If you own a website long enough, you’ll eventually run into one of these moments:
- a plugin update breaks something
- your site gets slow for no obvious reason
- your contact form stops sending leads
- you get a scary security email (or worse—your site gets hacked)
That’s usually when people start asking the right question:
What does website maintenance include, and what should I actually be doing each month?
This post breaks it down in plain English. No jargon. No vague “we optimize everything” promises—just the real checklist.
Website Maintenance (Care) vs “Random Fixes”
First, quick clarity:
Website maintenance is preventative—it’s the routine work that keeps your site stable and secure.
“Random fixes” are what happens when maintenance isn’t being done consistently.
If you’re trying to avoid surprise website bills and downtime, maintenance is what prevents those problems from stacking up.
If you’re also trying to improve your site over time (new pages, better conversions, SEO growth), that’s typically website management, not maintenance.
Related: Website Care vs Website Management: Which Plan Fits You?
The Website Maintenance Checklist (What Good Plans Include)
1) Updates (WordPress, Theme, Plugins)
This is the obvious one, but it’s also where people get burned.
Updates should include:
- WordPress core updates
- theme updates
- plugin updates
- compatibility checks (making sure updates don’t break layouts or features)
Why it matters: outdated plugins/themes are one of the most common security risks on WordPress sites.
2) Backups (And Restore Testing)
Backups are only useful if you can restore them quickly.
Maintenance should include:
- automatic backups (daily or weekly depending on your site)
- off-site or separate storage (not only on the same server)
- a restore plan (what happens if the site breaks)
Pro tip: If you run WooCommerce, frequent backups matter more because orders and customer data change daily.
3) Security Monitoring (Not Just “A Plugin”)
A “security plugin” alone isn’t a security plan.
Good maintenance includes:
- malware scanning
- firewall protection and login hardening
- monitoring for suspicious activity
- patching vulnerabilities via updates
- cleanup support if something goes wrong
Goal: stop problems early, before your site gets flagged or infected.
4) Uptime Monitoring (Know When Your Site Is Down)
Most people don’t realize their website is down until a customer tells them.
Uptime monitoring includes:
- automatic alerts when your site goes offline
- quick response (especially for e-commerce)
- investigating why it happened (server, plugin conflict, SSL issue, etc.)
5) Performance Checks (Speed + Stability)
Maintenance isn’t just security—it’s also keeping your site from slowly getting heavier and slower.
Performance checks usually include:
- caching and page speed review
- database cleanup (especially on WordPress)
- image bloat checks
- plugin conflict or “too many scripts” issues
Why it matters: speed affects user experience and SEO.
6) Form and Lead Testing (This One Is Huge)
This is the sneaky one: your website looks fine, but leads stop coming in because the form broke.
Maintenance should include:
- testing contact forms periodically
- checking SMTP / email deliverability
- ensuring form submissions actually arrive
If your website is for leads, this is non-negotiable.
7) Broken Link / Error Monitoring (Optional but Valuable)
If you have older pages, blogs, or changed URLs, things break over time.
This includes:
- detecting broken links (404s)
- fixing redirects when needed
- keeping site structure clean for visitors and Google
What Website Maintenance Usually Does NOT Include
This is where expectations get messy. Most maintenance plans do not automatically include:
- new pages or landing pages
- writing blog content
- redesigning sections of the site
- major feature additions (new booking systems, new ecommerce systems, etc.)
- heavy SEO campaigns (content strategy, link building, etc.)
- custom development work
Those usually fall under website management or project-based work.
Related: Website Care vs Website Management: Which Plan Fits You?
How Often Should Website Maintenance Happen?
A good baseline:
- Basic business sites: monthly maintenance can work if the site is simple
- WordPress sites with many plugins: bi-weekly or ongoing monitoring is safer
- WooCommerce sites: ongoing monitoring + more frequent backups makes sense
If you’re actively publishing content, collecting leads, or selling online, you want fewer “surprises,” not more.
Signs You Need a Website Maintenance Plan (Not Just DIY)
Here are the signs it’s time to stop winging it:
- You haven’t updated plugins/themes in months
- You don’t know if your site is backed up
- Your forms “usually work” (but you haven’t tested them)
- Your site is getting slower each month
- You’ve had one hack, malware warning, or weird redirect
- You rely on your site for leads or sales
If any of those are true, maintenance is cheaper than repair.
Quick Self-Check: Which Plan Fits You?
If you want a quick decision:
- If your goal is security + stability, you want Website Care / Maintenance
- If your goal is improvements + growth, you want Website Management
Start here: Website Care vs Website Management: Which Plan Fits You?
Want a Maintenance Checklist for Your Specific Website?
If you send me your website link, I can tell you:
- what your site actually needs monthly
- what’s overkill
- what’s missing right now
FAQ: Website Maintenance
What is included in website maintenance?
Typically updates, backups, security monitoring, uptime monitoring, performance checks, and small fixes.
Is website maintenance worth it?
Yes—especially if your website generates leads or revenue. Preventative maintenance is almost always cheaper than emergency repairs.
How much does website maintenance cost?
It depends on site size and complexity (WordPress vs custom, WooCommerce vs informational). More plugins and e-commerce generally require more frequent monitoring.
→ If you’re trying to budget, here’s what maintenance typically costs in 2026.
Can I do WordPress maintenance myself?
You can, but you need a consistent process: backups, safe update procedures, security monitoring, and testing forms/features after updates.