizes aren’t too large and in the right format – anything above 600kb is considered large, good file types include png, webp)
Website Content and Functionality
- Test contact forms and booking forms
- Check buttons and links still work
- Fix broken links
- Review key pages for outdated information
Quarterly Tasks (Every 3 Months)
These tasks help keep your website aligned with your business and visible in search results.
SEO and Analytics
- Review search traffic and performance
- Check which pages are performing best
- Update page titles and descriptions where needed
- Submit updated sitemaps if content has changed
These checks are about making sure the foundations are still solid.
E-commerce and Booking Sites (If Applicable)
If your website takes payments, bookings or enquiries tied to revenue, these checks are essential.
- Test checkout and payment processing
- Check confirmation emails are sending
- Review product or service availability
- Ensure pricing displays correctly
- Monitor abandoned carts or failed bookings
Annual Website Tasks
Once a year, your website needs a proper review.
- Review all plugins and remove anything no longer needed
- Check whether the design still reflects your business
- Review site structure and navigation
- Run a full SEO audit
- Review accessibility basics such as contrast and alt text
- Confirm hosting and domain renewals are up to date
This is the MOT. Everything might be running fine, but this is where hidden issues are caught.
Most website problems don’t appear suddenly. They build up quietly when small tasks are skipped.
This checklist isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency.
A little attention, done regularly, keeps your website secure, visible and working the way it should.
Bookmark this list and revisit it whenever you need a reminder of what good website care actually involves or download the checklist here.
