Most businesses don’t realize how important consistent wordpress updates and backups are until something breaks. This guide explains why updates and backups matter, what happens when you skip them, and how to protect your website long-term.
This guide covers:
✔️ Why updates and backups are essential
✔️ What happens when you skip them
✔️ What’s included in a professional service
✔️ DIY steps (and when NOT to DIY)
✔️ Costs in 2025
✔️ How to keep your WordPress site safe
Why wordpress updates and backups matter in 2025
WordPress powers 43% of the internet, which makes it one of the biggest targets for:
- malware
- bots
- hackers
- plugin vulnerabilities
- theme exploits
Skipping updates increases your risk of:
- site crashes
- slow performance
- broken contact forms
- plugin conflicts
- checkout failures
- SEO ranking drops
- security breaches
Google also lowers rankings for outdated websites. A site without reliable wordpress updates and backups becomes slow, unstable, and unreliable.
How our WordPress Updates and Backups Service Protects Your Site
A backup is the only safety net your website has. Without proper backups, you cannot recover from:
❌ Updates that break your layout
❌ Plugin conflicts
❌ Malware infections
❌ Hosting failures
❌ Accidental deletions
A proper service must include:
H3: WordPress Updates and Backups Essentials
- WordPress core updates
- Plugin updates (tested for safety)
- Theme updates
- Daily automated backups
- Off-site storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3)
- Monthly backup restoration testing
- Security monitoring
- Uptime monitoring
- Rollback support
- Performance checks
This combination prevents 99% of website disasters.
WordPress Updates and Backups Service Cost (2025)
| Service Type | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | $0–$20 | Hobby or personal sites |
| Freelancer | $50–$200 | Simple business sites |
| Agency | $175–$450 | Lead-driven + SEO-driven businesses |
Agency-level care gives the highest ROI because it includes testing, monitoring, and true protection.
Real Example from The Clay Media
A Newport Beach salon contacted us with:
“We updated a plugin and now the entire site is broken.”
Their backup plugin had failed for months, leaving no restore point.
We restored an older version, rebuilt the damaged sections, and set up:
✔ daily automated backups
✔ monthly update cycles
✔ security monitoring
Since then, they’ve had zero downtime.
DIY Steps for WordPress Updates and Backups
You can try this yourself if you’re comfortable with risk.
H3: DIY wordpress updates and backups checklist
- Run tests:
https://pagespeed.web.dev
https://gtmetrix.com - Set up backups (UpdraftPlus, Jetpack Backup, BlogVault)
- Store backups on Drive, Dropbox, or S3
- Update WordPress core
- Update your theme
- Update plugins carefully
- Test forms, menus, homepages, and mobile layouts
- Monitor for breakage and restore if needed
If something breaks → stop and restore a backup immediately.
Website Maintenance Cost for Small Business (2025 Guide)
https://theclaymedia.com/website-maintenance-cost-for-small-business-2025/
When You Should NOT DIY This
Hire a professional if:
- your website generates leads
- SEO rankings matter
- you use Elementor, Divi, or WooCommerce
- updates often break things
- hosting is older than 2 years
- you have 20+ plugins
- you don’t have reliable backups
One broken update can cost thousands in lost revenue.
Who Should Maintain Your Website
https://theclaymedia.com/website-maintenance-guide/
FAQ: WordPress Updates and Backups Service
How often should updates be done?
Weekly is ideal. Monthly is the minimum.
Do updates affect SEO?
Yes — outdated sites drop in rankings.
How long does a full update cycle take?
1–3 hours depending on the website.
Can outdated plugins slow my site?
Absolutely.
Monthly Website Update Cost Guide
https://theclaymedia.com/monthly-website-update-cost-2025/
Get Your FREE WordPress Updates & Backups Audit
Your audit includes:
✔ Speed test
✔ Security scan
✔ Plugin review
✔ Backup verification
✔ Update conflict review
✔ Full optimization plan
👉 https://theclaymedia.com/contact/
Contact The Clay Media
📞 949-444-2001
📧 Team@theclaymedia.com
📍 Orange County, CA
We’ve managed 400+ websites since 2014 — your site is safe with us.
