Day: February 17, 2017

Best Ways to Manage a WordPress Website in 2025

Manage a WordPress Website effectively in 2025 requires a combination of security measures, content management, and regular maintenance. Here’s a comprehensive guide based on your inputs, enhanced with the latest best practices:

1. Keep the Website Up-to-Date

  • Core Updates: Regularly update the WordPress core to ensure the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches are applied.
  • Plugins and Themes: Continuously update plugins and themes to their latest versions. Outdated versions are a common target for hackers.
  • Automatic Updates: Enable automatic updates for minor updates and security patches, but manually test major updates in a staging environment before applying.

2. Plugin and Theme Management

  • Review Plugins Regularly: Periodically audit the installed plugins and remove unused or unsupported ones to reduce security risks.
  • Selective Installation: Install new plugins only when absolutely necessary and test them for compatibility.
  • Reputable Sources: Download plugins and themes from trusted sources like the WordPress Repository or premium developers with good reputations.

3. Secure Your Website

  • Login Security:
    • Use email-based login for an additional layer of security (e.g., WP Email Login plugin).
    • Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin and user logins.
  • Strong Passwords: Use complex passwords with uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Update passwords regularly.
  • Limit Login Attempts: Use plugins like “Limit Login Attempts Reloaded” to restrict brute-force attacks.
  • SSL Certificates: Ensure SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is enabled to encrypt all data exchanges.
  • Firewall Protection: Use web application firewalls (e.g., Wordfence or Sucuri) to block malicious traffic.
  • Disable XML-RPC: If not in use, disable XML-RPC to prevent DDoS attacks and brute-force login attempts.

4. Automate Maintenance Tasks

  • Hosting Provider Tools: Opt for managed hosting services that provide automatic scanning, backups, and updates.
  • Monitoring Tools: Use tools like ManageWP or Jetpack for real-time monitoring, backups, and uptime checks.
  • Automated Backups: Schedule automatic backups using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy and store them securely offsite.

5. Optimize Site Performance

  • Caching: Use caching plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache to speed up load times.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN): Leverage CDNs such as Cloudflare or StackPath to distribute content faster and reduce server load.
  • Image Optimization: Compress images using plugins like Smush or ShortPixel to improve performance.
  • Database Cleanup: Regularly clean up the database using tools like WP-Optimize to remove unused data and improve speed.

6. Enhance Content Management

  • SEO Optimization:
    • Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to optimize on-page SEO.
    • Regularly update and create fresh content to improve search engine rankings.
    • Link your site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools for better indexing.
  • Content Creation: Create unique and engaging content to retain users and improve site authority.
  • Media Management: Organize media files into folders for easier management and faster retrieval.

7. Regular Security Audits

  • Security Plugins: Install and configure security plugins like Sucuri or iThemes Security for periodic scans.
  • Vulnerability Scanning: Use tools like WPScan to identify and fix potential vulnerabilities.
  • Malware Removal: Set up automatic malware scanning and removal processes through plugins or hosting provider services.

8. User Management

  • Role Management: Assign appropriate roles to users and restrict access to sensitive areas.
  • Inactive User Cleanup: Remove inactive or suspicious user accounts regularly.
  • Audit Logs: Use plugins to monitor user activity on your site.

9. Improve Mobile and Accessibility

  • Mobile Optimization: Ensure your theme is responsive and mobile-friendly to cater to a growing number of mobile users.
  • Accessibility Compliance: Make your site ADA and WCAG compliant by adding alt text, ARIA labels, and ensuring proper contrast ratios.

10. Advanced Features

  • AI Tools: Use AI-driven tools for content recommendations, chatbots, and personalized user experiences.
  • Headless WordPress: If your site requires high scalability, consider using WordPress as a headless CMS for better performance and flexibility.
  • Progressive Web Apps (PWA): Convert your website into a PWA to enhance user engagement with offline functionality and faster load times.

