Web Development Checklist
Website Maintenance Checklist
A website maintenance checklist for keeping a business website secure, fast, accurate, updated, backed up, and conversion-ready.
Interactive Checklist
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Security and Updates
Keep the software inventory current and changes recoverable.
Review CMS, theme and plugin updates alongside compatibility and security notices. Back up before changes and test important functions after deployment. Remove unused components deliberately, and confirm that an apparently inactive plugin is not still required for content or integrations.
Backups and Recovery
Verify that backups can restore the working website.
Check completion logs and retention, then periodically restore to a safe environment. Include database, uploads and configuration needed to recover. Document who can access the backups and the recovery contacts without storing passwords in a public maintenance report.
Performance
Look for performance drift on representative pages.
Review newly uploaded media, third-party tags and cache behavior as well as speed scores. Use comparable test conditions and inspect actual requests. Retest forms and navigation after optimization changes, especially where script delay or lazy loading is involved.
Content Accuracy
Keep public business information aligned with current operations.
Confirm contact details, services, staff, portfolio permissions and active offers with their owners. Remove expired announcements and review policy changes through the appropriate business contact. Do not infer new claims or service coverage merely from old website copy.
Forms and Tracking
Confirm that enquiries and measurement still work.
Submit test forms through the public site and verify delivery, confirmation and the intended reporting event. Test phone and email links on mobile. Distinguish spam filtering from lost legitimate leads, and record any changes to routing or conversion definitions.
SEO and UX Health
Turn routine checks into a prioritized maintenance record.
Review broken links, unexpected errors, mobile layouts and basic accessibility on important templates. Record each issue with a URL, impact and owner. A useful monthly report explains what was fixed, what remains and how the repair was verified.
Official References
Use the current documentation for platform-specific settings and requirements.
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