5 steps to do before updating your WordPress Blog

Updating your WordPress maybe looks like a piece of cake, but with all our luck if anything goes wrong… Aha ha.. Our blog is done. And may cost us more. Since I am playing on WordPress for a couple of years, I have faced some similar risks.

So what I did back then was, I created a check list for WordPress update process, and after that I always go with the check list before doing an update. Since then I haven’t faced any problem. (So far…)

Here is my “Coolest” check list for WordPress update,

1) Is your Blog needs an update?

Most of the time the WordPress releases a new version with some minor changes. It won’t hurt if you spend some minutes in reading what’s new in the newer version.

If  you think you blog doesn’t need it, then leave it. We shall update the blog when the need arises.

2) Keep notes of the current version

Before updating, note down the version of the WordPress version you are currently using, because if you have to restore the blog again you must know the previous version that worked for you.

It’s always good to have the list of the previous versions that your blog ran on.

3) Back up your database

Once you are ready to make an update, back up your database, because the backbone of the WordPress is it’s database and it’s schema.

While updating your WordPress most of the time it makes changes to the database. If anything goes wrong terribly it will be too difficult to repair the database and may cost you a couple of hundreds.

You can read more about backing up your database at  http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Backups

If you are scared of touching your database then Hire a WordPress Professional to the entire job.

4) Backup your Plugins and themes

Some time the plugins and themes that you are using may not compatible with the newer version of WordPress. In that case it may block your WordPress to work in a proper way.

To avoid this worst case scenario, note down the version of the plugins and themes you are using, and if possible have a back up of them.

5) Have a test run

I have a local server installed on my PC, where I run a WordPress testing blog. I always use that blog in my PC for testing new plugins, themes and new versions of WordPress. I only update my real blog if the testing goes well in my testing blog.

You can have a testing blog installed on your PC or in your server which can be used for these kind of testing.

Bonus Tip: Before updating your WordPress read some reviews on the web about the recent version released. It will help you in lot’s of ways.

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