How to create a website maintenance checklist

A well-organized website maintenance checklist keeps your site running smoothly, informs visitors with fresh content, and improves your search engine ranking.

Here’s how to create one:

Review Website Performance

• Check website loading speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
• Ensure that all pages are loading correctly and that there are no broken links.

Security Check

• Scan for malware and viruses using security plugins or online scanners.
• Ensure that your website has SSL/TLS encryption installed and is using HTTPS.
• Review user access and permissions to prevent unauthorized access.

SEO Review

• Check for broken links and fix them to maintain SEO integrity.
• Review meta tags, headings, and alt attributes for images to ensure they are optimized for search engines.
• Update sitemap and robots.txt files if necessary.

Additional Considerations

Plugin and Theme Updates: Schedule regular updates for plugins and themes to maintain compatibility and security.

Accessibility Compliance: Ensure your website adheres to accessibility standards for users with disabilities.

Form Testing: Regularly test website forms to ensure they function correctly and capture user data effectively.

Cross-Browser Compatibility: Verify your website displays well across different web browsers.

Design Review: Conduct periodic design reviews to identify areas for improvement based on user feedback and current trends.

Remember

• Tailor the frequency of tasks to your website’s needs and size.
• Use a project management tool or spreadsheet to track your checklist.
• Schedule these tasks in your calendar to ensure they get done consistently.

By following these steps and customizing them to your specific website, you can create a website maintenance checklist that keeps your site running at its best.