The Importance (and Risks) of Keeping Your Website Updated

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January 8, 2025
Online Security, Web Development, Website Security, WordPress
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A website is one of the most essential tools for any business. It’s your digital storefront, your brand’s voice, and often the first impression potential customers have of you and your business. So when was the last time you updated your website?

If you’re struggling to remember, you’re not alone. Many business owners set up their websites and then leave them untouched for many month or even years. Unfortunately, neglecting your site can have serious consequences. Let’s dive into why regular updates are crucial and how to approach them the right way.

The Risks of an Outdated Website

Security Vulnerabilities: Websites, like any other technology, are vulnerable to hacking and spam if not regularly maintained. An outdated website is an easy target for cybercriminals who exploit old software, plugins, or themes to gain access. This can lead to compromised customer data, defaced pages, or even a complete website shutdown.
Poor User Experience: An outdated design, broken links, or slow loading speeds can frustrate visitors, leading them to leave your site and head straight to your competitors. Today’s users expect fast, seamless, and visually appealing websites. Anything less can damage your credibility.
Declining Search Engine Rankings: Search engines like Google prioritise websites that are up-to-date and relevant. If your website hasn’t been updated in years, it’s likely being penalised in search rankings, making it harder for potential customers to find you online.

Can Updating Your Website Cause Problems?

While updating your website is essential, doing it improperly can lead to its own set of challenges. For example:

Compatibility Issues: Updating plugins, themes, or the content management system (CMS) without checking compatibility can cause your website to break or malfunction.
Loss of Data: Without proper backups in place, updates can sometimes overwrite, break or erase important data.
Downtime: Rushing updates without testing them first may lead to downtime, which can frustrate your customers and hurt your business.

How to Safely Update Your Website

Schedule Updates: Set up a schedule to review your website for outdated plugins, themes, or CMS versions. This keeps your site secure and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Create Backups: Always back up your site before making major changes. This way, if something goes wrong during the update process, you can restore your site to its previous working state.
Increase Caution of Major Update: A “major update” usually refers to a significant software release that introduces substantial new features, functionalities, or changes that may potentially break compatibility with older versions, while a “minor update” adds smaller enhancements or new features that are usually backward compatible with the existing version, generally not causing as significant disruptions to existing functionality.
Test Updates: Use a staging environment to test major updates before rolling them out to your live site. This helps you identify and fix potential issues without affecting your visitors.
Work with Professionals Updating a website requires a certain level of technical expertise. If you’re not confident in handling updates yourself, hiring a professional ensures everything is done correctly and efficiently.
Increase Caution of Major Update: A “major update” usually refers to a significant software release that introduces substantial new features, functionalities, or changes that may potentially break compatibility with older versions, while a “minor update” adds smaller enhancements or new features that are usually backward compatible with the existing version, generally not causing as significant disruptions to existing functionality.

Ready to Refresh Your Website?

Whether your website needs a minor update, a full redesign, or migration to a more affordable and reliable hosting provider, we’re here to help. Start the new year on the right foot by ensuring your website is secure, modern, and fully functional. Send us a message today to discuss how we can help you update, refresh, or redesign your site. Let’s make 2025 the year your online presence shines!