A website can look perfectly fine from the outside while things go wrong underneath. Most problems are small and easy to fix early; left alone, they cost enquiries, rankings and sometimes the whole site. These are the issues we find most often when we take over a website that hasn't been looked after.
1. Contact forms that stopped sending
This is the most common and most expensive silent failure. A hosting change, an email setting or an update stops form emails from arriving, and nobody notices until someone mentions they 'filled in the form weeks ago'. Test your forms every month.
2. Outdated software and plugins
Content management systems, themes and plugins release updates to fix security holes. Outdated software is one of the main ways websites get hacked. Updates should be applied regularly, and tested, because an update can occasionally clash with something else.
3. Expiring SSL certificates and domains
When an SSL certificate expires, browsers show a frightening warning. When a domain expires, the website and email disappear. Both are entirely preventable with renewal tracking.
4. Backups that don't actually work
Many sites have backups that have never been tested, are stored on the same server, or stopped running months ago. A backup you can't restore isn't a backup.
5. Slowly getting slower
Every large image, new plugin and tracking script adds weight. Over a year or two a fast site can become sluggish, which hurts both conversions and search rankings. A periodic speed review keeps it in check.
6. Broken links and outdated content
Old offers, past events, former staff and links to pages that no longer exist all make a business look neglected. A quick content review every few months goes a long way.
7. Layout problems on new devices and browsers
Browsers and phones change constantly. Something that looked perfect at launch can break on a newer phone. Check your key pages on a few current devices from time to time.
A simple maintenance rhythm
- Monthly: updates, form tests, backup check, uptime review
- Quarterly: speed check, broken links, content review
- Yearly: domain and SSL renewals, design and content refresh
If you'd rather not keep track of it yourself, our website maintenance plans cover all of this, with a short report each month so you always know your site is healthy.