For many small businesses, launching a new website feels like reaching the finish line — but in reality, it’s the starting point. WordPress websites are powerful and flexible, but without maintenance they can slowly (or suddenly) start to break. When updates fall behind or software conflicts pile up, the result is often the same: errors, downtime, missing customer emails, and lost sales.
The good news? Most of these issues are preventable with consistent support and updates.
The Most Common Reasons WordPress Websites Break
1. Plugin & Theme Updates Have Been Ignored
Over time, outdated plugins and themes stop playing nicely with newer WordPress versions.
This can cause:
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broken layouts
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contact forms that silently fail
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checkout pages that stop processing orders
If your WooCommerce site suddenly stops sending order emails or your cart looks strange, this is often the cause.
2. PHP Versions Change Behind the Scenes
Web hosting companies update PHP — the language WordPress runs on — to improve performance and security.
If your site isn’t prepared, you might see:
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white screens
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broken menus
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plugin errors
You didn’t do anything wrong — the software around your site changed without your site changing with it.
3. Plugins Conflict With Each Other
Every plugin is written by a different developer. When two plugins try to do similar things or use overlapping code, one can override the other — causing unexpected behavior.
Common symptoms:
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image galleries stop loading
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sliders disappear
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form notifications stop sending
4. Security Vulnerabilities Go Unpatched
Hackers target outdated WordPress sites because they’re easier to access.
Even a small vulnerability can lead to:
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unwanted ads or redirect spam
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corrupted files
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email blacklisting (your messages stop reaching inboxes)
Security issues don’t always look dramatic — sometimes they quietly damage your reputation.
5. Hosting Changes Break Functionality
Your hosting provider may update servers, adjust firewalls, or change how email routing works.
Suddenly, your contact form stops sending, even though nothing changed in WordPress.
The Real Cost of Downtime
A broken website affects more than your layout — it affects trust.
Potential consequences:
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customers think you’re out of business
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donations or orders stop coming in
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prospects switch to a competitor
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search rankings decline
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contact messages never reach your inbox
A website is often the first impression — and tech issues can make the wrong one.
How Ongoing Support Keeps Your Website Healthy
Regular updates and monitoring prevent most problems before visitors ever notice them.
With ongoing support, your site gets:
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scheduled plugin, theme, and WordPress updates
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quick fixes when something breaks
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uptime monitoring
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security protection and scanning
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email deliverability oversight
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help when something just feels “off”
And most importantly — someone who knows your site, so problems get solved faster.
“My website is working fine — why pay for support?”
Because things don’t stay fine on their own.
Support is like:
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oil changes for your car
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dental cleanings for your teeth
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maintenance for your house
Skipping them doesn’t cause issues immediately…
but when something goes wrong, the root cause is often lack of maintenance.
If Your Website Feels Slow, Broken, or Out of Date — You’re Not Alone
Many new clients reach out after spending hours troubleshooting on their own. It’s stressful and distracting.
Your time is better spent doing what you do best — not fighting plugins and broken forms.
Let Us Keep Your Website Running Smoothly
If you want peace of mind knowing your WordPress site is up-to-date, functional, and secure, we can help.
We build websites — and we support them long term.
That’s the difference at InTouch Website Design.
Want to see if support makes sense for your business?
I’d be happy to take a quick look at your site and make recommendations — no pressure.