Updating & Backing Up WordPress

  1. Users > Remove Anna
  2. Setting > Site Admin
  3. Google Sitekit
  4. One Click Accessibility
  5. Update PHP is possible (PHP 7 has 2-3 times the performance). If you do this before screenshots, you can see if any pages are negatively affected
  6. Check site health through WP dashboard and address any errors
  7. Add ADA compliance
  8. GA 4 (insert using GA google analytics plugin or code embed)
  9. Enable backups at hosting
  10. Enable malware scanning at hosting
  11. Take some screenshots
  12. make elementor page templates
  13. pro plugins to invoice
  14. Add feature image to home page
  15. Use a backup plugin: Backup WordPress or Updraft work well
  16. Clear Spam, make sure there is an anti-spam plugin OR
  17. Disable Comments
  18. Check to be sure that test and unused pages are unpublished/trashed
  19. Make sure email admin is correct… using your email address ensures that you get troubleshooting emails.
  20. Widget Importer/Exporter
  21. Screenshot of Widget Structure
  22. Save CSS
  23. Activate Platform Account for Updates
  24. Save Pagelines/DMS settings
  25. Dashboard > Tools > Export
  26. Elementor create and export templates from pages https://powerpackelements.com/how-to-save-import-and-export-templates-in-elementor/
  27. Update Footer Link to our site (use keywords — using variations such as web and website and brand — and link to specific page)
  28. Update copyright date
  29. Add basic privacy page to footer
  30. Export form data to CSV and send to client. Clear submissions if applicable.
  31. If using Revolution Slider: Export Sliders
  32. If Essential Grid, export grids
  33. Put up maintenance page
  34. Update all plugins (that do not have customizations applied)
  35. Deactivate all plugins
  36. Update WordPress
  37. Update theme
  38. Activate Plugins
  39. Test Site until functions properly ON MULTIPLE BROWSERS!
  40. Check site on phone, especially navigation!
  41. If site has multi-step forms check those are still functioning
  42. Restore home page
  43. Make a fresh backup
  44. Smush images if not already installed
  45. Disconnect Platform 5 account
  46. Update spreadsheet info
  47. Download backup
  48. Remove extra back-ups from hard drive… keep 2 most recent.
  49. Schedule next maintenance day!
  50. Send follow-up email with notes & suggest SSL if none applied.
  51. Make sure Google Analytics has been set up for https URL & SEARCH CONSOLE!
  52. Add website screenshot to website portfolio!!! 🙂

Special notes or client checklists can be added using WP Dashboard Notes (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-dashboard-notes/). Lets you keep track of updated history, licenses, renewals, or special update situations.