Do I Need a Website Maintenance Plan?

8 January 2025
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Written by wattage
Mechanic repairing a car
Website maintenance plans can be compared to cars… you can buy a car, but keeping it serviced and maintained ensures it stays reliable, secure and achieving what you need

Small Business Owners Guide to Website Maintenance

Launching a brand-new website is an exciting milestone for any small business. But once your website is live, the question arises: what happens next? This is where website maintenance plans come into play. If you’re unsure what they are, why you might need one, or what happens if you skip them, this article will guide you through it all.

What Are Website Maintenance Plans?

Website maintenance plans are like a care package for your site, starting from just £50. They ensure it stays secure, up-to-date, and running smoothly over time. Much like a car needs regular servicing, your website needs consistent attention to avoid performance hiccups, security vulnerabilities, and outdated software.

At their core, these plans cover tasks such as:

  • Updating software (like WordPress and plugins).
  • Monitoring security to prevent hacking or malware.
  • Performing regular backups.
  • Checking for and fixing bugs or broken links.
  • Optimising website speed.

A well-maintained website not only keeps your business looking professional but also enhances the user experience and ensures you’re always putting your best foot forward online.

Why Does My Website Need a Maintenance Plan?

Investing in a website maintenance plan isn’t just about keeping up appearances. Here are some critical reasons why they’re worth considering:

1. Security Comes First

The internet isn’t without its risks. Websites, particularly those running on platforms like WordPress, are frequent targets for hackers. A maintenance plan ensures that your site’s security patches and updates are installed promptly, reducing vulnerabilities.

2. Your Visitors Expect Speed and Functionality

Imagine visiting a website that takes ages to load or has broken links. Frustrating, right? Regular maintenance ensures your site’s performance stays fast and seamless, giving your customers the experience they deserve. We usually use Litespeed caching technology as part of your Wattage Media website hosting, to get your website loading really fast!

3. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Benefits

Search engines like Google favour websites that are regularly updated and optimised. A maintenance plan helps improve your search rankings by ensuring your site is always performing at its best. Read this article about Google Pagespeed score to understand how website speed can have an effect on user experience and Google rankings.

4. Saves You Time and Stress!

If you’re busy running a small business, the last thing you want to worry about is learning how to update plugins or restore a broken site. Maintenance plans take the technical side off your plate, so you can focus on what you do best.

What Happens Without a Maintenance Plan?

If you opt to forgo a website maintenance plan, it’s worth knowing what you’re signing up for. Without a plan, you’ll be responsible for keeping your site updated, secure, and backed up. Here’s what that might look like:

  • DIY Updates: You’ll need to stay on top of software updates. Miss one, and you could face compatibility issues or even security risks.
  • Handling Errors Yourself: If something goes wrong (e.g., your site crashes or displays errors), you’ll need to figure out how to fix it – often a time-consuming and frustrating process.
  • Increased Downtime: Without regular maintenance, small problems can quickly snowball, leading to downtime that could cost you customers.

While it’s possible to manage your website yourself, it requires a solid understanding of web technologies and a willingness to dedicate time regularly.

What Website Maintenance Options Do I Have?

When it comes to website maintenance, you have a few options:

1. Go DIY

If you’re tech-savvy and confident in your skills, you might choose to handle maintenance yourself. This could save you money, but it’s a significant time commitment and comes with the risk of missing critical updates. You will also need to set-up a web hosting server, migrate your files/WordPress database and correct everything post-migration (i.e. not a quick and easy job!)

2. Hire a Professional for Ad-Hoc Work

Another route is paying someone on a one-off basis to fix issues as they arise. While this can work, it’s often more expensive than a maintenance plan in the long run – and problems tend to crop up at the worst possible times. Whilst we do offer adhoc website fixes for some clients who have web hosting elsewhere, the majority of our clients like that our website maintenance plans include everything they need for a fixed monthly price.

3. Opt for a Website Maintenance Plan

A maintenance plan is a hands-off, hassle-free option. With professionals handling everything for you, you get peace of mind knowing your site is in safe hands. At Wattage Media, our plans include regular updates, backups, and security monitoring, ensuring your website stays in top shape. We also customise our website support plans based on your requirements, e.g. we support IMS Recruitment with adding new job vacancies monthly as well as the routine website maintenance tasks.

Conclusion: Is a Maintenance Plan Right for You?

If you value your time and want to protect your website investment, a website maintenance plan is a smart choice. It’s a small monthly cost that can save you significant headaches down the road, keeping your site secure, speedy, and stress-free.

At Wattage Media, we offer website maintenance plans designed with small business owners in mind. From proactive updates to robust security measures, we’ve got you covered so you can focus on growing your business.

Still unsure if a maintenance plan is right for you? Let’s chat. We’ll walk you through your options and help you decide what’s best for your business and budget.

Please get in touch and take a look at our website support plan page with further details

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