At NW Design, we’ve recently completed significant maintenance work on several WordPress websites that migrated to our hosting. These weren’t websites we initially built, but rather those we took over when the original hosts ceased trading. Our goal was to improve site performance, security, and bring these sites up to the latest standards.
Key Upgrades: WordPress and WooCommerce
Many of these sites were operating on outdated software—specifically WordPress 4.9 and WooCommerce 3.4. We performed upgrades to WordPress 5.7 and WooCommerce 5.2. Alongside these upgrades, we also updated PHP to the latest version, ensuring more optimised code and better security. Every change was thoroughly tested on a staging site before going live.
Optimising SQL Databases
WordPress, particularly in older versions, is notorious for having a cluttered database structure. This disorganisation is only worsened when sites accumulate unnecessary data over time, leading to slower performance. We’ve seen firsthand how years of unused plugin data can bloat the WP_Options table, significantly slowing down database queries.
The WP_Options Table: An Overlooked Bottleneck
One of the most overlooked areas in WordPress performance optimisation is the WP_Options table. In our recent work, we found that unnecessary autoloaded data was slowing down sites. On one site, we reduced the WP_Options table from 6.1MB (with 4MB of autoloaded data) to just 366KB, dramatically improving performance.
Manual Optimisation: The Right Way
Although there are plugins available that claim to optimise your WP_Options table, we recommend doing this manually to avoid breaking your site. It takes time, but the performance improvements are well worth it. As always, be sure to back up your database before making any changes.
Need Help with WordPress Upgrades and Optimisation?
If you’re struggling with WordPress upgrades, database optimisation, or hosting, NW Design is here to help. Our expertise in optimising sites for better performance means your website will run more efficiently, securely, and smoothly.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can improve your WordPress website’s performance!
