Running a blog is a huge task and sometimes Webmasters forget that to keep your blog running like clockwork, you need to perform certain maintenance jobs. These tasks are very important and keep your site free from errors and running smoothly.
It does not matter if you have a massive authority site or just a small blog, it is devastating when something happens to your precious site. Performing regular updates and maintenance jobs can help you avoid problems in the future. Also having everything organized and backed up is a bonus when disaster strikes.
Five Ways to Keep Your Blog Maintained
Keeping your website maintained is not rocket science. WordPress has improved and everything is done at the push of a button. There are plug-ins for everything, including backing up your database, securing your WordPress website and more.
1. Updating WordPress Latest Version and Plugins
One of the most important ways to keep your blog running properly is to update to the latest version of WordPress. Neglecting to do this can leave your blog open to security threats and errors with incompatibility. It is so simple to update WordPress that it is a crime.
- To check this, you need to visit your WordPress dashboard.
- Press on updates in the menu and you will see what updates you need to perform.
- In this section, all updates will be shown. This is where you can update WordPress, update plug-ins, and update themes.
- All you have to do is tick the box next to the updates you want to perform and then press the update button.
Like I said, if you fail to update WordPress blog, you will encounter various technical problems in the future. Most of the time, the updates include latest security features, and fixes for any technical vulnerabilities which have been found to exist in the previous version of WordPress.
Also the great thing about updating your plug-ins through this WordPress feature is that you can update more than one plug-in at the same time. Even if 10 plug-ins need updating, all you have to do is tick them all and then press update.
2. Backup the WordPress Blog
Another way to keep your blog running smoothly is to perform backups of your web content. There are several plugins that are available such as VaultPress that allows you to back up your files. However, this can cost you another expenses. There are free back up plugins like WP-DB Manager that do the same thing but with significant difference from VaultPress. If your blog is very important for you then we recommend you to settle with the paid back up plugins.
Another way to keep a backup is if this service is included with your hosting package. When I first started blogging I had a small hosting package that cost me $10 and now I have a dedicated hosting package that costs around $200 a month and includes backup. When your site starts earning a large income you must be even stricter about backups and security and get top WordPress website hosting to keep you safe.
3. Spam Messages and Comments
If you allow your visitors to leave comments and messages, you need to check your dashboard regularly to moderate these comments. Firstly, you do not want to accept comments from spammers as this is not good for your site's reputation. Remove these comments from your blog by pressing either the spam or trash link under the comments in your dashboard.
Then there is the spam comments that have actually already reached the spam folder. There are several spam messages and comments that can affect your blog. To avoid this, you need to navigate the comments section in your dashboard and clear all spam comments.
See the screenshot below. In my dashboard I have a choice to Spam or Trash a comment. Of course I would not do that to Anton from Social Media Marketing but I just love his avatar so I thought I would use him as an example.
4. Fixing Broken Links
If you accept comments on your blog then you also might be giving your website visitors a link back to their blogs. This is great but sometimes people put in the wrong link, therefore causing your blog to link to 404 error pages. This needs to be checked and this isn't the only way you could have broken links.
I like to install the plug-in called broken link checker. I must admit it can slow your blog down when you first install it, but then it shows you all the broken links and you can prepare them. After that I usually disable the plug-in and enable it again when I need it.
The W3C check link utility is a useful tool that can also help you in removing broken links.
Never underestimate a broken link. I have had websites drop out of the search engines completely because I had broken links. You probably would not believe it, but this has happened to me a few times over the years. I guess it gets worse when you get bigger websites.
It does not matter if it is an internal link you have built as part of your link building strategy or a link from a comment, either way it is causing errors.
5. Install Plugins
Plugins are amazing and I have some fantastic ones that keep my blog running for me. For example I have the CommentLuv premium plug-in that not only takes care of commenting but also blocks a lot of spam. Another plug-in is the WP-BDManager that backs up your data base, cleans out old tables and more. And then there are security plugins such as BulletProof Security. There are many plug-ins that are needed to help keep your blog running like clockwork. I could not even imagine having to do all this work myself as the plug-ins do it all for me.
What More?
