Deep-dive WordPress & WooCommerce website audits for speed, security, and success

This checklist outlines the comprehensive WordPress and WooCommerce audit and documentation process we conduct when onboarding a website to a monthly maintenance plan with WPVille. Our team ensures your website remains optimized, secure, and up to date. We continuously update our records and provide you with actionable insights and recommendations.

Our process requires minimal input from you. We handle most tasks independently and will only reach out if additional access or clarification is needed.

1. Website Setup and System Integration

Upon successful subscription, we connect your WordPress or WooCommerce website to our internal client management system. This serves as the central hub for communication, backup management, data storage, and website documentation. Our first step is to establish secure access and configure reliable backups before making any changes.

• Full Backup Implementation

  • File backup: Incremental backups are taken at least twice daily. We prefer SSH/SFTP but can use FTP if SSH credentials are unavailable.

  • Database backup: Remote database dumps are scheduled twice daily, which may require whitelisting our external IPs.

• Data Collection

  • Identify the current web host.

  • Determine the website’s software stack (WordPress, WooCommerce versions).

  • Verify the DNS provider.

  • Identify the domain registrar.

  • Confirm the SSL certificate provider.

  • Identify the email provider (if applicable).

  • Check for additional website components (e.g., subdomains or separate sections not managed by WPVille).

  • Identify alias domains.

2. Hosting Options Assessment

If you choose to host your website with WPVille, we coordinate a seamless WordPress migration and provide a preview URL for validation. Our hosting plans include SSL certificates by default. Additionally, we manage your domain and DNS transitions as needed.

If you prefer to retain your existing hosting provider, we verify the following:

• Determine if an SSL certificate is in place and provide recommendations if one is missing or if cost savings are possible.

• Verify access for remote files and MySQL backups.

• Identify server management responsibilities and confirm if the hosting environment is shared.

• Check the hosting provider’s status page for service reliability.

• Assess supported software versions (PHP, MySQL, etc.).

• Determine whether other websites share the hosting environment and assess potential security implications.

3. Initial Site Error Identification

At this stage, we assess your website for immediate technical issues and document necessary fixes.

• Review any known or urgent issues reported by the client.

• Inspect for visible website errors.

• Enable debug logs to identify hidden issues.

• Review server error logs.

• Examine browser console errors and network requests.

• Check for mixed content errors.

• Verify WooCommerce checkout functionality.

• Conduct a basic mobile compatibility review.

• Identify potential SEO issues or Google Search warnings.

4. Security Audit

Security is a core component of WPVille’s WordPress maintenance services. Our initial audit ensures your website is secure and free from vulnerabilities.

• Perform a comprehensive malware scan and address any identified threats.

• Identify and update vulnerable plugins or software components.

• Review file permissions and .htaccess configurations.

• Identify unnecessary admin, FTP, and database users.

• Assess database configuration file security (e.g., wp-config.php permissions).

• Check for outdated admin tools (e.g., old versions of Adminer.php).

• Evaluate existing security plugins (e.g., Wordfence, Cerber) and recommend enhancements if necessary.

5. Data Cleanup

Our goal is to remove outdated or redundant data that could pose security risks or cause inefficiencies.

• Identify and remove obsolete or duplicate plugins.

• Delete inactive themes and unnecessary host-specific modifications.

• Eliminate outdated backup files (WPVille maintains its own secure backups).

• Remove temporary cache files and scan for large, unnecessary files.

6. Website Functionality Documentation

Detailed documentation of the website’s functionality helps us provide better WordPress support and streamline future updates.

• Core Functionalities

  • Define the website’s primary purpose and key features.

  • List active plugins and their roles.

  • Identify custom-built elements versus third-party plugin implementations.

  • Record development history, including the original developer (if available).

• E-Commerce-Specific Documentation

  • Identify the WooCommerce platform and payment processors.

  • Verify IP allowlisting requirements.

  • Determine if the theme or plugins have been customized, potentially affecting updates.

  • Check for dependency on specific PHP versions or server environments.

  • Review the use of child themes or modifications to core themes.

  • Identify known plugin conflicts or multiple page builders in use.

7. Contact Forms and Integrations

We ensure all third-party integrations are functioning correctly and compliant with industry standards.

• External Integrations

  • Identify CRM, mailing software, or social media connections.

• Email Configuration & Security

  • Verify contact form email delivery method (PHP mail, SMTP, or external provider).

  • Enable email logging if necessary.

  • Confirm ReCAPTCHA implementation.

  • Ensure compliance with GDPR if cookies are stored.

8. Software Updates

Keeping software up to date is essential for security and performance. We implement updates in a structured manner.

Update Management

• Update all plugins, themes, and core WordPress files.

• Stage updates in a testing environment when risks exist.

• Identify unlicensed plugins that may hinder updates and assess alternatives.

9. Performance Optimization

We conduct a performance review and optimize your website to enhance speed and efficiency.

Caching & Optimization

• Assess existing caching mechanisms.

• Verify if the hosting provider offers built-in caching.

• Identify potential conflicts affecting performance.

• Enable expires headers where applicable.

• Minify and compress CSS and JavaScript files.

• Use GTMetrix and Pingdom to identify performance bottlenecks.

• Optimize images and fix broken link structures.

10. Monitoring and Ongoing Maintenance

Your website is added to WPVille’s 24/7 monitoring system, ensuring prompt alerts for any disruptions.

Monitoring Configuration

• Identify critical pages for uptime monitoring.

• Define escalation procedures for domain or registrar-related issues.

• Establish preferred update frequency (urgent patches immediately; minor updates weekly or fortnightly).

• Document planned features, redesigns, or third-party developments to provide proactive support.

By following this structured audit process, WPVille ensures your WordPress or WooCommerce website remains secure, optimized, and well-maintained. We proactively monitor, update, and enhance your website’s performance while keeping you informed of key findings and recommendations.