Should I Keep WordPress Updated?

Maintaining a WordPress website can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not a technical expert. One question we frequently get asked is: should I keep WordPress updated?

The short answer is a resounding yes.

But why? Let’s dive deeper into why keeping your WordPress site updated is essential, what can happen if you neglect it, and how our hosting packages can help you manage updates seamlessly.

 

Why are WordPress updates so important?

 

1. Security

Security is the number one reason to keep WordPress updated. WordPress is an open-source platform, which means its code is accessible to anyone, but this transparency is a double-edged sword.

While it fosters a community of developers who contribute to its growth, it also allows hackers to examine the code for vulnerabilities.

WordPress frequently releases security patches and updates to fix these vulnerabilities. If your website is not updated, you leave it exposed to hackers, malware, and potential data breaches.

2. Improve performance

WordPress updates often include performance enhancements. These updates ensure your website runs faster, smoother, and more efficiently.

Improved speed enhances user experience and contributes to better search engine rankings.

Search engines like Google consider site speed a ranking factor, meaning an updated, well-optimised site can improve your SEO performance.

When you ignore updates, you miss out on these improvements, leaving your website sluggish and underperforming.

3. New features

With each WordPress core update, you gain access to new features and functionalities that can help you enhance your website’s capabilities.

For instance, the block editor (introduced in WordPress 5.0) revolutionised content creation for many site owners.

If you don’t update, you’ll miss out on such features, keeping your site stuck with outdated tools that may no longer be supported.

4. Bug fixes

No software is perfect, and WordPress is no exception.

Every release typically includes bug fixes that address issues present in previous versions.

Bugs can be anything from minor annoyances to serious issues that affect how your website functions.

Updating WordPress ensures that you have the latest fixes in place, making your site more stable and reliable.

The risks of neglecting WordPress updates

What happens if you don’t update your WordPress site regularly? Unfortunately, several potential issues can arise:

  • Increased security vulnerabilities: Without updates, your site becomes a prime target for hackers.
  • Plugin and theme incompatibility: Outdated WordPress versions can cause plugins and themes to break, leading to functionality issues or even a site crash.
  • Decreased performance: An outdated site is likely to experience slower load times and overall poor performance, which can frustrate users and drive them away.
  • SEO penalties: Poor site performance and security issues can result in lower search engine rankings.

Ignoring updates might seem like a time-saver, but it can lead to significant problems that could cost far more in terms of downtime, lost data, or having to rebuild your site after a hack.

Why do people avoid WordPress updates?

Despite the clear benefits, some website owners hesitate to update their WordPress sites. Common reasons include:

  • Fear of breaking the site: A major concern is that an update will cause compatibility issues with themes or plugins, leading to broken functionality or design elements. This fear, while valid, is easily mitigated with proper precautions such as backups and testing updates in a staging environment.
  • Lack of time: Small business owners or solo bloggers might simply not have the time to manage updates regularly.
  • Uncertainty about the process: For those unfamiliar with WordPress, the update process can seem intimidating. What if something goes wrong? How do you troubleshoot?

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to all of these concerns: professional WordPress hosting that handles updates for you.

 

The benefits of WordPress hosting packages

If you’re worried about managing WordPress updates, we have a perfect option for you.

Our WordPress hosting packages include automatic updates, taking the stress out of managing your website. Here’s how we ensure your WordPress site stays secure, fast, and fully functional.

1. Automatic WordPress core updates

We take care of all WordPress core updates, ensuring your site is always running on the latest version without you having to lift a finger. You won’t have to worry about missing critical security patches or performance improvements.

2. Plugin and theme updates

One of the most common culprits of a broken site after an update is plugin or theme incompatibility. With our hosting package, we manage not just WordPress core updates, but also your plugin and theme updates. We test them in a staging environment to ensure that nothing breaks before applying the changes to your live site.

3. Staging environment

Worried about updates breaking your site? With our hosting package, you’ll have access to a staging environment. This allows you to test all updates in a safe, separate space before they go live. If any issues arise, we’ll resolve them before they can affect your live website.

4. Regular backups

We provide regular backups of your site, so in the unlikely event that an update causes a problem, we can easily roll your site back to a previous version. You won’t lose any data, and your site will remain safe and operational.

5. Expert support

Our expert WordPress support team is available to assist you. Whether you have a question about an update or need help troubleshooting an issue, we’re here to help.

6. Enhanced security

Our hosting package includes advanced security features, including firewalls, malware scanning, and intrusion detection systems that work alongside the regular WordPress security updates. We take a proactive approach to keeping your site safe from vulnerabilities.

Updates are essential — and we can help

We can handle all updates — core, themes, and plugins — while providing you with a secure, high-performance hosting environment. You’ll benefit from automated updates, regular backups, and expert support, all without the headache of doing it yourself.

Don’t let outdated software jeopardise your website. Invest in our WordPress hosting package today, and let us take care of your updates, so you can focus on what really matters — running your business.

Ready to simplify WordPress management? 

Get in touch with our team to talk about your WordPress site and our hosting packages.

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