Aside from this you can also check your RSS feed to see if it is working properly. You need to confirm the feed is showing what you expect it to. It is also important for you to check Contact forms on your blog to make sure they are working correctly. You can lose a lot of contacts all business if your forms are not working.
Unfortunately I cannot cover all aspects of blog maintenance in this one article as would almost need to write a book. I'm not saying that it is hard, but it can get detail when it comes to security and backup. But the main thing is that you are aware that you need to do these things to keep your blog running smoothly.
Sometimes these tasks get tedious, but it is a necessary job to do.
What if the New WordPress updates does not work with your theme? I’m always in fear of that one 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I’ve had that very same problem with the theme I had before. I’m not sure about the theme I use now. Like you, I’m scared to even update it in fear of that my blog will disappear again! I was using the flexibility theme before, now I’m using Twenty Ten 1.3. I like this theme. It’s simple and easy to use.
What theme are you currently using?
If that happens you can always revert back to the default theme… This is why you need to get a premium theme though as the best ones keep up with updates and you can feel more secure.
Mitz,
This is great post. I try to make sure I keep up to date wit my blog maintenance on a regular basis. There’s been some issues I’ve come across when I attempt to install the latest updated wordpress version, I always get a “Fatal Error” message and my entire blog disappears!
This has happened to me several times and each time I’ve had to contact hostgator to fix it for me. So now I just don’t update it at all. My blog seems to be working fine without the latest version installed.
Thanks for the blog backup resources! I will definitely be looking into them as I’ve just recently relaunched my blog and I want to make sure all of my files are safe.
As far as spam comments, I use a service called Akismet to weed out all my spam comments and it’s worked great for me so far.
While taking these steps to maintain your blog is tedious it’s well worth it in the long run, especially if your business model is centered around your blog.
Thanks for sharing these tips with us!
Ti
You really need to get a decent theme that does not break when you update… Remember WordPress is the creator..The theme is the one breaking it…Maybe it is not up to scratch. 🙂
Backup the WordPress Blog is the something that i ignore, i hope after this i will make it as routine to backup my blog for safety reason
Even if you go to the tools section in your dashboard and press on export..That is good enough and better than not doing any backup at all.. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with this article! Your website is no different than your car, home, or any other aspect of your life that needs maintenance. While the tasks can seem tedious, I think it’s much more of a hassle dealing with lost information or any other problem that could be otherwise prevented.
I agree that the consequence of not maintaining your blog is just a hassle. I would rather look after my blog and feel good.
Hi Mitz,
thanks for sharing your insights.
A blog is often referred to as one’s own piece of real estate on the internet. While this is true, it needs maintenance like every piece of real of estate, whether it’s on offline or online one.
And we don’t know what we don’t know. You can’t fix broken links if you don’t know they exist.
Best,
Oliver
I think these are really important ways, so thank you Mitz! Even though I just started my blog, these are good things to keep in mind to make sure I am maintaining so that I can attract and hold the attention of new readers.
Mitz,
Great thoughts here… I have to 2nd everything you said on Backups. I’ve lost posts before because I didn’t backup. Having a great backup plugin or backup process is of the utmost importance.
I implore everyone to BACKUP!
Thanks,
Ryan H.
Hello Mitz! Certainly wordpress plugins have made developer and also blogger work quite easy you just need to follow the instructions how to use the plugins and there are lots plugins available but here is one crucial point need to keep in mind that installing and doing everything from plugin can slow up your website speed so, one should be aware of that which think should be get without plugins.
Though great and valuable information you have provided.
Must do checklist Mitz
Everyone knows these points but there is lot of chances of forgetting the most usual things
Good one
I can honestly say I do it all. Finally… many times I read your posts and I’m thinking I have got to do a lot of things. But not this time haha
Great and Insightful information here as usual…there’s always something new to learn
Commentluv premium is a great plugin and I couldn’t do without it! Seems I’m not alone – many bloggers are addicted to it lol!
Yes Jane I agree. Everyone loves it and everyone should have it!! It is great for spam and 10 other things.
More great information from you! 🙂 It can be incredibly frustrating when you visit a site only to find that the once-useful links are now dead or that plug-ins and such have not been updated recently. It’s like owning a brick-and-mortar business and handing out expired coupons or never tidying up the lobby.
