Websites have changed so much over the years. They used to be static. You’d create the site and walk away.

Today, a website is an ever-changing, living entity. It requires time and commitment to ensure security with theme and plugin updates, backups, and more.

A website that is not properly maintained can lead to missed opportunities and lost revenue. In this blog post, we will discuss five reasons why your website needs support and maintenance.

1. Security Breaches

The number one reason to have your website regularly maintained is to keep it secure.

Cybercrime is on the rise, and hackers are constantly scanning the web for vulnerabilities they can exploit. Outdated websites are more susceptible to security breaches. Hackers can potentially gain access to sensitive information, damage your code, or even hijack your domain. Regular maintenance and updates ensure that your data is safe from malicious attacks.

2. Hosting

Hosting services are defined as the rental of space on a server to hold the contents of your website. Reliable hosting should be a priority when it comes to protecting your online brand.

Potential customers and clients expect to be able to visit your site day and night, so dependability is key. Downtime can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours and can negatively affect your reputation. It can prevent purchases and stand in the way of converting online traffic into qualified leads.

Excellent customer service from your hosting provider is a must. If hosting issues affect your website at night or on weekends, you need a provider with a quick response time. You also want to look at their uptime track record to ensure maximum dependability. Lastly, ensure your host has the ability to scale to your needs. As your business and website grow, make sure your hosting provider can accommodate the traffic growth.

3. Backups

You need a reliable backup solution to protect your website. A single website backup could stand between you and disaster (including losing all the hard work you’ve done – yikes!).

A website backup is a copy of all the data that makes up your site. Saved copies include everything from the HTML, CSS, and script files that make up the design and functionality, to the database that stores all your content and user data. It can also include other elements like images, videos, and any additional files or data used by your website.

The purpose of a backup is to allow you to restore your website to its previous state if something goes wrong. Simply working on your site could break a feature at any time. Some of the most common reasons for accidental data deletion include:

  • Human error
  • Malware or virus attacks
  • Software or hardware failure
  • Server crash
  • Coding errors
  • Third-party tools or plugins
  • Misconfigurations
  • Hackers or unauthorized access

Daily backups offer an ‘in case of emergency’ backup plan to the above accidents. Make sure your data is backed up daily so that it can be recovered in the event of accidental deletion.

4. Vulnerability Scanning

Website weaknesses and vulnerabilities can give hackers the opportunity to wreak havoc. Most people don’t realize their website has been hacked until it’s too late. Their web browser might alert them to an issue, Google might flag the site as hacked or harmful, or their hosting provider might take the website offline. By then, you’re losing customers and sales. It pays to be proactive and not reactive.

Vulnerability scanning quickly identifies security issues and tests your site routinely to keep it secure. A dependable scanning service will look for SQL injection flaws, cross site scripting vulnerabilities, dangerous backdoors, and more. The monitoring service will tell you when files have changed unexpectedly and watch for downtime while inspecting all of your source code for malware patterns and signatures. It will also block and lockout hacking attempts. If a change occurs to your website, you’ll be the first to know.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is the process of making sure your website is visible to search engines like Google. Your website ranking on search engine results pages plays an important role in your digital marketing strategy. Unmaintained websites often suffer from issues such as slow loading times, broken links, server errors, missing metadata, and outdated content, which can lead to low website rank. Poor SEO not only decreases your online visibility but also impacts your website’s credibility and user engagement.

Conclusion

Your website is an open door to your business and, ultimately, you need to keep it that way. You don’t want to lose services, lose the sale, or risk a damaged reputation.

If you’re too busy to manage your site or don’t have the expertise, let Vervocity provide support and maintenance for you. Contact us today to to keep your website running smoothly and securely.