As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to give your website some much-needed attention. With Concrete CMS, you have all the tools necessary to perform a thorough cleanup. Whether it’s optimizing performance, decluttering outdated content, or preparing for the future, these steps will help you get your site ready for success in the coming year.
Backup Before You Begin
Before making any significant changes to your website, creating a full backup is essential. This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the cleanup or optimization process.
One straightforward way to back up your Concrete CMS database is by using cPanel and phpMyAdmin. Here’s a step-by-step guide to backup your website.
1. Optimize Your Site’s Performance
A fast and smooth website enhances user experience and improves SEO. Concrete CMS offers several tools to help you achieve peak performance.
Clear the Cache: Cached data speeds up your site but can also accumulate unnecessary clutter.
Steps: Navigate to System & Settings > Optimization > Clear Cache and remove outdated cache files to ensure the latest updates are displayed.
Run Optimization Tasks: Regularly running optimization tasks helps streamline your database and improve performance. Access them via Dashboard > System & Settings > Automation > Tasks. Key tasks include:
- Clean Up Temporary Files: Removes outdated session files and temporary data.
- Remove Old Page Versions: Deletes all but the 10 most recent versions of each page.
- Database Optimization: Rebuilds indices and optimizes database tables for faster queries.
- Rescan Files: Recomputes attributes and regenerates thumbnails for files.
- Generate Sitemap: Creates or updates your site’s
sitemap.xmlfor search engines. - Reindex Content: Updates search indexing for pages, files, users, and Express objects.
For detailed instructions, visit the Concrete CMS Task Guide.
2. Manage Updates
Keeping your CMS, add-ons, and themes updated is crucial for security and functionality.
Check for Core Updates: Visit System & Settings > Update Concrete CMS to ensure your site runs the latest version, benefiting from security patches and new features.
Update Add-Ons and Themes: Outdated add-ons can create vulnerabilities. Go to Extend Concrete > Add-Ons or Themes to check for and apply updates.
For detailed guidance, explore the Concrete CMS Update Guide.
3. Declutter Your Website
Over time, websites collect unused files, outdated pages, and inactive users. Cleaning them up improves both performance and organization.
Remove Unused Pages: Go to the Pages section in your dashboard to delete outdated or irrelevant pages.
Manage Files: Visit the File Manager and delete files that are no longer needed. Pro Tip: Sort files by size and review usage to identify large, unused assets.
Audit User Accounts: Navigate to System & Settings > Users to remove inactive or unnecessary accounts.
4. Plan for the Future
A clean site provides a strong foundation for your next steps.
Create a Content Calendar: Use analytics insights to schedule blog posts, campaigns, and updates for the first quarter.
Set New Objectives: Identify key goals, such as increasing traffic, enhancing user engagement, or streamlining workflows, to guide your strategy for the new year.
Why It’s Worth It
An optimized website isn’t just faster—it’s more secure, user-friendly, and ready to support your growth. Concrete CMS makes it easy to handle routine maintenance and tackle big projects with confidence.
By taking time to clean up now, you’ll start the new year with a site that’s efficient, secure, and future-ready. Start your cleanup today, and your visitors (and your bottom line) will thank you!