Why Website Maintenance is Essential for Your Business

In the fast-paced digital world, your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. Ensuring it runs smoothly and securely is crucial. Regular website maintenance, including plugin updates and PHP upgrades, is not just a technical necessity but a vital part of your overall marketing strategy. Here’s why:

The Importance Of Regular Maintenance

Security: Websites are constantly targeted by hackers and malicious bots. Outdated plugins and software are common entry points for these attacks. Regular updates help patch security vulnerabilities, keeping your website and its data safe.

Performance: Updated plugins and software improve your website’s speed and performance. A faster website not only provides a better user experience but also positively impacts your SEO rankings.

Compatibility: Web technologies are continually evolving. Regular updates ensure your website remains compatible with new browsers, devices, and other third-party tools you might be using.

Bug Fixes: Updates often come with fixes for known bugs. This ensures your website runs smoothly without unexpected crashes or errors, providing a seamless experience for your visitors.

Why Updating PHP Is Crucial

PHP is the scripting language that powers the majority of websites. Keeping PHP up-to-date is critical for several reasons:

Security: Each PHP update includes patches for security vulnerabilities that have been identified. Running an outdated version of PHP leaves your site vulnerable to attacks.

Performance: Newer PHP versions are optimized for better performance, often significantly speeding up your website’s load times

Support and Compatibility: As PHP evolves, support for older versions diminishes. New plugins and themes are designed to work with the latest versions of PHP. Using an outdated version can lead to compatibility issues, breaking your website’s functionality.

How Often Should Updates Be Performed?

At Greenfield, we recommend performing website maintenance, including plugin and PHP updates, at least once a month. However, critical security updates should be applied as soon as they are released. Regular monthly maintenance ensures your website stays secure, performs optimally, and remains compatible with the latest web technologies.

Hosting And Maintenance

Usually, updates are part of your hosting package with a website company. However, it’s important to check with your provider to confirm what is included. If your website is self-hosted, hiring an agency to manage your updates may be the best option for several reasons:

Expert Skills: Managing updates requires technical expertise. An agency can ensure updates are applied correctly, preventing data loss or mistakes.
Time-Consuming: Running a business is time-consuming, and it’s easy to forget about necessary updates. An agency will handle this for you, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.
Cost Savings: Keeping your website updated can actually save you money. For as little as £36 a month, Greenfield offers packages to keep your website updated. Outdated websites often incur extra fees from hosting companies due to the increased resources needed to keep them functioning and secure. Servers have to work extra hard to maintain websites with bugs and incompatible plugins, driving up costs.

Impact On Speed And SEO

Neglecting regular updates can significantly impact your website’s speed. Slow loading times not only frustrate users but also harm your SEO efforts. Search engines like Google prioritise websites that are regularly updated and perform well. An outdated website can struggle to rank, making it harder for potential customers to find you.

Greenfield's Maintenance Packages

To make website maintenance hassle-free, Greenfield offers comprehensive maintenance packages starting from just £36 per month. Our packages include:

Monthly updates for all plugins and core software.
Security monitoring and patching vulnerabilities as they arise.
Performance optimisation to keep your website running fast.
Compatibility checks to ensure all parts of your website work seamlessly together.
Regular backups to safeguard your data against unexpected issues.

Paying Too Much For Your Hosting?

We also offer hosting packages from just £25.00 per month, including web hosting and an SSL certificate.

Paying Too Much For Your Hosting?

We also offer hosting packages from just £25.00 per month, including web hosting and an SSL certificate.

Why Do You Need An SSL Certificate?

An SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate encrypts the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, ensuring their personal information remains secure. This is crucial for several reasons:

Trust and Credibility: Websites with SSL certificates display a padlock icon in the browser address bar, signaling to visitors that their connection is secure. This builds trust and enhances your business’s credibility.
SEO Benefits: Google prioritizes secure websites in its search results. Having an SSL certificate can improve your website’s ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Data Protection: SSL certificates protect sensitive information such as login credentials, payment details, and personal data from being intercepted by malicious actors.

By choosing Greenfield’s hosting services, you get reliable web hosting and the security of an SSL certificate, ensuring your website is both fast and secure.

Don’t let an outdated website be the weak link in your business strategy.

Contact Greenfield today and let us help you maintain a secure, efficient, and high-performing online presence

Why Website Maintenance is Essential for Your Business

The Importance Of Regular Maintenance

Why Updating PHP Is Crucial

How Often Should Updates Be Performed?

Hosting And Maintenance

Impact On Speed And SEO

Greenfield's Maintenance Packages

Paying Too Much For Your Hosting?

Paying Too Much For Your Hosting?

Why Do You Need An SSL Certificate?

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Website Design

SEO

Marketing

Brand Design

Location

Legal