A website needs small, regular checks: updates and backups, working forms, renewal dates, current information and speed. This checklist splits them into weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly tasks. The frequencies are sensible starting points, not rules. Your site may need more or less.
Weekly
Quick look.
Monthly
Updates and tests.
Quarterly
Speed and content.
Yearly
Renewals and review.
Weekly (5 minutes)
- Open the site on a phone. Does it load and look right?
- Check for new enquiries and any error messages.
- Look at your website's email inbox for warnings from your host.
Monthly (20 minutes)
- Install updates to the website software, themes and plug-ins, after taking a backup.
- Send a test message through the contact form.
- Click every phone, WhatsApp and email link.
- Check the backup exists and note its date.
- Review user accounts. Remove anyone who no longer needs access.
Quarterly (1 hour)
- Check page speed on mobile data. See loading speed.
- Read every page for old prices, hours, team members or offers.
- Search for your business and main service in your town. Note what appears.
- Test restoring a backup, or ask your host to confirm it can be restored.
- Check for broken links.
Yearly
- Renew the domain and hosting, and confirm the renewal prices.
- Check the certificate renewed. See what is HTTPS.
- Change important passwords and check two-step sign-in.
- Review whether the site still meets business goals. See the planning worksheet.
- Update the handover record of accounts.
When to ask for help
- A browser warning appears on your site.
- The site is slow or pages are missing.
- Forms stop working.
- You cannot log in.
- An update breaks the layout.
See why websites need maintenance for the reasoning behind each task.
Common questions
How often should I check my website?
A quick weekly look and a fuller monthly routine suit most small sites.
What if I cannot do the updates myself?
Ask your developer or host, or consider a care plan so someone else does them.
Do I need to back up before every update?
Yes, it is a good habit. If an update breaks something, you can go back.
Can I share this checklist with staff?
Yes. Give one person responsibility for each task so nothing is assumed.
Are these times exact?
No. They are starting points. A larger or busier site needs more.
Need help with this?
Optional. You do not need any ADA service to use what you have just read.
- Website care plans
We do these checks for you. - Slow website
If speed has slipped.