WordPress is open-source software that requires constant updates and development from developers. 43% of websites use WordPress, because of its ease of use and various features. If you’re one of the people who has a WordPress website, you need to take care of it.
There must be various emails in your inbox that ask you to update as and when the new version launches. So, do you blink your eyes away from the notification or act upon this notification? If you fail to update your WordPress, you may face security issues, bugs, and a lack of improvement in the performance of the site.
Let’s discuss this in detail.
Importance of Updating your WordPress Website
Would you like a malfunction in your WordPress website? Understandably no, right? Therefore, you need to keep checking your themes, plugins, and WordPress to look for any updates or warnings. After all, your entire business or portfolio depends on it.
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Your website needs to be secure all the time
One of the most important reasons for your site to be high-functioning is to be secure. As WordPress is one of the popular choices for many websites, various hackers tend to attack them. As established, WordPress is an open source where the codes can be improved by developers. However, this feature can be misused quickly by hackers and it could ruin the performance of your website or even break it.
It is to be assured that whenever a new bug is caught, developers attend to remove it immediately. Besides, data thieves or hackers target older versions of websites or plugins as a priority. So, if you don’t use a new version, you may get caught up in bugs or other security vulnerabilities.
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You would require new features to stay competitive in the market
New features in WordPress keep you ahead of your competitors. When you use new features, you’ll see an improvement in functionality. Thus, it changes the entire experience of the site.
For example, the introduction of the Gutenberg editor helps users create new layouts and designs easily without coding. Moreover, staying updated with new features protects your website from potential threats and security vulnerabilities. Moreover, it promotes better performance, website speed, user experience, and search engine optimization. Thus, eventually, it improves customer engagement, loyalty, and conversion.
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Your website needs to be speedy
The recommended average speed of a website is 3.21 seconds which catches the attention of the user and provides them with a pleasing experience. So, various developers constantly try to make the website work faster. With each update, the new version improves the performance and speed of your website. Besides, good speed helps your website rank on search engines easily and quickly.
Further, it increases customer conversion which generates sales while also lowering the bounce rate. So, with more and more people staying on the internet, it’s necessary to keep your website speedy to let users have an impressive scrolling experience on mobiles. Lastly, a speedy website of course gives you an edge over your competition.
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Updates handle bugs on the website
Sometimes WordPress may slip out even after a rigorous process of security maintenance. You may notice minor releases of WordPress versions with the X.X.X symbol. You should not ignore that. For instance, the 4.2 release had bugs; so the new version 4.2.3 may have fixed 20 of them.
It’s also necessary to pay attention to removing bugs because it frustrates the users with its errorful UX when they visit the website. If the overall usability of your website reduces, then what’s the point of having one, right? Besides, bugs will eat away at your speed or loading time, again causing an inconvenience. Further, they will create various website vulnerabilities – making it easy for hackers to disrupt your website. So, save long-damaged costs, and fix the bugs right away.
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Help with regular website backups
You may delete an important file, make any changes, or do other actions that may impact the storage and access of necessary data. However, by regular or automatic backups you can avoid this and also save data from hackers or crashers. Besides, if you rely on your website for revenue, you can use your backup to move to a previous version and minimise downtime.
Further, if you decide to migrate your website to a server, you can easily restore your website. And if you want to test your plugins or themes before launching your website, you can use backups to have peace of mind regarding data loss.
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Improve your website’s performance
Would you like customers to stay on your website instead of bouncing away from your competitors? If yes, updating your website to a new version ensures that. The competition in the market is a force and you need to be ahead. When your website is secure, you have fixed bugs, updated plugins, new features and have paid attention to the speed, then your website performance will see a boost that will generate pleasing user experiences. Look for recent caching choices, compression techniques, different optimization methods, compatibility with browsers, and the latest plugins to improve your website further.
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Gets better search engine rankings
When you update your website and maintain its security, you will have better chances to rank on search engines. Besides, updating your website with the latest versions and being on par with features adds to the ranking. WordPress Coding Standard helps in improving website performance with new content and mobile-friendly design ranks your site high on any search engines.
Conclusion
Your WordPress website is your Identity !
Hence, it is important to keep your WordPress site updated. As your website is your first impression and you need to maintain your business reputation. Therefore, if you have a WordPress website, don’t miss out on updates. Make sure your website is secure and bug-free. Also, keep using new features and updated plugins to stay ahead of your competition.