Top Reasons Why Updating Your Plugins is a Must
There is no denying that plugins can help improve your website’s performance. In fact, having a WordPress site is reliant on plugins.
It makes things easy considering that you eliminate the need to code in order to get the functionality that you need. But let’s admit that there is a bigger issue that most people ignore when it comes to choosing plugins. A lot of web owners opt to install plugins and just leave them alone after.
Whether you are dealing with paid or free plugins, there is a chance that you are compromising your website’s security and performance if you don’t update your plugins. Keep in mind that plugins were designed to be compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Now, if you install these plugins on different times, you are dealing with a mixed bag of up to date plugins and those that need to be updated.
Why Should You Update Your Plugins?
Compatibility
One of the main reasons why you want to update your plugin is the fact that there is no such thing as lifetime compatibility. There will come a time wherein your plugin simply won’t be compatible with the current times. Keep in mind that WordPress is an ever-changing and evolving ecosystem. And in reality, you will need to update your plugins in order for them to work.
Performance
Now, if you are using an outdated plugin, you can expect issues to arise either sooner or later. Ignoring the updates can give you a good number of headaches invitably. If you disregard plugins’ updates, you will most likely encounter costly problems, or you may even lose a potential customer because your website is running slow or some parts of the site are not working as it should.
Security
One of the most important reasons why you want to update your plugins is because of security concerns. Keep in mind that hackers are also doing their best to exploit websites. It means that they find security vulnerabilities in your plugins.
As developers improve the current version of the plugins, it becomes possible to fight hackers from exploiting data found on your website. They also spot the bugs that give users problems.
Speed
Next, speed is important for a website. In fact, speed has been considered an important factor when it comes to SEO. If your website fails to load within 3 seconds, expect visitors to leave and go towards your competition.
Updating your plugins allow fast loading time on the part of your website. And it means that you can also minimize the bounce rate as well.
When Should I Update My WordPress Plugins?
A lot of people ask when’s the best time to update their WordPress plugin? It’s ideal to make the necessary updates every month. Not only does it lessen the burden, it also prevents unnecessary problems from appearing left and right on your website.
According to a study, the most popular WordPress plugins have a less than 6-month update cycle. It means that if you have a popular plugin, then most likely you will have to follow this update schedule as well. However, just to be sure, it is a good idea that you make it a habit to update monthly.
If you’d like to stop your WordPress site from getting hacked or exploited, please contact the Word of Mouth Agency team today!