These 5 tips are awesome for beginners, and those who are more experienced to remember.
I think checking links to see if they’re broken from time to time is a great way to maintain your site and make sure the SEO juice is still running smoothly.
🙂
WP-DB Manager & Redirection plugin are the once which I use more often. These work like a charm for me…I’m sure many of us are using these.
Hi Mitz,
Excellent post. If our blog is being updated with updated version of wordpress then I can guess that no harm or virus can enter into blog. We should always update our wordpress blog.
well, I have never my spam links removed from my wordpress. Does it effects the load time also ?
Thank you
Zane
Awesome post on how one can keep a blog maintained. One can definitely try using the new plugins so that the blog gets the new look and everything seems to be new on the blog. Visitors will only return back again and again when they are replied and hence according to me replying to comments is also very crucial…
1st thing on the list is a pretty generic tip, but still good advice. I always try to keep my blog as updated as possible!
Thank you, i was looking for a way to speed up my blog, i really have serious problem with the speed of loading my blog, and some articles recommend removing most useless plugins, so i am really interested on the only essential plugins, so i can have minimum of plugins on my blog.
thank you for this information
slow loading times can be many things…One big one is a conflict of script when you install two instances of a social media button.. Or if you have that script in the wrong place, it interferes with loading.
Also see this article for more info.. http://www.seomoz.org/blog/15-tips-to-speed-up-your-website
Nice tips to keep your blog maintained. I am always looking out for updates and many problems can be solved by simply updating to the latest version. I had an issue with optinskin and their support told me to update to the latest version and the issue was solved. So I agree with you 100% that keeping up to date is important. Most important is publishing posts often to keep the spiders on their toes.
Very nice post is given here! Yes Maintaining a blog is not a very hard stuff, if one follows the above mentioned tips 🙂
These are the most common tips, and this will help newbies to maintain their blog regularly..
Thanks for the Post..
Excellent post on how to maintain blogs. Sometimes it is very difficult to maintain a blog clockwise smoothly. So for maintaining the blog we have to follow these points then we will get success. But you have to update your blog regularly then you will see very positive results.
Nice sharing mate 🙂
Excellent post on how to maintain blogs. Sometimes it is very difficult to maintain a blog clockwise smoothly. So for maintaining the blog we have to follow these points then we will get success. But you have to update your blog regularly then you will see very positive results after using these valuable points.
Nice sharing mate 🙂
A blog is like a car, if you don’t maintain it properly, on the long run there will be lots of issues with it. I also like to keep everything up to date, as to be exposed to potential problems.
This post was right on time as I have been slacking on my blog. Posting, plugins, backups, I have been off the mark. Thanks for this post. Motivating.
It seems that you put lots of focus on long tail keywords ” using keyword winner “.
Spam comments and broken links are one of the major problem I suffer. Everyday when I wake up and go to my blog’s admin page. I see hundreds of comments ” I feel so good ” but less than 10% is only genuine one and the rest are *shit*
I use Commentluv and it is fantastic… I hate spam too.
Also I am definitely into long-tailed keywords.. 🙂
I’d suggest to add Akismet which can immediately stop spammers commenting on blog.
Other tips are just great! Get plugins up-to-date; fixing broken links; Backup blog and I really love to use CommentLuv, if someone comments with a not real name, CommentLuv will immediately spot out.
They really can keep my blog maintained and running like clock wise. Thank you – Ferb
Ye s Akismet is great but it is not free when you get big.. So I use commentluv premium for spam.. If I am going to pay I might as well get something cool that does everything. 🙂
Oh, so you meant that CommentLuv has them more :O WOW! That’s amazing. When my Akismet expired, I’ll definitely use CommentLuv.
There is one more point.
There are many plugins which are not being maintained by their respective developer for a long time. If we have any of these plugin, we must get rid of them.
What you say?
I totally agree that some plugin developers do not maintain their work and we have to keep an eye on that ourselves. 🙂
I actually have done almost everything in this post. I haven’t backed up my blog but after reading this I will. I also need to check my for broken links. This was a good read.
