DIY Website Maintenance: What You Can Do Yourself (and What You Probably Shouldn’t)
Running a business already feels like spinning plates on a skateboard. Add “website mechanic” and suddenly you’re juggling chainsaws, too. Good news: you can handle a surprising chunk of routine upkeep without a developer on speed dial. Bad news: cross the wrong line and you’ll learn the true cost of downtime.
Let’s separate the easy wins from the “danger, Will Robinson!” tasks.
1. Green‑Light DIY: Safe, Quick Wins
Task: Update text & swap images
Why It’s Safe: Content edits don’t touch code. If you can run Word, you’re good.
Pro Tip: Keep originals < 200 KB to avoid slowing pages.
Task: Post blogs & new pages
Why It’s Safe: CMS editors sandbox your content; worst case = typo.
Pro Tip: Use a staging title like “DRAFT—Do Not Index” until proofed.
Task: Check for broken links
Why It’s Safe: Tools simply crawl and report; no site changes.
Pro Tip: Free tools: Broken Link Checker, Screaming Frog (lite).
Task: Moderate comments & users
Why It’s Safe: Adds/blocks entries in your database—low risk.
Pro Tip: Enforce strong passwords for all contributors.
Victory lap: Knock these out weekly and you’ll keep SEO fresh and UX tight without breaking a sweat.
2. Yellow‑Light DIY: Proceed With Caution
Task: Plugin & theme updates
Hidden Risk: One buggy release can white‑screen the site; 149 new plugin vulns were disclosed two weeks ago alone. Source: SolidWP
Why You Might Outsource: Pros run updates in a staging site, roll back if things explode.
Task: Backups & restores
Hidden Risk:A corrupt backup = no backup. Restoring the wrong DB can wipe orders.
Why You Might Outsource: Managed hosts or maintenance teams automate & verify nightly backups.
Task: SSL/TLS certificate renewals
Hidden Risk: Miss the renewal window and browsers throw red warnings, tanking trust.
Why You Might Outsource: Devs can install auto‑renewing certificates and test endpoints.
Task: Minor CSS tweaks in the theme
Hidden Risk:An errant bracket can break site layout on every device.
Why You Might Outsource: Child themes + version control keep experiments sandboxed.
Rule of thumb: If the task affects functionality rather than content, think twice before clicking “Update Now.”
3. Red‑Light DIY: Just… Don’t
One misplaced semicolon and you’ve bricked the admin panel.
Database surgery (SQL edits, mass deletes). Even seasoned devs run backups first—because data loss is forever.
Restoring from backup without a staging test. Uploading a bad backup is like treating smoke inhalation by lighting another fire.
Server/PHP version changes. Incompatible versions can cascade into plugin failures and security gaps.
Why so dramatic? A single unpatched exploit can lurk among 306 newly reported WordPress vulnerabilities in a single month. One wrong fix triggers downtime that drains revenue faster than you can Google “how to undo.”
DIY Maintenance Checklist (Monthly)
Update all site text, images, and blog posts
Run a broken‑link scan; fix or redirect dead URLs
Backup database and files; verify completion email
Review pending plugin/theme updates—apply in staging first
Check SSL expiry date; schedule renewal if < 30 days
Keep logs of what you changed and when. Future‑you (or future‑dev‑you‑hire) will thank you.
Want True Peace of Mind?
You handle the content magic; Kalson Media Group will babysit the code gremlins. Our Website Care Plans patch vulnerabilities, test updates in staging, and restore backups in minutes—not hours. Let’s talk before your “small tweak” turns into a 3 a.m. emergency.
Need a sanity check before pressing “Update All”? Drop us a line—we’ll keep the chainsaws out of your juggling routine.
Ready to unlock your business’s full potential? I have a full 36 years under my belt as an entrepreneur. Let’s chat! Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your specific goals and how I can help you achieve them.
Kalson Media Services offered:
Charleston, SC – Web Design, Social Media Management, SEO, PR & Marketing, Domain Name Registration, Website Hosting
Huntsville, AL – Web Design, Social Media Management, SEO, Domain Name Registration, Website Hosting
Call us today and get a FREE audit of your website for SEO or a Social Media audit.
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