This article is created for entrepreneurs and marketers who want to take better control of their website and maximize its potential, both in performance and profits.
Let's discover the top seven insights on the key maintenance tasks every good website needs.
#1. Backups — daily
Two out of three companies faced significant data loss last year. And nearly 40% of businesses lose critical data due to cyberattacks. It sounds scary, but it’s true.
Backups protect your data in case of hacks, hardware failures, or human errors.
Here are some backup tips:
- Create daily backups if your site has high traffic. For a static site, a weekly backup might suffice, but it depends on your needs.
- Encrypt your backups.
- Keep at least two backup copies in two different locations, like the cloud and a physical drive.
- Test your recovery process at least once a quarter.
#2. Security and protection: The three pillars
At a minimum, remember these three critical components for your website:
- First, SSL certificates are non-negotiable — don’t even start without them.
- Second, use web application firewalls (like Cloudflare or Sucuri).
- Third, require strong passwords on your site and actively promote 2FA.
#3. Performance optimization — to keep users
How long does it take for your website to load? 1 second? Good!
3 seconds? Then, the chance that the user will leave jumps to 32%. At 5 seconds, it skyrockets to 90%.
What can you do? Try the basics of optimization:
- Use the WebP format for images.
- Enable browser caching.
- Minimize CSS and JavaScript.
These checks are carried out using a mix of manual methods and automated tools. Typically, stores built on ready-made ecommerce platforms have some advantages because they don’t need to hunt for unique tools like those with custom platforms do.
For example, for
Shopify support and maintenance, you can tap into ready-to-use tools from the Shopify catalog or lean on semi-custom solutions that are standard for this platform.
#4. Content updates — crucial for traffic
Websites that regularly refresh their content get more traffic.
Make it a goal to routinely update outdated blog posts, product descriptions, seasonal promotions, or irrelevant sales.
Redirect or remove completely outdated or unnecessary pages — trust me, your site will fare better without 404 errors.
#5. SEO and Analytics — because AI hasn’t taken over everything
While AI overviews and LLMs are grabbing more traffic, search engine traffic still rules for now. That’s why I recommend ensuring search engines can see and trust your site.
Key tasks include finding and fixing broken links, optimizing site technical performance, and refining meta tags and keywords.
#6. Database maintenance — for better site performance
Your database stores all your site’s information: products, posts, user profiles, comments, and more. When it’s cluttered, your website may slow down.
The easiest ways to optimize your database?
First, clear out unnecessary stuff like unused media files, spam comments, or irrelevant pages (Note: don’t forget to back up and set up redirects if needed).
Second, speed things up. This can include applying security patches and updates, defragmenting indexes for faster queries, and more.
#7. Legal and compliance checks — for user safety and avoiding fines
It might feel like legal requirements for websites keep growing, and that’s true. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of what you must consider:
- Privacy: Are you collecting and protecting user data properly? For example, if you operate in Europe, you can’t but understand GDPR requirements (fines can reach €20 million).
- Accessibility: Does your site accommodate people with disabilities? For example, check WCAG 2.1 compliance for screen readers.
- Policies: Tell about your privacy policy, terms of use, return policies, etc.
- Payment and data security: Secure payment systems and SSL certificates are must-haves.
This list covers only the key factors for website support and maintenance, but implementing such changes will be a significant step forward for your website.
One final question: Who handles these maintenance tasks? It depends.
For small sites, the owner might manage basic tasks. If your website is built on a platform like Shopify, there are specialists who focus on Shopify store maintenance. Also, web admins, SEO experts, and niche specialists (like GDPR c
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