Thanks .
On my blog there is huge attack of spams but I do not know how can I get rid of them for ever. I have updated new version of WordPress and some plug-ins are also updated.
Always back up your content! Finding up-to-date plugins take research, but you must find them to keep your blog in good condition. WordPress usually will have the most popular and most recent plugins right at your fingertips to choose from.
Mitz’s website “Lets Build Websites” has a very inclusive list of links to help you out. http://letsbuildwebsites.com/wordpress-website-resources/ Thanks for your post Mitz, great to see you still going strong!
Hi Brian
Yes I agree we need up to date plugins..This is why i like to mostly have paid plugins as I know they are more likely to keep them maintained. There is not argument with me about WordPress.. I love it!!! 🙂
Hi Mitz,
Making a blog is not difficult but maintaining and running it regularly is task that we have to perform to establish our position. Creating a backup was a pint in my mind but had never paid any heed towards it.
Now after going through your article will definitely work on it and thanks for also suggesting some free backup plugins.
I am quite frustrated with the spam comments and the pending spam comments,so you might see a guest post out here on it by me in the coming days here 🙂
Ha ha yes… I look forward to that! 🙂
I am glad you added the part of “backing up” your WordPress blog.
Many don’t do this and suffer from the consequences.
Perfect Mitz!
Maintaning a blog is really hard especially if you’re running a news website like me. This means that we need to be always updated on the news thus making it harder to run and maintain.
I use the plugin WP DB Backup and just finished updating WP and all plugins recently. Post scheduling is your best friend as well, unfortunately I get loads and loads of spam on my blogs.
Spam sucks and can lead a web master to banning comments altogether.
I agree that post scheduling your best friend.
Hello Mitz
Thank you for sharing these awesome points, very informative post for me. my blog is running latest wordpress
Hy
Thanks for sharing this informative stuff. keep on sharing..
Thank you
Every couple of days I back up my database and once a month I give my database a clean up with the plugin WP Optimize, that plugin also gets rid of post revisions & spam messages hanging around. 🙂
Thanks for the great post, but i am lil bit confuse about updating the WordPress version, is that secure. I am sensitive that it might disturb the website design layout!
Is that so?
Hi Mitz
After almost 5 hours of downtime for my blog this morning I would like to add: “Selecting a good host for your blog to this list”. It is very frustrating to be down without a single change to do anything about it. It is the first time I have seen any downtime like this with the host I am using now, but my old host was often down for ½-1 hour and it was very frustrating.
How about backing up the wordpress blog , any tips on that ??
Updating our WordPress plugins is so important. Not only does it ensure we are running the most secure versions of software but ti’s also important for security. everyday I log into WordPress I make sure we have the latest versions of our plugins installed,.
Hi mitz,
Glad to see you here, well the most important thing to make a success blog is to maintain it in cool condition. First thing i consider in blog maintain is back up.. which i’ve experienced recently as i have not used any plugin for back up suddenly the blog has corrupted all the data has been lost.
So here my main intention is we must follow all the tips maintain a blog.
Hi Mitz!
This is great post. I try to make sure I keep up to date wit my blog maintenance on a regular basis. There’s been some issues I’ve come across when I attempt to install the latest updated wordpress version, I always get a “Fatal Error” message and my entire blog disappears!
This has happened to me several times and each time I’ve had to contact hostgator to fix it for me. So now I just don’t update it at all. My blog seems to be working fine without the latest version installed.
Thanks for the blog backup resources! I will definitely be looking into them as I have just recently relaunched my blog and I want to make sure all of my files are safe.
As far as spam comments, I use a service called Akismet to weed out all my spam comments and it’s worked great for me so far.
Recently I have heard that broken links can affects blog’s page rank so it’s good to remove such links. Also, as you mentioned updating wordpress to its latest version is most important in terms of wordpress security and to keep everything working smoothly.
Thanks for the post Mitz!
Don’t forget database optimization and checking out plugins for inefficiencies like improper .js or css placement or images in your theme that aren’t optimized.
Great idea for a post!
Wonderful tips! Fixing the broken links is the most important. It shows whether a blog is maintained well or not.