WordPress is the largest content management system (CMS) in the world, so it’s likely you’ve heard of it or already have a website using it. Some of the biggest brands in the business have a WordPress website, including Sony, Disney, Microsoft News and even Usain Bolt.
But it’s not enough to just design an attractive website that flows well. It needs to be maintained to keep it running at full capacity. Not regularly maintaining your WordPress website will leave it open to hackers and viruses which can have a hugely negative impact on your company.
So, if you’re looking for WordPress website maintenance in Melbourne, you’re in the right place. We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about WordPress, why it’s so popular and why you really need to consider a WordPress maintenance package.
Why Should You Choose WordPress?
43% of all websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. That’s in comparison to the 4.4% run by Shopify or the 1.9% run by Wix. That’s a huge market share and one of the main reasons so many people turn to this CMS for their website. It offers many customizable options, themes, and plugins which make it the main choice for many web developers around the world.
You can make a totally unique website that reflects your business and that’s professional. Working with WordPress-specific web designers will ensure you have a modern and attractive website with UX at the heart of it.
The scope of WordPress is enormous. It’s a great choice for small businesses, bloggers, and even big news sites like BBC America. It’s so flexible and customisable that the options are limitless.
The flexible functionality of WordPress is another reason why so many companies and web designers choose this CMS. It has different levels of permissions, meaning whole teams can work on the same website but won’t have access to everything. It also keeps various version histories of content, so you can quickly undo any mistakes.
Of course, with so many websites deciding to use WordPress, it’s a popular place for hackers, viruses and bots to hang out, which is why WordPress website maintenance is so important…
Why Do You Need WordPress Website Maintenance?
WordPress website maintenance is essential for your website. When we say essential, we really mean essential. A WordPress website that hasn’t been properly maintained is weak and an easy target for hackers or malware.
Even though WordPress is a relatively easy platform to use, the underlying source code is actually very sophisticated and requires consistent updating and maintenance. If, for example, a plugin isn’t updated, it could mean it’s no longer compatible with the website. This could lead to parts of the website running slowly, or not running altogether.
This is really bad when it comes to user experience (UX). Users expect a certain loading speed and for websites to run as they’re supposed to. Non-functioning or slow websites mean potential customers will bounce and be unlikely to return.
Non-maintained WordPress websites can also easily be hacked. Anyone who has ever had a hacked website before knows how stressful it is and the impact it has on your website. It can mean downtime for your site whilst you (or more likely your developers) try to fix the problem. This often means a loss of earnings whilst you assess the damage.
It can also have a detrimental impact on how people perceive your business. First impressions of your website are really important and if someone arrives at your website that’s obviously been hacked (or hopefully you’ve already noticed and taken it down for a while) it doesn’t paint your business in the best light.
What Will You Get From WordPress Website Maintenance in Melbourne?
At Elevate Websites, we offer a complete WordPress maintenance package so you can be sure your website is safe and running smoothly. Not only will our team of developers design a brand-new website that perfectly reflects your business but we will also provide secure website hosting and WordPress maintenance.
This includes regularly backing up your website. Backups are a really important part of website maintenance and should be included in any WordPress website maintenance package. It’s possible that someone posted something they shouldn’t have or an updated plugin affects something on the site and you need to restore an older version. Having a backup can quickly resolve any problem.
What’s more, whilst good website maintenance means you shouldn’t get hacked, it’s always a possibility and having a recent backup is the safest option.
Partnering with an agency that specialises in WordPress ensures that they can easily modify your website whilst also implementing any WordPress core updates once they become available. They’ll also be able to create a testing environment that is a clone of your website and a safe space to test out any changes without affecting the live site.
Why Should You Choose Elevate Websites for Your WordPress Maintenance?
Because good WordPress maintenance isn’t optional! It’s one of the most important aspects of having a website and can have a hugely negative effect on your business if it isn’t done correctly.
It’s important to us that we take the time to understand your business and exactly how it works. If required, we’ll design and implement a website for your business that represents who you are online and gets visitors converting to customers. We’ll then regularly maintain it and make sure everything is secure, up-to-date, compatible and stable.
This means that you don’t have to worry about the safety of your website. If something were to happen, and even with the best maintenance it can, we’ll be ready with recent backups so your time offline is minimal. You’ll have more time to concentrate on your business rather than worrying about whether you should update a certain plugin or not.
Contact the team at Elevate Websites to discuss your website and how WordPress maintenance can work for you. Don’t let there be a website emergency before you realise the importance of maintenance.
Calem Koek is a web designer and owner of leading Melbourne-based digital marketing agency Elevate Websites. He has been helping businesses in Melbourne and across Australia scale their business online through quality website design and world class SEO services.