WordPress Updates: Latest Versions & Plugins
There are a lot of things to love about WordPress websites. Not only are they incredibly versatile, supporting everything from blogs to fully-functional e-commerce stores, but they are cost-effective and easy to use.
One thing a lot of business owners and executives overlook about WordPress, however, is that regular website updates are an important part of the process. Today, we are going to walk you briefly through two tasks or details you definitely shouldn’t ignore…
#1 The “Update” button in your WordPress dashboard
You’ve probably noticed that you’ll be prompted to update WordPress from time to time. And, if you’re like most business people, you probably either shrug when you see those reminders and put those software updates off for another day…or you just click the button and hope for the best.
Before you just click that “Update” button, take a moment to read the recommended steps that WordPress suggests. It can be tempting to simply install whatever is being offered, because you think it will help. Before updating, read the proper steps to take…
All of those steps seem a bit more complex then just clicking the button…don’t you agree?
Here is what WordPress has to say about updating WordPress: https://codex.wordpress.org/Updating_WordPress
Are the updates necessary? Yes!
As bad as it is to update your website without the right precautions, skipping the WordPress website updates altogether can be even worse. That’s because they usually contain important website security and performance improvements you definitely want on your website. The simplest do things like display text and images more cleanly, or help your pages to load faster. The more important updates are actually patches, which are created in response to known security risks.
Most online criminals aren’t using sophisticated tools or methods. They’re looking for websites that aren’t protected with secure passwords, or those that have out-of-date versions of WordPress that are easy to break into.
When websites are hacked, WordPress developers look back to see why an online breach occurred. Then, they make important changes to close those loopholes. By putting off WordPress updates, you’re essentially turning down those online security improvements… and making your website an easy target for hackers and thieves at the same time.
#2 Keep your WordPress plugins updated
Keeping your WordPress Plugins updated is just as important as keeping your WordPress software updated. They both work hand in hand to protect your website from hackers and vulnerabilities.
The developers of these plugins generally update their work whenever WordPress updates to a new version. If the developer that supports your plugin doesn’t update it at least every 3-6 months, you might want to research a new plugin. If it’s our of date and doesn’t support the latest versions, that is a red flag and can reduce the security of your website.
When the plugin is updated, you will receive a notification via email or your dashboard that an update is available, just as WordPress does when there is new version. As often as WordPress or a WordPress Plugin has an update, it’s recommended to do both. If you just update the plugin itself, it might not be compatible with outdated WordPress versions.
Start Getting More From WordPress
There are a lot of wonderful things WordPress can do, and it’s a great platform for building your business website. If you aren’t taking advantage of WordPress website updates – both in the form of new content and security or performance patches – then you aren’t getting the bottom-line value you could be.
WordPress Services
These are services a good web design team can provide for you, and can be valuable if something goes wrong. If you don’t have the time, experience, confidence or knowledge to proceed with the WordPress updates on your own, we can help. We provide complete updates including all plugins and core files. We also backup your website files and databases in the event that you need them. View our WordPress Web Design page for more info.