Mistakes that can be avoided with regular website maintenance

8 May

(And how to stop your website from becoming a liability)

Your website is often your brand’s first impression - your digital storefront, sales funnel, and business card rolled into one. But without regular upkeep, even the best-designed site can quietly break down behind the scenes.

From missed security updates to poor search visibility, small issues can spiral into major problems - costing you leads, revenue, and credibility.

Here’s what can go wrong, and how to avoid the most common website maintenance mistakes by staying proactive.

Mistake 1: Ignoring website security

Let’s start with the big one: security. Your website is vulnerable to hackers, bots, and malicious scripts that evolve constantly. And if you're not updating your plugins, themes, or CMS regularly, you're leaving the door wide open.

What’s the risk?

Outdated software is one of the top causes of website breaches. Hackers exploit weak spots to inject malware, steal customer data, or take your entire site offline. The result? Lost trust, compliance issues, and a serious hit to your reputation.

How to avoid it:

Regularly update all software (WordPress core, plugins, themes, etc.).
Use a reliable security plugin or firewall.
Implement two-factor authentication and strong passwords.
Invest in managed support to monitor and patch vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.

Opting for managed support services ensures regular updates for content, plugins, and themes to ensure optimal performance and peace of mind.

Mistake 2: Not backing up your website

Regular backups are your safety net. If your site goes down, gets hacked, or something breaks during an update, backups let you restore it with minimal disruption.

What’s the risk?

Without a recent backup, you risk losing critical data - from your content and images to custom code and layout. Rebuilding from scratch can be slow, expensive, and deeply stressful.

How to avoid it:

Set up automated daily or weekly backups.
Save a backup of your website’s theme, custom code, website copy and imagery
Store copies in multiple locations (cloud + local).
Test your backup restoration process occasionally to ensure it works.

Mistake 3: Neglecting SEO

Search Engine Optimisation isn’t just a launch task — it’s ongoing maintenance. Google constantly updates how it ranks websites. If your content, structure, or speed isn’t optimised, you’ll slowly fade from search visibility.

What’s the risk?

Low rankings = low traffic. And less organic traffic means you'll need to rely heavily on ads or social media to get eyes on your site.

How to avoid it:

Optimise images, meta titles, and descriptions.
Keep internal links clean and intuitive.
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and fast-loading.
Use structured data where relevant (e.g. product reviews or blog schema).

Bonus: Many web developers don’t include SEO support in their maintenance plans. At Gem Media, we believe SEO should be foundational, not optional. Check out our website concierge plans to get more info.

Mistake 4: No website strategy

Without a strategy, your site becomes a patchwork of random updates, disconnected pages, and dead-end links. And that confuses both users and search engines.

What’s the risk?

A disjointed website leads to poor user experience, fewer conversions, and wasted budget on tools or features that don’t move the needle.

How to avoid it:

Set clear goals (lead generation, education, sales, etc.).
Define user flows: what do you want visitors to do next?
Keep your content and navigation aligned with your customer journey.

Your website should evolve with your business. A strong strategy ensures it remains an asset, not an expense.

Mistake 5: Skipping testing and tracking

It’s not enough to hope your site works — you need to test regularly and track performance. Without it, you’re flying blind.

What’s the risk?

Broken links, dead forms, slow-loading pages or outdated CTAs can kill conversions. And without analytics, you won’t know what’s working or where to improve.

How to avoid it:

Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Run monthly audits to test functionality across browsers and devices.
Use heatmaps or session recordings to understand user behaviour.

Mistake 6: Trying to manage it all yourself

Running a business is a full-time job. So is running a website. DIY maintenance often leads to skipped updates, missed errors, and long-term damage.

What’s the risk?

Falling behind on tech trends or updates can make your site feel outdated or vulnerable — and mistakes can be costly to reverse.

How to avoid it:

Hire a website manager or team who understands the tech behind your site.
Outsource to a professional concierge service to handle updates, backups, and performance checks.
Focus on running your business, knowing your digital storefront is looked after.

Final thoughts: Your website is a living asset — treat it like one

Website maintenance isn’t optional — it’s mission-critical. It ensures your brand stays visible, credible, and competitive. And in a fast-moving digital world, being reactive isn’t enough. You need to be proactive.

At Gem Media, we offer concierge-level website support that covers every aspect of your site’s upkeep — from performance to protection, visibility to viability. Because a healthy site isn’t just about avoiding disaster. It’s about setting yourself up for growth.