WordPress Maintenance Checklist: 12 Monthly Tasks

WordPress requires regular maintenance. Without it, even well-built sites become security liabilities. Here are the 12 tasks we complete every month for every site we manage.

The 12-Task Monthly Checklist

1. Apply all WordPress updates — core, plugins, themes. Test major updates on staging first. 2. Verify backups — confirm recent backup completed and is stored offsite. 3. Run a security scan — malware scan, check for unauthorized admin users. 4. Test site speed — run Google PageSpeed Insights, note any score drops. 5. Check Google Search Console — crawl errors, manual actions, Core Web Vitals. 6. Review user accounts — remove former employees, old freelancers, test accounts. 7. Check for broken links — fix 404 errors that hurt SEO and visitor experience. 8. Test contact forms and key functions — forms, checkout, booking systems. 9. Review SSL certificate — check validity and note expiration date. 10. Optimize database — remove revisions, spam, expired transients. 11. Review analytics — traffic trends, top pages, any sudden drops. 12. Remove unused plugins — every inactive plugin is a security risk with zero benefit.

If this feels like a full-time job — that's exactly what WordPress care plans are for.