The holiday season is a time of increased activity for many businesses, especially online. With sales, promotions, and an influx of visitors, a smoothly running website is crucial. Yet, every year, countless websites face unexpected downtime caused by automatic WordPress updates. For local businesses, relying on WordPress website maintenance services in Perth can help ensure your site stays operational during peak periods like the holiday season.
While WordPress auto-updates are designed to enhance security and functionality, they can sometimes lead to compatibility issues, creating challenges at the worst possible time. Here’s how you can proactively manage your website’s updates to ensure a stress-free holiday season.
Understanding WordPress Auto-Updates
WordPress auto-updates primarily impact three areas:
- Core Software:
Updates to the WordPress core often include security patches, bug fixes, and new features. - Plugins:
These updates address vulnerabilities, add new functionality, or improve compatibility with the WordPress core. - Themes:
Updating themes ensures they stay aligned with core software and plugins, preventing design and functionality conflicts.
Each update, while essential, carries the potential risk of breaking your website due to compatibility issues between components.
Why Auto-Updates Can Be Risky During Peak Times
During the holiday season, quick access to technical support might be limited due to high demand or holiday closures. If your website breaks because of an auto-update, resolving the issue can take longer than usual. This downtime can lead to lost sales, decreased customer trust, and frustration.
How to Disable WordPress Auto-Updates Temporarily
To avoid disruptions, consider temporarily disabling auto-updates during critical business periods. This doesn’t mean neglecting updates altogether; instead, it allows you to take control of when updates are applied. Here’s how:
- Access your WordPress dashboard.
- Install and activate the “Easy Updates Manager” plugin.
- Once activated, go to the plugin settings.
- Use the interface to disable auto-updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.
This approach centralises update management in one plugin, simplifying the process and reducing the likelihood of errors.
Steps to Take Before Making Changes
Before you adjust any update settings, document your current configurations. Take screenshots or notes detailing what auto-updates are enabled. This makes it easier to restore your settings after the holiday season.
Additionally, back up your website. Use tools like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack to create a full backup, ensuring you have a safety net if something goes wrong.
How Auto-Updates Impact SEO and Performance
Unexpected downtime caused by auto-updates can hurt your website’s SEO and overall performance. Search engines may penaliz\se sites that experience extended downtime, lowering their rankings and visibility. Additionally, slow or malfunctioning pages can lead to a poor user experience, increasing bounce rates and reducing conversions.
To protect your SEO during high-traffic periods, ensure your site remains stable and operational by managing updates effectively. Proactively addressing potential issues safeguards your site’s reputation and performance.
Holiday-Specific Traffic Challenges
Holiday seasons often bring a surge in website traffic. While this is great for business, it also means that any downtime or technical issues are magnified. High traffic can strain your servers, and if an auto-update causes problems, you may face longer recovery times due to increased demands on hosting and support services.
Preparing your site for this influx includes not only managing updates but also optimizing server performance and ensuring scalability. A well-maintained website can handle these challenges seamlessly, allowing you to capitalise on the increased traffic.
Keeping Your Website Stable During Critical Periods
By taking proactive steps to manage WordPress updates, you can ensure your website remains stable and functional during the holiday season. Disabling auto-updates temporarily, testing updates thoroughly, and backing up your site are key strategies to avoid downtime and keep your business running smoothly.
Don’t let unforeseen issues disrupt your operations during the most important time of the year. With the right precautions, you can focus on growing your business and providing excellent service to your customers.
Author Bio
Adrian Ioppolo is the Director of Perth IT Care, a company dedicated to providing shared IT and web support for small businesses. They specialize in fixing hacked websites and implementing robust security measures to ensure businesses remain safe and online. Perth IT Care is committed to delivering top-notch services that enable businesses to thrive in a secure digital environment.
