Basic steps for keeping your WordPress website tidy. This presentation is for beginner-level WordPress users and focuses on your to-do list for running standard maintenance tasks from the WordPress dashboard

1. D'nelle Dowis
Berry Interesting Productions, Inc.
WordPress customization & development
Security
&
Sanitation

2. Understanding WordPress
Why does my WordPress site require maintenance?
● WordPress isn't just a website; it's a web
application
● "The Internet" has a bajillion moving
parts - servers, PCs, operating systems,
browsers, programming languages
● WordPress adapts to the ever-changing
internet on a regular basis
● The content of your site (ideally)
changes on a regular basis
● Hackers gonna hack

3. Logging in
Where's that screen again?
www.yoursite.com/wp-admin
bookmark it!

4. Hiding your progress
Just like that flimsy curtain in a doctor's office
● Allows you privacy while you work
● Makes sure no users experience
intermittent availability
● Lets you check your work

5. Malware check
Why bother doing anything else if the site's infected?
Backup Buddy
Sucuri
Quttera
#wcn13ohmy

6. Backup, Backup, Backup!
Or you are practically guaranteed to break something. Thanks, Murphy's Law.
● Hacking recovery
● Server malfunction recovery
● User-error recovery
● Plug-in update changes
● What to do about off-site storage?

7. Core, theme & plug-in updates
The best way to totally freak yourself out for no good reason
● stay in touch with your plug-in
developers
● identify any plug-ins that aren't in
use & delete them
● run updates - one at a time
● reading the changelog
● check your site after each update

8. Audit your posts & pages
● Clean up comments: approve or mark as spam
● Delete old drafts & unused pages
● Authorship check
● Quick SEO audit
If it's not actively supporting your goals, ditch it

9. User check & password change
● Check for spam
● Delete where
possible/necessary
● Change all Administrator-level
passwords
● Keep number of
administrators to a minimum
Hospitality is not a virtue

10. Resources
...you didn't think I did this all on my own did you?
● Berry-Interesting.com
● iThemes.com
● Backup Buddy
● Sucuri
● Codex.wordpress.org
● Want to know even more? Check out this awesome, in-depth
presentation from Judy Wilson of SiteShack: slidesha.re/10cb9yJ
● Find this presentation on Slideshare: slidesha.re/14q5HIa

11. D'nelle Dowis
chief distiller of awesomesauce
Berry Interesting Productions, Inc.
WordPress customization &
development
@d_nelle • facebook.com/berry.interesting • 615-825-5608
want a copy of this presentation?
shoot an email over to me at
hello@berry-interesting.com