11. Backups

Automated backups using plugins store your data directly on your server or a connected storage location:

  • Downtime Monitoring: Use uptime monitoring tools to get instant alerts about site issues.
  • WordPress Backup Plugins: Use plugin to automatically upload backups to these services. Schedule periodic backups to avoid manual interventions. The plugins allow automatic scheduling (daily, weekly, or monthly) and One-click restoration. The plugins will stores backups in a secure folder within your WordPress installation.
    • UpdraftPlus: Allows scheduled backups of your website files and database.
    • BackupBuddy: Offers complete backups with the ability to restore directly from the plugin.
    • WP Time Capsule: Incremental backups that only save changes, reducing resource usage.
    • Duplicator: Focuses on creating site packages that can also be used for migrations.
  • Off-Site Backups (Cloud Storage Integration) for Backup Redundancy: Storing backups off-site provides an additional layer of safety in case of server issues or data breaches. This protects against server crashes or hosting provider issues and act as remote storage ensures disaster recovery. These backups are stored on third-party Cloud Services like:
    • Dropbox
    • Google Drive
    • Amazon S3
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • Backblaze B2
  • Server-Level Snapshots: Hosting providers often provide server-level snapshot functionality as part of their service. These snapshots capture your entire server environment including files, databases, and configurations. They also allows rollback to a previous state with minimal effort. It is ideal for high-risk updates or major website changes. Hosting Providers Offering Snapshots:
    • Cloudways
    • SiteGround
    • DigitalOcean
    • AWS
    • Google Cloud
  • Manual Backups: Manual backups involve directly exporting and saving files and database contents:
    • File Backups:
      • Use an FTP client like FileZilla to download all WordPress files from the server.
      • Zip and store files locally or on an external drive.
    • Database Backups:
      • Access your website’s database via phpMyAdmin or a similar tool.
      • Export the database in .sql format and store securely.
    • Advantages:
      • Full control over the backup process.
      • Avoids reliance on plugins or hosting features.
    • Disadvantages:
      • Time-consuming and requires technical expertise.
  • Incremental Backups: Incremental backups save only the changes made since the last backup:
    • Tools:
      • WP Time Capsule
      • Jetpack Backup
    • Advantages:
      • Saves server resources by reducing the size of each backup.
      • Faster and more efficient for large websites.
    • Ideal For:
      • E-commerce websites with frequent updates.
      • Sites with a large volume of dynamic content.
  • Managed Hosting Backup Solutions: Many managed WordPress hosting providers offer built-in backup options as part of their service:
    • Examples:
      • Kinsta: Daily automatic backups with one-click restore.
      • WP Engine: Automated backups stored off-site.
      • Flywheel: Nightly backups included in hosting plans.
    • Advantages:
      • Backups are handled by professionals, reducing the need for manual intervention.
      • Integrated with hosting infrastructure for easy restoration.
    • Drawbacks:
      • Limited control over backup frequency and retention policies.
  • Git-Based Version Control for Backups: For developers, Git can be used to track changes to your website’s codebase. Use Git repositories (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) to store and version-control your theme and plugin code, Combine with database export tools to ensure a full backup solution.
  • External Hardware Backups: For added redundancy, consider storing backups on physical devices:
    • Options:
      • External hard drives.
      • NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices.
    • Advantages:
      • Ensures data is completely offline and secure.
      • Useful for archiving old backups.
    • Drawbacks:
      • Requires manual effort to maintain.
      • Not ideal for frequent updates.

Best Practices for Backups

  • Frequency: Schedule daily or weekly backups based on website activity.
  • Redundancy: Use a combination of on-site, off-site, and server-level backups.
  • Testing: Regularly test backups to ensure they work and can be restored.
  • Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data in backups for added security.

