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5 Tasks To Do Every Month On Your Clients’ Websites

When you build a website for a client, it’s easy to feel like the hard work is done once the site launches. But anyone who’s managed websites for more than a few weeks knows that’s not the case.

Websites are not a “set it and forget it” asset.

They require consistent care to remain:

  • Secure
  • Fast
  • Accurate
  • Effective

The good news? This ongoing responsibility creates a natural opportunity to offer website care plans — and recurring revenue is always a win for agencies.

But once you’re managing your clients’ sites, what exactly should you be doing every month?

Below are five essential monthly website maintenance tasks every agency should be performing. For high-traffic, eCommerce, or mission-critical sites, many of these should happen bi-weekly or even weekly.

1. Database and Website Backups

Backups are your safety net — and they are non-negotiable.

Whether it’s:

  • A hacked website
  • A failed update
  • Human error
  • A server issue

…having a recent backup can turn a disaster into a minor inconvenience.

What to Back Up

A complete backup includes:

  • The WordPress database
  • Core WordPress files
  • Themes
  • Plugins
  • Media uploads

Backing up only the database or only the files leaves you with half a website.

Verify Your Backups

One mistake agencies make is assuming backups are working just because they’re scheduled.

At least once a month, you should:

  • Confirm backups are completing successfully
  • Verify files are not corrupted
  • Ensure backups are stored off-site (cloud storage, not just the same server)

The worst possible time to discover a broken backup is when you need it most.

2. Plugin, Theme, and WordPress Core Updates

WordPress powers over 40% of the web — which also makes it a frequent target for attacks.

Most hacks happen not because WordPress itself is insecure, but because:

  • Plugins are outdated
  • Themes haven’t been maintained
  • Known vulnerabilities go unpatched

Best Practices for Updates

Before running updates:

  1. Take a full backup
  2. If possible, update on a staging site first
  3. Update:
    • WordPress core
    • Plugins
    • Themes

After updates:

  • Clear caches
  • Check the front-end
  • Test critical functionality (forms, checkout, logins)

Yes, updates take time — but recovering from a hacked or broken site takes much longer.

3. Visual and Functional Inspection

Not all problems show up as errors or warnings.

Sometimes:

  • A layout breaks after an update
  • A font size changes
  • A client accidentally edits a page incorrectly
  • A button stops linking properly

That’s why a monthly visual inspection is essential.

What to Check

At a minimum:

  • Homepage
  • Key landing pages
  • Navigation
  • Forms
  • Footer links

You’re not doing a full redesign — just making sure everything still:

  • Looks right
  • Works as expected
  • Reflects the brand accurately

This step alone can prevent small issues from turning into embarrassing client-facing problems.

4. Malware and Security Scans

Not all hacks are obvious.

A site can be compromised without:

  • Defaced pages
  • Redirects
  • Visible warnings

Hidden malware can:

  • Inject spam links
  • Slow down performance
  • Get a site blacklisted by Google

Monthly Security Checks

Each month, you should:

  • Run a malware scan
  • Check for unauthorized file changes
  • Monitor suspicious login activity

Tools like Sucuri, Wordfence, or server-level security monitoring are solid options.

Pro tip: Security scanning plus backups plus updates is what makes a care plan truly valuable — not just one of these alone.

5. Review Analytics and Search Performance

Your job as your client’s website expert isn’t just to keep the site online — it’s to help it perform better over time.

That means looking at:

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Search Console
  • Traffic trends
  • Top pages
  • Bounce rates
  • Conversion paths

Why This Matters

Analytics help you:

  • Spot content opportunities
  • Identify underperforming pages
  • Understand user behavior
  • Make informed recommendations

When you understand how users interact with the site, you can proactively suggest:

  • Content updates
  • New landing pages
  • Improved calls to action
  • Better navigation structure

This positions you as a strategic partner — not just a technical vendor.

Why These Tasks Support Website Care Plans

Clients often underestimate how much work goes into maintaining a website.

When you clearly explain that monthly care includes:

  • Backups
  • Updates
  • Security
  • Monitoring
  • Performance review

…it becomes much easier for them to understand the value of a care plan.

And when something goes wrong (because eventually, something always does), they’ll be grateful they’re covered.

How Often Should These Tasks Be Done?

  • Low-traffic brochure sites: Monthly
  • Active business sites: Bi-weekly
  • High-traffic or eCommerce sites: Weekly

The more critical the website is to the business, the more frequently these tasks should happen.

Final Thoughts

Websites are living systems.

They require:

  • Maintenance
  • Monitoring
  • Thoughtful improvements

If you’re already managing client websites, these five monthly tasks should be part of your standard process. And if you’re not offering care plans yet, this list is a great place to start building one.

Need Help Managing Client Websites?

If you want help setting up website care plans — or you’d rather outsource maintenance entirely — we can help.

Reach out here to talk about white-label website care and WordPress management.