Website Hygiene: Keeping Your Site Clean and Efficient

Think of your website like a digital house—if you don’t clean up regularly, things start to pile up, slow down, and before you know it, your visitors are tripping over outdated plugins and oversized images. Poor website hygiene isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a direct route to sluggish load times, security vulnerabilities, and Google giving you the silent treatment. Also, websites with years of old, unused data are a needless waste of electricity and therefore contribute to cyber pollution. But fear not! With a bit of routine maintenance, you can keep your website looking sharp, running efficiently, and ranking better on search engines.

1 Update or Remove WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins are fantastic for adding functionality to your site, but they can also become a liability if not managed properly. Outdated plugins can introduce security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, slow page loading, and general user frustration. It’s essential to regularly update your plugins to the latest versions to patch security flaws and improve performance. Additionally, if you have plugins that are no longer in use, remove them entirely. Keeping inactive plugins on your site increases the risk of security threats and unnecessary clutter in your dashboard.

2 Optimize Website Videos

Videos can be a great way to engage users, but if not optimized, they can slow down your website significantly. Instead of uploading large video files directly to your site, host them on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo and embed them instead. Use lazy loading to defer video loading until the user scrolls to them, reducing initial page load times. Additionally, ensure your videos are compressed and use modern formats like MP4 for better performance.

3 Delete Unused Images and Files

Over time, your website accumulates a significant number of images, documents, and other uploaded files, many of which are no longer in use. These unused files take up valuable storage space, slow down site performance, and can make backups larger than necessary. Conduct a regular audit of your media library and remove any images or documents that are not linked from any active pages. This keeps your website lean, fast, and easy to manage. Also – if you’ve been displaying the same images on your prominent pages for more than a few months, chances are your audience is eager for something new. Keep that content fresh and inviting!

4 Resize Images Before Uploading

One of the biggest culprits behind slow-loading websites is oversized images. Uploading large, unoptimized images can drastically increase page load times, negatively impacting user experience and SEO. Before uploading an image, resize it to the exact dimensions required by your website layout. This simple website hygiene tactic reduces server load and ensures that visitors can browse your site without frustrating delays.

5 Use Proper Image Formats

Choosing the right image format can significantly improve your website’s performance. For high-quality photos, opt for compressed .jpg or .webp files, as they strike a balance between quality and file size. For icons and logos, use .svg format whenever possible, as it provides crisp visuals while keeping file sizes small. Using the appropriate format ensures your website remains visually appealing without compromising on speed.

6 SEO Best Practices

A well-optimized website doesn’t just look good—it performs well in search engine rankings. Proper SEO hygiene includes several key factors:

• Word Count: Search engines favor well-structured content with an optimal word count. Aim for at least 300 words per page to provide valuable information while maintaining readability.
• Meta Titles and Descriptions: Every page should have a unique, keyword-rich meta title and description to improve search visibility.
• Backlinks: Regularly audit your site’s backlinks to ensure you are linking to reputable sources and fixing broken links.
• Headings and Subheadings: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags appropriately to structure content clearly for both users and search engines.
• Alt Tags for Images: Always add descriptive alt tags to images for better accessibility and SEO benefits.

7 Ensure Mobile Optimization

A mobile-friendly website isn’t optional anymore—most users browse on their phones, and Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing. Ensure your site is responsive, meaning it adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes. Test on multiple devices, optimize images for mobile, and avoid elements that slow down load times. A well-optimized mobile experience keeps users engaged and prevents them from bouncing to a competitor’s site.

8 Minimize HTTP Requests

Every element on your webpage—images, stylesheets, scripts—requires an HTTP request to load. The more requests your site makes, the slower it gets. Minimize these by combining CSS and JavaScript files where possible, using inline SVGs instead of separate icon files, and limiting the use of third-party scripts. Reducing the number of requests keeps your site lean and loading quickly, ensuring a smooth user experience.

9 Enable Caching

Caching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve site speed and promote website hygiene. By enabling browser caching and using a caching plugin, you allow visitors to store static files (like images, CSS, and JavaScript) in their browser for faster loading on return visits. This reduces the load on your server and significantly improves page performance, making your website feel much snappier.

10 Audit Your Content

Websites aren’t just about performance—they also need relevant, up-to-date content. Regularly audit your blog posts, landing pages, and product descriptions to remove outdated information and improve readability. Update statistics, refresh images, and optimize keywords to keep your content fresh and valuable for visitors. A well-maintained content strategy ensures that your website remains authoritative and engaging.

Grab your digital mop and broom!

In short, website hygiene is like flossing—you might not always think about it, but ignoring it for too long will eventually lead to disaster. Regular updates, decluttering, and optimization aren’t just for the obsessive among us; they’re essential for keeping your site running smoothly, safely, and ranking well on search engines. A little routine maintenance goes a long way in providing a smooth user experience and keeping your site at its best. So, roll up your sleeves, clean up that digital mess, and give your website the fresh start it deserves—your users (and Google) will thank you.

If you’re not sure where to begin, let’s talk about a website audit! We also offer varying plans for ongoing website maintenance.