Launch day is a milestone, but it is not a finish line. For many businesses, the website goes live and then – beyond the occasional content update – receives little to no structured attention until something breaks.
This is a costly oversight. A website is a living system. It requires regular care to remain secure, performant, and effective. Neglecting maintenance does not just risk technical failure; it erodes the quality of your digital presence over time.
Here is a practical post-launch maintenance checklist structured by frequency.
Monthly Tasks
- Update all plugins, themes, and CMS core files to the latest stable versions. Outdated software is the most common vector for security vulnerabilities.
- Review website analytics: traffic trends, top-performing pages, bounce rates, and conversion data. Use this to inform content and UX decisions.
- Test all forms – contact, enquiry, newsletter – to confirm they are submitting correctly and routing to the right destination.
- Check for broken links using a crawler tool and repair or redirect any that are found.
- Review your website backup to confirm it completed successfully and the backup files are accessible.
Quarterly Tasks
- Run a full page speed audit using tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights. Address any newly identified performance issues.
- Review and refresh key page content – particularly your homepage, services pages, and about page – to ensure accuracy and relevance.
- Audit your SEO: check keyword rankings, review search console for crawl errors, and identify pages that could benefit from optimisation.
- Test the website across current browser versions and popular device types to catch any compatibility issues.
- Review your SSL certificate expiry date and ensure auto-renewal is configured correctly.
Annual Tasks
- Conduct a comprehensive security audit, including a review of user accounts, permissions, and access logs.
- Reassess your hosting plan against your current traffic levels and growth projections. Upgrade if needed.
- Review your domain registration and ensure it is renewed with appropriate lead time.
- Evaluate whether the overall design and user experience remains competitive and aligned with your brand.
- Revisit your website strategy: are your goals the same as when the site was built? Have your target audience or services changed?
After Any Significant Update
- Test all core functionality – forms, payment processing, navigation – immediately following any major code change or plugin update.
- Create and verify a fresh website backup before and after significant changes.
- Monitor your analytics in the 48 hours following any update to identify unexpected changes in traffic or behaviour.
Why This Matters
A well-maintained website is a competitive asset. It loads faster, ranks better in search, presents fewer security risks, and delivers a consistently professional experience to every visitor.
Conversely, a neglected website accumulates technical debt: outdated software, degraded performance, broken elements, and security exposures that grow more serious – and more expensive to resolve – the longer they are left unaddressed.
Whether you manage maintenance in-house or delegate it to a trusted digital partner, having a structured, documented routine transforms your website from a static asset into a dynamic one that actively supports your business growth.