By following these best practices, you can ensure your WordPress website remains secure, functional, and optimized for 2025 and beyond. I have created a detailed 28-day calendar with tasks to help you manage your WordPress website effectively. I have structured the WordPress maintenance calendar into a 7×4 weekly grid, ensuring Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for maintenance tasks that may require the site to be in maintenance mode.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Update WordPress core and plugins Backup your website Review and remove unused plugins/themes Check for broken links Scan website for security vulnerabilities Website maintenance mode for updates Website maintenance mode for full scans
Optimize images and database Monitor website performance and uptime Review content for updates Install and test critical plugin updates Change and strengthen admin passwords Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) Website maintenance mode for audits
Website maintenance mode for detailed testing Audit user roles and permissions Implement SSL check and renewal Run malware and vulnerability scans Review SEO performance and analytics Optimize site speed with caching Create fresh content or update old posts
Link site to additional search engines Run a full manual site functionality test Check CDN performance and update settings Adjust hosting resources if needed Review analytics for audience insights Monitor and adjust login attempt limits Enhance accessibility compliance (ADA/WCAG)

14 Powerful WordPress Plugins

Here is a curated list of 14 powerful WordPress plugins with their unique features. The below list is updated regularly.

Contact Form 7

Displays an interactive form that your visitors can use to reach out to you without ever leaving the page.
Easy to install and set up.
It outdoes competing plugins with its built-in spam filter and high consistency.

WordPress Leads

Monitor the actions your site visitors take at every step of their journey.
Use insights about visitor page views, geographic location, search history, demographic information.

UserNoise

Allows you to capture visitor feedback using popups.
Ask visitors to let you know what they think of certain advice, invite questions, and more.
Contains responsive design and optional feedback buttons.

An ad manager

Allow you to see detailed analytics from inside the WordPress dashboard.

Adpushup

This plugin is for ad layout optimization.
Use to make your ads visible without harming your design.
Segment and personalize the visual ads you show.
Provides each visitor with a customized experience on your website.
Keeps an eye on analytics.

WordPress Landing Pages

Free to try.
All of your setups will be handled from inside the WordPress dashboard.
You can run A/B tests without extra software.

AB Press Optimizer

It integrates A/B testing directly into your WordPress site.
Allows you to test a variety of text elements within your page and embed experiments Provide easy-to-use shortcode interface.
Upgrade to the Pro version for additional features like CSV exports, page and post title experiments, and more.

Calls-to-Action

Has the ability to monitor and track conversion rates.
Run A/B or multivariate split tests on calls to action (CTAs).
Increase lead flow through buttons, forms, and more.

Sticky Menu on Scroll

Used to keep menus at the top of your page.
Allows you to make any element sticky.
Use it with your CTAs, logos, and more.

UpdraftPlus

WordPress backup plugin.
You can save and store the contents of your website in case of a crash.

Login LockDown

Limits the number of login attempts from a given IP range within a certain time period.
Protects the security of those registered on your site.

W3 Total Cache

Makes upload speed faster.
Improves your bounce rate.
Increases a number of return visitors to your pages.

Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO has the number of built-in optimizations, analytics tools, and suggestions.
Don’t forget to add alt tags to your images.
Use your keyword within your text.

Floating Social Bar

Allows you to add a handful of social networks that users can click-to-share.
Pinned social share buttons to the top of the screen.

5 Things Your Video Marketing Strategy Should Include

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  • Videos stand out on social media, giving customers a quick overview of a product without overwhelming them with text.
  • The customer should get the information he needs about a business through a short, visually-appealing video within a seconds.

Here are five things your video marketing strategy should include:

Publishing Schedule

  • As your tweets and Facebook posts run consistently, your video marketing plan should have legs, as well.
  • Think of your campaign in terms of a series.
  • Once determined the content of your videos, set up a schedule.
  • Short-Form Videos
  • Put short, concise statements trumping longer forms of content.
  • shorten videos to less than ten seconds, making them ideal for sharing on sites like Twitter and Instagram.

Tutorials and Tips

  • Connect with customers by posting tutorials relevant to your line of work.
  • Viewers will learn more about your business.
  • Tutorials also provide built-in series potential.
  • If your tips are useful, you’ll likely find customers keep coming back to see the next video in the series.

Customer-Generated Content

  • Use user-generated contents that will show people’s passion for your product.
  • Invite your customers to create one of their own.
  • Offer a prize for the best video showcasing customer use of your product
  • When potential customers see that, they’ll want to know what is about and possibly give your product a try.

Call to Action

  • Attach a call to action.
  • Attach an offer of a discount for any customer who mentions the video in your store.
  • Add few words at the end of your video

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