Even when you have set up your WordPress website and made it go live, the task isn’t quite finished.Getting your WordPress site live is just the beginning really.

WordPress is open source software which means bugs and problems get fixed regularly and security features are constantly being improved. This keeps your site running smoothly and protects your data from spam and hackers. 

According to experts, the main reason why 83% of WordPress blogs are hacked is because their WordPress version is obsolete and not updated regularly.

That’s a pretty scary number when you think about it. So when you see that update notification pop up on your dashboard don’t put it off. Get it sorted as soon as you can. 

The Real Cost of Outdated WordPress Sites

When your WordPress site gets compromised because it’s running old software, the consequences can be pretty severe. We’re not just talking about a bit of downtime here and there. Hackers can steal customer data, inject malicious code into your pages, or even use your site to attack other websites.

Your hosting provider might suspend your account if your site starts spreading malware. Google can blacklist your site from search results if it detects security issues. And if you’re running an online business the damage to your reputation can take months to recover or may never even fully recover! 

After your site gets seriously hacked it can end up costing you thousands to resolve it. You may end up having to pay legal fees if your customers data gets leaked and may even lose revenue. Compare that to the cost of keeping your site updated regularly and it’s a no-brainer.

Here are some of the advantages of updating WordPress often:

Improved Features

Each new WordPress version brings cool new features that make managing your website easier. These additions help make your workflow better and make the exeprinece overall smoother for your website visitors.Recent updates have included improved block editors, better media management, and enhanced customisation options.

The WordPress team is constantly working to make the platform more user-friendly. Features that used to require plugins or custom coding are now built right into the core software. This means fewer plugins to manage and a more stable site overall.

Increased Rankings

If your WordPress isnt fully updated and nice and secure then it potentially could go down without warning. This can seriously hurt your search rankings and undo all the hard work you’ve put into getting traffic to your site. Google’s algorithms factor in site security and performance when determining rankings.

When your site loads slowly or goes offline frequently due to security issues then Google will notice. Search engines want to send their users to reliable and secure websites. If your site can’t deliver that all the time then you’ll find your rankings start to drop. 

Enhanced Security

This is probably the biggest reason to keep updating. Updates don’t just fix bugs they also add new security features that keep bugs and hackers away from your website. It keeps everything more secure. 

WordPress security updates often patch vulnerabilities that hackers are actively exploiting. When security researchers discover new attack methods, the WordPress team works quickly to release patches. But these patches only work if you actually install them.

The security landscape changes constantly. New threats emerge regularly, and hackers are always finding new ways to exploit old vulnerabilities. What was secure six months ago might not be secure today.

Should You Update Your WordPress Yourself?

You may think a simple website update will be easy but updating your site from scratch can be tricky if you ont know what youre doing. You need to back up your current WordPress files, the database structure and content and the plug-ins running on your website. This is done so that your previous data and files stay intact and in case something goes wrong you can revert to the old version and start from scratch.

If an update goes wrong, not only can the site crash but you also risk losing a lot of vital information that may prove difficult to recover without a backup.

Sounds scary? Get in touch with a professional who can update your WordPress website without crazy prices. And the experts at Slinky Web Hosting are your best pick for the job!

Common Update Mistakes People Make

One mistake people make is updating everything at once without testing. This can cause conflicts between plugins, themes and the WordPress core that break your site. It’s better to update components gradually and test each change.

Another common problem is updating plugins and themes that haven’t been maintained by their developers. If your plugins are outdated it can leave room for hackers and bugs to get in. Check when each plugin was last updated before installing new WordPress versions.

Some people also skip reading update notes and changelog information. These often contain important information about compatibility issues or changes that might affect your site’s functionality. Taking a few minutes to read these can save hours of troubleshooting later.

Set Up Auto Updates

WordPress automatically updates your core site and themes, translation files and plug-ins. Setting up these automatic updates can save a lot of time. For guaranteed results and to ensure that your site performance or data isn’t affected during the entire backup procedure, it is best to get in touch with professional web hosting providers who are experts in managing and maintaining your website like a breeze.

Contact Slinky Web Hosting today for assistance in setting up auto updates or when you need professional services for upgrading and updating your WordPress site. We offer data recovery and backup services so that optimal website performance is ensured and no data gets lost, preventing any issues and hassles down the road.

Getting Professional Help

If all of this sounds overwhelming then we would advise getting in touch with a professional. Our team here at Slinky deal with these sorts of things everyday and would be more than happy to help you out. If you need help setting up auto updates or want professional services for upgrading your WordPress site. We offer data recovery and backup services so your website keeps performing well and no data gets lost along the way. This prevents issues and headaches down the track.

Our team handles hundreds of WordPress updates every month so we know what can go wrong and how to prevent it. We’ve seen just about every type of update issue and developed ways to handle them quickly and efficiently.

Don’t let outdated software put your website at risk. Regular updates are one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your site secure and loading fast. The small investment in proper maintenance is well worth it when you think about the website crashes or hacking that you will be avoiding. 

Think of WordPress updates like servicing your car, you can skip it for a while but eventually it’s going to cost you more than if you’d just done the regular maintenance. Your website deserves proper maintence it needs.