Web Development Checklist

Website Maintenance Checklist

A website maintenance checklist for keeping a business website secure, fast, accurate, updated, backed up, and conversion-ready.

Primary topic: website maintenance checklist Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate 36 items 3,420+ words Updated: June 8, 2026

Interactive Checklist

Track Your Progress

Check items off as you complete them. Your progress is saved in this browser so you can return to the checklist later.

0% complete

Security and Updates

This section helps the reader complete the security and updates portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure security and updates is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Update CMS core software Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. Critical Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Update themes and plugins Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. Critical Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Remove unused plugins Remove or avoid remove unused plugins when it creates risk, confusion, wasted spend, duplicate content, tracking errors, or a poor user experience. Document the reason for the decision. High Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Check admin user access Review check admin user access against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. High Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review firewall or security alerts Review review firewall or security alerts against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Scan for malware Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. Recommended Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

Backups and Recovery

This section helps the reader complete the backups and recovery portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure backups and recovery is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Confirm backups completed Test confirm backups completed on real devices and realistic user paths. Save screenshots, test submissions, or tool results so the team can confirm the requirement is complete. Critical Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Test restore process periodically Test test restore process periodically on real devices and realistic user paths. Save screenshots, test submissions, or tool results so the team can confirm the requirement is complete. Critical Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Store backups offsite when possible Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. High Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Document recovery contacts Document document recovery contacts in plain language before work begins. This keeps strategy, creative, development, and reporting aligned and gives future reviewers a clear reason for each decision. High Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review backup frequency Review review backup frequency against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Keep staging and production backups separate Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. Recommended Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

Performance

This section helps the reader complete the performance portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure performance is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Check page speed monthly Review check page speed monthly against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Critical Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Optimize new images Improve optimize new images based on measurable impact, not guesswork. Prioritize changes that improve user experience, conversion quality, crawlability, speed, or campaign efficiency. Critical Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review caching behavior Review review caching behavior against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. High Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Monitor server response time Monitor monitor server response time on a recurring cadence and record what changed. Trends over time are usually more useful than one-time snapshots. High Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Audit third-party scripts Review audit third-party scripts against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Check Core Web Vitals trends Review check core web vitals trends against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

Content Accuracy

This section helps the reader complete the content accuracy portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure content accuracy is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Review contact information Review review contact information against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Critical Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Update service descriptions Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. Critical Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Check pricing or offer pages Review check pricing or offer pages against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. High Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Update team and portfolio content Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. High Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Remove outdated announcements Remove or avoid remove outdated announcements when it creates risk, confusion, wasted spend, duplicate content, tracking errors, or a poor user experience. Document the reason for the decision. Recommended Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review legal and policy pages Review review legal and policy pages against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Marketing Team Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

Forms and Tracking

This section helps the reader complete the forms and tracking portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure forms and tracking is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Test all forms Test test all forms on real devices and realistic user paths. Save screenshots, test submissions, or tool results so the team can confirm the requirement is complete. Critical Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Test phone and email links Test test phone and email links on real devices and realistic user paths. Save screenshots, test submissions, or tool results so the team can confirm the requirement is complete. Critical Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Verify GA4 key events Verify that verify ga4 key events is measured with a clear event name, source, and reporting location. Before marking this complete, submit a real or test interaction and confirm the result appears in the correct analytics or ad platform report. High Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Check ad platform conversion tags Verify that check ad platform conversion tags is measured with a clear event name, source, and reporting location. Before marking this complete, submit a real or test interaction and confirm the result appears in the correct analytics or ad platform report. High Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review spam submissions Review review spam submissions against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Confirm CRM or email notifications Test confirm crm or email notifications on real devices and realistic user paths. Save screenshots, test submissions, or tool results so the team can confirm the requirement is complete. Recommended Developer Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

SEO and UX Health

This section helps the reader complete the seo and ux health portion of the Website Maintenance Checklist with a practical, evidence-based workflow.

Use this section to make sure seo and ux health is not treated as a vague best practice. Each item should be checked, documented, and tied back to the business goal of the checklist.

Check broken links Review check broken links against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Critical Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review 404 errors Review review 404 errors against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Critical Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Update internal links Complete this item with enough evidence for another strategist, developer, or account manager to understand what was checked and why it matters for Website Maintenance Checklist. High Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Check mobile layout Review check mobile layout against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. High Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Review accessibility basics Review review accessibility basics against the current business goal for this page or campaign. Capture the issue, evidence, recommended fix, owner, and priority so the checklist becomes an implementation plan rather than a passive review. Recommended Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note
Create a monthly maintenance report Create create a monthly maintenance report in a way that is useful to both users and the business. The item should be visible, accurate, easy to maintain, and connected to the page or campaign goal. Recommended Strategist Screenshot, report export, URL, test submission, or implementation note

Need Help Completing This Checklist?

Need help completing this web development checklist? Request a practical audit and prioritized action plan.

Request an Audit