WordPress (WP) is undoubtedly the most popular platform used by 25% of websites across the globe ensuring seamless content management for continuing an online presence over the internet. Being a Content Management System (CMS), it makes it convenient to manage the website without the working knowledge of CSS or HTML.
An updated website is helpful in attracting customers and engaging them in your services. The latest insightful content with regular updates of the Website’s WordPress version is what ensures the live site is steady and ahead in Google searches getting in more traffic to the website.
WordPress continues to be a popular open-source application which is tried and tested but is prone to vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are reportedly eliminated with each newer version of WordPress. Thus, It is certain to update the WordPress website on a regular basis.
How to know if a newer version is available?
The dashboard of your website will indicate the latest version availability.
What benefits does an updated version of WordPress offer?
With a live and working website, it is often neglected to update the WordPress version. However, the latest updates are better version with patches correcting the loopholes in coding present in previous versions. Updating to latest version of WordPress helps in preventing hackers and spammers from getting your website’s access. Following are some of the essential reasons for getting a WordPress update done as one of your checklist item for new year’s to-do list:
1. Data integrity and Security
Site Content and customer information encompasses to be the crucial for website owners. The security loopholes present in previous versions are detected and removed protecting the websites from getting hacked or user information to be stolen. Content deletion and user data corruption can result due to coding loopholes. A WordPress update will ensure that the security of the website is maintained reducing the chances of the website getting hacked or the data to be corrupted.
2. Newer version are packed with more features
Latest WordPress versions are loaded with newer themes and features which are part of the WordPress product improvement process. WordPress focuses on being light weight, packed with features and focused on security enhancement of the platform turning it into a highly rich CMS platform. Also,many plugins are available for the functionalities desired and can be installed easily into the website. To install these plugins and avoid conflict while integration, we have to make sure that the WordPress update is done. It is advisable to take a website back up to avoid conflict.
3. Speeds up the website and optimizes its performance
The website speed determines the lead conversion of the traffic directed to the website. If the user experiences lags while loading the webpages, the users are demotivated to explore further on the website. Speed plays a critical role in highlighting your website higher on SERPs. An optimized and updated website ranks better on the google search and is able to engage the customers for more time generating more sales.
4. Bug fixes for previous versions
Bugs or errors hamper the site’s functionality confusing the customers and creating a bad image for the business as well. Updating WordPress ensures that the issues reported in older versions are resolved in newer versions and need not to be faced anymore.
5. WordPress Community is well documented
WordPress community is very well organized and documents the answers to most of the queries asked by the users. People try to update the WordPress site by themselves and then are not able enough to get it right. A website down for longer duration impacts brand image and Google rankings. WordPress community can be handy for getting answers for the issues related to the site update as well.
Before attempting WordPress site update, it is advised to back-up entire site and database so as to avoid any data loss. Getting a professional help from Alinga will ensure that the website is secured with successful WordPress updation.
