Essential December Blog Housekeeping to Keep Your Site Safe and Functional!

Over the past few years, I’ve published a post around this time of year outlining some jobs all bloggers can do to ensure their blog not only looks good but also functions correctly.

If you’re interested in what some of those crucial jobs are, my post from this time last year, ‘7 Essential, Easy Ways to Help You Blog Through December‘ gives full details.

One thing bloggers who never do any blog housekeeping refuse to believe is that many problems on their blogs originate from a lack of maintenance. They’ll blame WordPress, instead of themselves. Continuing to use an outdated theme can also cause issues and create a security risk.

One job all bloggers are recommended to do

One important task I am currently working on in the housekeeping aspect of my blog is reviewing posts and removing any images that I cannot be certain are entirely free to use. But why am I doing this?

If you have read my recent posts, ‘Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts‘ and ‘The Latest Blogging and Publishing Scams You Need to Be Aware Of Now‘, you’ll understand why.

The comments sections of both posts offer interesting reading, so I recommend taking a look.

I’m a personal blogger, so this won’t affect me!

Wrong! Just because you are a personal blogger, don’t think you are exempt from being fined for copyright infringement. Downloading and using copyrighted images, photos, song lyrics, and some GIFs in your blog posts is illegal; therefore, nobody should encourage bloggers to download or publish any copyrighted material.

Most of the images I deleted are from flash fiction challenges I used to participate in. However, I have also found some images in other posts where I either failed to give proper attribution to the source or used images from the host blogger that I could not guarantee were free to use when taking part in their link-up.

And don’t forget to delete those images and photos from your media library, too. Not only are they proof that you downloaded them illegally, but deleting them will free up valuable storage space.

Unless you are completely certain that images, photos, song lyrics and GIFs are not copyrighted and free to use, avoid using them. Sure, you might get away with it, but why risk a hefty fine?

Back to why December is the ideal time for some blog housekeeping

I’ve already had the pleasure of seeing bloggers bid farewell to their blogs and followers for the festive season, joyfully extending warm wishes to their readers for a Merry Christmas while eagerly expressing their intention to return promptly in the New Year.

An image of a festive sign that says 'back in 2026
Image created using the WordPress AI image generator.

Some have published their final posts of 2025, while others have happily shared their anticipated dates for a well-earned blogging break.

And who can blame them? Blogging is enjoyable, but all bloggers need a break from the blogging world. I’m taking a blogging break during the last few weeks of December.

For those who do not celebrate Christmas, December still provides a valuable opportunity to focus on blog maintenance and security. This can include reviewing and updating posts, auditing existing content for accuracy and relevance, fixing broken links, and improving website speed and SEO.

Furthermore, it’s an excellent time to review your blog’s design and user experience, making necessary adjustments to improve accessibility and engagement. By investing time in these areas, bloggers can keep a polished, secure platform ready to impress their audience in the upcoming year.

As December rolls in and its days dwindle, you’ll probably witness how much of the blogging world falls into a hush. So why let your blog languish in neglect? This is your golden opportunity to roll up your sleeves and give it the fierce love and attention it deserves, ensuring it runs flawlessly for another year.

Let’s wrap it up!

  • At least once a year, focus on housekeeping tasks to enhance your blog’s appearance and functionality.
  • Many blog issues stem from a lack of maintenance; outdated themes can pose security risks.
  • One essential task is reviewing and removing any images from posts and your blog’s media library that may not be free to use to avoid copyright infringement.
  • Personal bloggers are not exempt from potential copyright-related legal issues when downloading or using copyrighted materials.
  • December is an ideal time for blog maintenance as many bloggers take breaks. It’s an opportunity for bloggers to give their blogs the attention they deserve before the New Year.

Are you excited about some upcoming blog housekeeping or maintenance? If so, what fantastic plans do you have in store? Perhaps you’ve already tackled some blog maintenance—if that’s the case, I’d love to hear about the wonderful jobs you accomplished!

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress AI Image Generator block. AI was also used for checking spelling and grammar mistakes.

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61 responses to “Essential December Blog Housekeeping to Keep Your Site Safe and Functional!”

  1. dgkaye avatar

    Excellent tips Hugh. I’ll be sharing for my year-end writer’s tips. Happy holidays. 🥰

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thank you, Debby. Season’s Greetings to you.

      1. dgkaye avatar

        Thank you Hugh. 😁

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