Happy New Year! As you may have heard, WordPress released a major update in December. We usually recommend waiting at least a month to let any glitches or bugs get ironed so now it is time to upgrade!
Why is it important to upgrade?
- Increased Security– prevent your site from being compromised by hackers and viruses. A little prevention goes a long way and will save you a lot of time (and money) trying to restore your site if it has problems.
- Access to New Features – a much improved image gallery in this version in particular as well as a streamlined admin panel and a new default theme.
- Improved Website Performance – Technical improvements make WordPress faster and more reliable.
How do I upgrade?
You can do these upgrades yourself but keep in mind a word of caution: As with any software upgrade, there can be conflicts with your existing site. So make sure you ALWAYS backup your website and know how to restore it if something goes wrong.
3 Areas That Will Need Updating:
- WordPress
The core software can be updated through the WordPress “Updates” menu. ALWAYS back up your website before updating software. You also should check to make sure your hosting account is compatible with the latest version of WordPress: http://wordpress.org/about/requirements/ - Plugins
These are smaller programs that can be added to WordPress to add features to your site (anything from a simple email newsletter signup to a complex membership management program). Plugins can also be updated through the WordPress “Updates” menu as well. Make sure to check to see if the Plugin is compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Links to more information on the Plugins can be found by click on the “Visit plugin site” on the “Plugins Page” under the Plugin name. - Theme
The theme control the design of your website. Many theme creators will update their themes to be compatible with the latest version of WordPress to take advantage of the improved features and performance. Some theme allow automatic updating but for most you will have to contact the person or company that created your theme for more information.
Are there improvements or edits that you’ve been wanting to make to the site?
If so, this is the perfect time to get them done. Bundling updates and site improvements saves money over doing them separately.
Ready to update?
Click here to fill out the WordPress Website Update form or give us a call at 858-220-7478.