Website Maintenance and Security: What Every Business Owner Should Know
Updated: 2 days ago
Your website is often the first contact someone has with your business. Before they call or send an inquiry, they may visit your website to learn about your services and decide whether you’re the right fit.
As a website designer and business owner, I believe that first interaction deserves attention. Your website should represent your business accurately, make it easy for customers to find it and take the next step.
Your website might be working when you launch it, but when was the last time you tested your contact form, checked your links, or reviewed who has access to your account?
I understand how easily website maintenance can fall to the bottom of the list when you’re busy running a business. A little regular attention, however, can help keep your website accurate, working properly, and better protected.
Here’s what I recommend keeping an eye on.
What Is Website Maintenance?
Website maintenance means regularly checking and updating your website so it continues to support your business, serve your customers, and help you grow.
Regular upkeep and security checks help reduce the risk of hacking, website problems, and missed inquiries or sales. It’s about keeping your website accurate, easy to use, and better protected.
This can include updating information, testing forms and links, checking how your website works on mobile, reviewing bookings and inquiry processes, checking basic SEO, managing account access, and reviewing updates and recovery options.
What your website needs will depend on its platform, features, and how often your business changes.
1. Keep Your Business Information Current
My advice is to start with the basics: can customers find accurate information about your business?
Review your phone number, email address, hours, services, and service areas. If you display prices or promotions, check those too.
An old phone number can mean a missed inquiry. An outdated service description can leave someone unsure whether you offer what they need.
Whenever something changes, check every relevant part of your website, including your footer, contact page, service pages, and booking forms.
Keeping your website information current also helps customers understand what you offer. As part of a basic SEO review, check that your page titles and descriptions accurately describe each page and mention your services and service areas where relevant.
A simple habit: Review your key business information monthly and update it whenever changes happen.
2. Test the Things Customers Use
A website can look great while something important isn’t working.
I recommend using your website as though you’re a new customer. Open the menu, follow your links, click your contact buttons, and send a test inquiry. If you offer online bookings or purchases, check those processes as well.
For contact forms, confirm that the submission reaches the right inbox. Don’t assume everything works simply because the form appears on the page.
Check your website on your phone, too. Visitors should be able to read the text, tap buttons, and find important information comfortably.
To me, a good website makes contacting your business feel straightforward.
3. Protect Your Website Accounts
Looking after your website also means protecting the accounts connected to it.
Use strong, unique passwords for your website platform, domain provider, and business email. Enable multi-factor authentication wherever available to add another layer of protection when signing in.
If a designer, employee, or contractor needs access, give them their own account with the permissions they need instead of sharing your login.
I also recommend reviewing access periodically and removing anyone who no longer needs it.
4. Understand What Your Platform Handles
You don’t need to manage every technical detail yourself, but you should know who is responsible for what.
Some website platforms handle hosting and many security updates for you. Other websites require someone to manage updates to software, themes, and plugins.
Ask your website provider:
What updates and security measures are included?
What am I responsible for?
Who should I contact if something goes wrong?
My advice is to clarify these responsibilities early. Security notices and important updates should be addressed promptly rather than left until your next routine review.
5. Know Your Recovery and Renewal Options
Before something goes wrong, find out how your website can be restored.
Check what your platform saves, how recovery works, and whether important information needs a separate backup. Don’t assume that restoring an earlier website version will also restore every contact, message, order, or other record.
Keep track of your domain, website plan, and connected service renewals, too. Make sure renewal notices go to an email address you check regularly and that your payment details are current.
These are easy details to overlook when you have a business to run.
A Simple Monthly Website Checklist
Set aside a little time each month to:
Review your contact details, services, prices, and hours.
Test forms, links, bookings, and other important features.
Check your main pages on a phone and computer.
Review account access and upcoming renewals.
Confirm that your backup or restoration arrangements still meet your needs.
Broken customer features, urgent security notices, and important updates should be handled as soon as you become aware of them.
Need Help Keeping Your Website Up to Date?
I know how much goes into running a business. My advice is to make website upkeep a small, regular part of your routine so it’s less likely to become a bigger task later.
At UpTop Digital, we help entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and business owners with website design, website updates, website maintenance, and SEO, with personalized support tailored to their business needs.
Get in touch to discuss your website and how we can help.
Amy A.
Founder, Owner | UpTop Digital
Web Designer, Digital & Business Strategist
416-800-7553
Based in Kitchener, serving businesses throughout Ontario.