Keeping your WordPress website updated is critical for security, performance, and compatibility. But many website owners ask the same question: Should I do it myself, or leave it to a professional? The answer depends on your comfort level with technology, the complexity of your site, and the potential risks involved.
Why Updates Matter
WordPress regularly releases updates for its core platform, themes, and plugins. These updates can include new features, performance improvements, bug fixes, and—most importantly—security patches. Outdated software can make your site vulnerable to hackers, cause compatibility issues, or even break important functions.
Pros of Updating Your Website Yourself
Cost Savings: Doing your own updates can save money. You don’t need to pay a developer or agency to perform what may seem like a simple task.
Speed: You can perform updates immediately when they become available, without waiting for someone else to schedule the work.
Learning Opportunity: Updating your site yourself helps you better understand how your website works, which can be empowering and useful long-term.
Risks of DIY Updates
Breaking the Site: Some updates can cause your website to malfunction, especially if you use a lot of custom features or older plugins. Without proper technical knowledge, diagnosing and fixing those issues can be difficult.
Plugin Conflicts: Sometimes, updates to one plugin conflict with others or with your theme. This can result in features not working—or your entire site going down.
Data Loss: If you don’t back up your website before updating, you could lose valuable content, settings, or user data. A simple click without preparation can lead to a disaster.
Security Gaps: If an update fails or partially installs, it could create security holes you’re not even aware of.
Best Practices If You Choose to DIY
Backup First: Always perform a full backup of your website (files and database) before running any updates. Tools like UpdraftPlus or your web host’s backup service can help.
Update in Stages: Don’t update everything at once. Start with plugins, then your theme, and finally the WordPress core. Test the site after each step.
Use a Staging Site: A staging environment lets you test updates without affecting your live site. Many hosting providers offer this feature.
Document Any Issues: If something breaks, note what you updated and when. This will help you or a developer troubleshoot later.
When to Call a Professional
If your website is critical for business and downtime costs you money or credibility.
If your site has custom code or complex features like e-commerce, membership systems, or API integrations.
If you’re not confident navigating your website’s backend or handling technical problems.
Conclusion
Updating your WordPress website on your own isn’t necessarily a bad idea—if you understand the risks and follow best practices. For simple blogs or brochure sites, DIY updates might be manageable. But if your website is business-critical or highly customized, it’s often safer to have a professional handle updates. The peace of mind and protection from potential disasters may be well worth the investment.
At Windy City Web Designs, we aim to provide this for our clients by emphasizing creating websites that can achieve our client’s digital marketing goals. Every step of the way, we prioritize brand identity, growth, and profit-inclined actions. Whether it concerns a website redesign or content creation, we ensure our clients have a good online presence. Contact us here to see how to partner with us.