The fact that WordPress is one of the most popular platforms for websites has been mentioned millions of times by many sources, and it’s simply because that’s a very obvious truth backed by such famous and authoritative websites running on WordPress. You might not even believe but even some of the most popular news platforms like The New York Times and the Times magazine are built on WordPress. But why is this so important?

Especially websites having high traffic need reliable platforms to work with, and by saying reliable, we need to accept the word with its comprehensive definition, from the proper work to security which is crucial in our digital world.

However, when it comes to security and safety experiences, only some things are up to WordPress especially when we talk about its optimization. Of course, the system does its best to keep its customers happy but many considerations from the user end must be taken into account. One of them is the constant updates of your website’s theme and plugins. Many people ignore this, especially individuals who have small blogs or startup websites, getting frustrated from the need to make backups all the time before updates, because the website may suffer from some design or functional changes. But the importance of these updates is way bigger than the inconvenience they may come up with.

Keeping finances safe

Maintaining an up-to-date WordPress site is vital, not just for new features, but also to protect your finances and user data. Hackers are after this information. It’s equally important to have clear processes in place for handling a subject rights request, ensuring that users can easily access, rectify, or delete their personal data as required by data protection regulations.

Regular updates fix security weaknesses that attackers could exploit. These updates are like patching holes in a wall to keep out unwanted visitors. In fact, a study found that a whopping 86% of hacked WordPress sites were outdated.

However, updates are just one piece of the security puzzle. More and more website owners are turning to cryptocurrency payments for an extra layer of protection. Online casino platforms, for example, need high security because they handle many financial transactions. Cryptocurrency payments offer their users a more secure and private way to pay.

The integration of crypto payments by online gambling platforms contains an interesting pattern about how businesses should approach constant changes. What we learn from their success, is that digital gambling creates an enormous challenge for those land-based casinos just with their websites and online offers promising more security.

So, while keeping your WordPress site updated is essential, considering alternative payment methods like cryptocurrency can further strengthen your site’s security. The key is to have multiple layers of protection to keep your finances and user trust safe.

Thinking about User Experience

Nobody enjoys a slow and sluggish website, and updating your WordPress themes and plugins also keeps your site running smoothly and efficiently. Each update from developers often includes improvements to the code itself, making it work faster. This translates to quicker loading times and better overall performance for your website. After all, in the online world, speed is king!

Google reports come to prove this statement, telling us that if a webpage takes more than 3 seconds to load, over half (53%) of mobile users will leave. That’s a significant loss of potential visitors in just a few moments! Regularly updating gives your site the best chance of meeting user expectations for speed.

Beyond speed, updates often introduce new features or enhance existing ones. Your theme might gain a neat new layout option, or a plugin might add a feature that simplifies your contact form. These small improvements can significantly improve the experience for your visitors.

Think about it like taking care of your car. It might still run even if you never change the oil or maintain it otherwise, but it won’t run as well and could eventually break down. Regular maintenance (updates in this case) keeps everything functioning smoothly.

Compatibility and Future-Proofing

The internet is constantly changing. New browsers appear devices get updates, and your once-perfect website might start acting strangely on the latest phone. That’s where keeping your themes and plugins updated helps a lot.

Updates often fix compatibility issues with the newest technology. I like saying figuratively that in this way,  websites learn new languages to speak fluently with all the latest devices. Without these updates, parts of your site might break or look strange on newer phones or browsers.

Here’s a surprising fact: There are over 8.9 billion mobile connections worldwide (as of 2023)! That’s more than the number of people! Each device might use different browsers or operating systems. Keeping your site updated ensures it looks good and works well for everyone.

Regular updates help your site stay up-to-date in the current day but also prepare it for the future. They keep you on track with the latest web standards and practices. In other words, keeping your themes and plugins updated helps your digital product, avoids compatibility problems, and prepares it for whatever new things appear online. So next time you see an update notification, don’t ignore it!