# Website Care and Feeding Checklist

Use this checklist to keep a website healthy after launch.

You do not need to do every task every day. Use the weekly, monthly, quarterly, update, and emergency sections as separate routines.

## Weekly Quick Check

Use this once a week.

- [ ] Homepage loads correctly
- [ ] HTTPS is working
- [ ] Main navigation works
- [ ] Important pages load
- [ ] Contact page works
- [ ] Forms have been tested
- [ ] Notification emails arrive
- [ ] Mobile layout checked
- [ ] Images are loading
- [ ] No obvious broken layout
- [ ] Analytics are still collecting data
- [ ] Any issues are recorded clearly

Notes:

```text
Date checked:
Checked by:
Issues found:
Next action:
```

## Monthly Website Health Check

Use this once a month.

### Content

- [ ] Key information is current
- [ ] Dates are correct
- [ ] Prices are correct
- [ ] Opening hours are correct
- [ ] Contact details are correct
- [ ] Staff or team details are current
- [ ] Old announcements are removed or archived
- [ ] Downloads are current

### Links

- [ ] Internal links work
- [ ] External links work
- [ ] Navigation links work
- [ ] Button links work
- [ ] Footer links work
- [ ] Download links work

### Forms

- [ ] Forms can be submitted
- [ ] Required fields make sense
- [ ] Error messages are clear
- [ ] Success message is clear
- [ ] Notification email arrives
- [ ] Spam protection is working

### Images and Files

- [ ] Images are loading
- [ ] Images are not unnecessarily large
- [ ] Meaningful images have useful alt text
- [ ] Decorative images are handled appropriately
- [ ] PDFs or downloads are current
- [ ] Unused files are reviewed

### SEO

- [ ] Each important page has one clear H1
- [ ] Headings follow a logical order
- [ ] Page titles are descriptive
- [ ] Meta descriptions are useful
- [ ] URLs are readable
- [ ] Internal links support important pages
- [ ] Content matches the page purpose

### Accessibility

- [ ] Text is readable
- [ ] Colour contrast is strong enough
- [ ] Links are recognisable
- [ ] Keyboard focus is visible
- [ ] Pages can be navigated with a keyboard
- [ ] Form labels are clear
- [ ] Motion is not excessive
- [ ] Images have appropriate alt text

### Mobile

- [ ] Important pages work on mobile
- [ ] Navigation is usable
- [ ] Buttons are easy to tap
- [ ] Text is readable
- [ ] Images resize correctly
- [ ] There is no sideways scrolling
- [ ] Forms are usable on mobile

### Performance

- [ ] Key pages load comfortably
- [ ] Images are optimised
- [ ] Unnecessary scripts are reviewed
- [ ] Heavy embeds are reviewed
- [ ] Unused plugins or tools are removed where possible

### Analytics

- [ ] Analytics are collecting data
- [ ] Top pages reviewed
- [ ] Traffic sources reviewed
- [ ] Device types reviewed
- [ ] Search queries reviewed where available
- [ ] Important low-traffic pages identified
- [ ] One improvement chosen

### Backups

- [ ] Repository or file backup exists
- [ ] Database backup exists, if needed
- [ ] Uploads or media are backed up
- [ ] Restore process is documented
- [ ] Access details are current
- [ ] Recent changes are recorded

Notes:

```text
Month:
Checked by:
Key findings:
Issues to fix:
Improvement chosen:
```

## Quarterly Website Review

Use this every three months.

- [ ] Review the site purpose
- [ ] Review the homepage message
- [ ] Review main navigation
- [ ] Review top-performing pages
- [ ] Review underperforming important pages
- [ ] Remove outdated content
- [ ] Refresh stale content
- [ ] Check service or product information
- [ ] Check brand consistency
- [ ] Review accessibility improvements
- [ ] Review SEO opportunities
- [ ] Review analytics trends
- [ ] Review hosting costs
- [ ] Review domain renewal dates
- [ ] Review backup process
- [ ] Review admin access
- [ ] Plan next improvements

Notes:

```text
Quarter:
Main priority:
Content to update:
Pages to improve:
Technical issues:
Next quarter focus:
```

## After Every Major Update

Use this after content, code, plugin, theme, dependency, hosting, DNS, or deployment changes.

- [ ] Homepage loads
- [ ] Navigation works
- [ ] Important pages load
- [ ] Forms tested
- [ ] Mobile layout checked
- [ ] Images checked
- [ ] Console checked for obvious errors
- [ ] Build or deployment logs checked
- [ ] Analytics still working
- [ ] SEO metadata still present
- [ ] Accessibility basics checked
- [ ] Previous version or rollback option confirmed
- [ ] Update notes recorded

Notes:

```text
Date:
What changed:
Who made the change:
Pages tested:
Issues found:
Rollback available:
Next action:
```

## Emergency Checklist

Use this when something appears to be broken.

First, stay calm.

Then check:

- [ ] Is the site down for everyone or just you?
- [ ] Does the site load in another browser?
- [ ] Does the site load on another device?
- [ ] Does the site load on mobile data instead of Wi-Fi?
- [ ] Is the hosting provider reporting an outage?
- [ ] Is the domain active?
- [ ] Has the domain expired?
- [ ] Are DNS records correct?
- [ ] Is the SSL certificate working?
- [ ] Was there a recent deployment?
- [ ] Was there a recent plugin, theme, or dependency update?
- [ ] Was content recently deleted or renamed?
- [ ] Are there build or deployment errors?
- [ ] Is there a previous working version?
- [ ] Can the site be rolled back?
- [ ] Who needs to be notified?

Emergency notes:

```text
Problem noticed:
Date and time:
Reported by:
Affected pages:
Recent changes:
Likely cause:
Action taken:
Resolved by:
Follow-up needed:
```

## Simple Maintenance Schedule

Weekly:

- Run the weekly quick check.
- Record any issues.

Monthly:

- Run the monthly website health check.
- Choose one improvement.

Quarterly:

- Review the site purpose, content, analytics, SEO, accessibility, and maintenance process.

After major updates:

- Test the site before walking away.

Emergency:

- Check hosting, domain, DNS, recent changes, and rollback options.

## Final Reminder

A website does not need constant fussing.

It needs regular care.

Small checks prevent big surprises.