When small business owners reach out to me re a website build, they have widely differing ideas about their future site. But if there’s one thing everyone wants, it’s this: the ability to edit and add content on their own.
I absolutely get it. You don’t want to wait two weeks to update your phone number because your freelance web designer is on holiday. And I’m totally game too – please add that brand new article you finished at 3 AM to your website without me! 🙂
Simple content edits (i.e., edits without needing to know code) are only possible if the website is built on a content management system (CMS). These systems, however, need regular maintenance.
Read on to learn about updates for websites based on WordPress.
⬇️ Jump to the WordPress website maintenance guide ⬇️
Table of Contents
Are Website Updates Really Necessary?
Yes – if only to keep your site secure. CMS platforms are popular tools (over 40 % of the world’s websites run on WordPress only), which means they regularly face cyberattacks.
The development teams behind CMS platforms respond to any known risks by updating their products. These new, updated versions, however, need to be manually uploaded to your website – and that’s what this mythical ‘website maintenance’ is mostly about.
So, to sum up, while there are many benefits to regularly updating the tools you use (new features, higher efficiency, bug fixes, etc.), the primary reason for website updates remains security.
Can I Have a Website That Doesn’t Need Updates?
Yes. You have two options here: either find a web developer who will code a ‘static site’ for you, or host your website on a platform that handles updates automatically.

When To Go for a Static Site (Coded HTML Website)
If you know your website won’t change in the near future and you don’t want to add content yourself, a static site is a good choice. Your web designer will either code your site directly in HTML or create it in their usual way and then convert it to a static site.
Advantages
Static sites are fast, meaning they could rank higher in search engines. Most importantly, however, they don’t need maintenance. In some cases, these sites can even be hosted for free, saving you hosting costs. So, if you’re okay with keeping the website as is, a static site could be the least expensive option.
Disadvantages
On the other hand, the initial website design and build costs of a static site will probably be higher. Not everyone knows HTML, and coding a website from scratch takes much longer than using CMS platforms with time-saving templates and builders.
The main disadvantage, however, is that you’re dependent on your web developer for even the smallest changes, like updating your company address. (If you can manage this yourself, you can probably build your own website without any outside help!)
Ten years ago, I wrote detailed documentation for the coded websites I built for my first clients. I included well-meant warnings such as ‘Oh, and don’t forget the semicolon, or the whole site will break.’ It quickly turned out that with a manual like that, no one dared touch their website with a ten-foot pole… I sincerely hope the docs I write today are much more user-friendly!

When to Pick a Drag and Drop Website Builder
There are several online website builders that host your website on their own platform – you’ve probably heard of Wix or SquareSpace, or the more advanced Webflow or ShowIt.
Advantages
These platforms handle website maintenance automatically. You don’t have to worry about anything, and your site won’t break after an update. Most of these builders also let you create a basic website without any knowledge of web design.
Disadvantages
It’s not free. It’s probably more expensive than hiring a web developer to maintain your WordPress website. (I’m assuming you want a website with your own domain name, not something like mybusiness.webflow.io. If not – and you are running a business – I urge you to reconsider). Wix and SquareSpace plans will set you back $23/month, ShowIt and Webflow start at $19 and $14 respectively.
Another main drawback is that websites built with these platforms can’t be moved elsewhere. If the service no longer suits you (e.g., the price goes up or the platform doesn’t offer the features you need to grow), you’ll have to rebuild your website from scratch.
WordPress or HTML: Which is Better For Me?
Your website is your own, and it’s up to you to pick how it will be built. That said, I myself have decided to build websites on WordPress and let my clients know their website will need regular maintenance.
As appealing as automatic updates sound, I don’t like the idea of being tied to a specific platform over which I have very little control. I also like the modular aspect of WordPress – you only use plugins for the functionality you actually need and get to pick which tools to use. As the expert responsible for a client’s website, I want to choose how to implement the features you need.
As a former frontend developer, I know how to code a static site. However, as mentioned above, most of my clients want to be able to update content themselves. That’s another reason why I go with WordPress, as it offers an intuitive user interface that even less technically minded website owners find easy to use.

How Often Should You Update Your Website
Now that we’ve covered the basics of regular website maintenance, let’s talk about how often you should update your website.
Most web developers’ care plans cover monthly maintenance, i.e., updating the website once a month. I would recommend this for actively updated websites – e-commerce sites, for instance, or sites with blogs.
If you don’t add new content that often, updating your website 2–4 times per year will do.
So, what exactly does an update cover? First of all, it’s downloading the latest versions of all plugins and themes (and translations, if you use those). Every few months, there’s also a new version of the WordPress core. And ideally, you should also make a website and database backup every time you update things. Just in case.
You can set up automatic updates for both WordPress and your plugins. It’s risky, though, and I wouldn’t recommend it. An update can break your site and if it’s automatic, you might end up not noticing anything’s wrong for days, if not weeks.
WordPress Website Maintenance Guide
Ready to update your WordPress website yourself? Awesome – here’s your step-by-step guide!
1. Log in to the WordPress admin panel
You’ll usually find it at yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/.

2. Back up your site
Before starting any updates, create a backup of both your website and the database. It only takes a few minutes and you never know what might happen.
Find the backup plugin in the black menu on the left side (I personally use WPVivid). Back up the website according to the instructions and download the files to your computer (or save them to remote storage).

3. Update WordPress
Check if there’s a ‘A new WordPress update is available’ notification in the admin panel. If yes, just click on the update button. If not, your WordPress version is up to date.

4. Update the plugins
Open the Plugins tab in the menu on the left and click on the ‘Update’ links. Update the plugins one at a time and check the website as you go through them.

5. Update the theme
Open the Themes tab and update the theme (I use Bricks Builder or DIVI for my websites, both of which come with lifetime licenses).

6. Go through the website
Does your website work as it should? Check contact forms, reservations, and ensure it displays correctly on both laptop and mobile. If everything looks good, congratulations! You’ve just updated your website yourself!
7. Back up the website again
If something goes wrong, this will be the backup you can revert to.
Now go grab a coffee, you’ve earned it! Rinse and repeat in three months’ time 🙂.

Hiring a Web Developer to Maintain Your Website
While you certainly can update your website yourself, many business owners prefer to outsource website maintenance to their designer. My clients often say something like, ‘I want to be able to add and edit content myself, but I’d rather leave technical maintenance to someone who actually knows what they’re doing.’
In addition, professional web designers keep up with industry trends (or at least they should!). They’ll hear about important updates, from legal changes in cookie policies to Google algorithm updates, before you and, if these changes affect your website, they’ll let you know.
Here are just a few of the changes that have happened in the world of website development since I started building websites:
- People started using the Internet on their (smart)phones. As a result, websites began following a mobile-first design approach to display well and – more importantly – work well on phones.
- The secure HTTPS protocol became a necessity. Previously something you’d only find on the websites of banks and public institutions, today it’s a must-have for even the most basic site.
- Google changed the way it evaluates keywords (SEO) several times, impacting website rankings.
- Legislative changes related to GDPR affected data collection on websites (GDPR compliance).
In all these cases, I let my clients know what was happening and discussed what we could do about it. (Sometimes the client didn’t want to make any changes – I cringe when I imagine anyone looking at some of my early sites on their phone!).
Final Thoughts
Whichever path you choose for your website, I hope it meets all your expectations and helps you achieve your business goals. And if you decide to build your site on WordPress, which I heartily recommend… Well, just don’t forget regular website maintenance. 🙂