Maintaining a website is not an easy task. It requires time, effort, and resources that many business owners do not have. That’s why it’s important to hire an expert to take care of all your support and maintenance needs.
In this blog post, we will discuss the 10 most important services that companies should provide in their maintenance plans and why they are useful. We’ll also give you some tips on how to choose the right company for your business.
What are website maintenance services?
Website maintenance services are those that help you keep your website up and running smoothly. These services can include anything from updating your website’s software to fixing broken links and adding new content.
Why is maintenance so important?
There are many reasons why maintenance plans are important. First and foremost, it helps you ensure that your website is always up-to-date and running smoothly. Additionally, regular maintenance can help you prevent security breaches, improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO), and fix any errors that could be costing you potential customers.
Do website maintenance services also work on a WordPress website?
Yes, you can have maintenance on a WordPress website. In fact, many companies that offer maintenance also offer this for WordPress websites. (WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that is used to create and manage websites). Whether you hire a team for maintenance on WordPress sites or any other content management system, they usually offer the same type of services.
Note: Some companies (like us) ONLY offer WordPress maintenance or specific WordPress support, so be sure to check if the company you are contacting matches the content managing system that your site is built on.
What services should be included in your maintenance packages/plans?
The services that should be included in website maintenance packages will depend on the needs of your site. However, there are some essential services that all websites need, below you will find our 10 most important support and maintenance services:
1. Plugin and software updates for your website
One of the most important maintenance services is keeping your website’s software up-to-date. This includes updating plugins, themes, and any other software that your website uses.
What is the benefit of this service?
By keeping your software up-to-date, you can help prevent security breaches and ensure that your website is always running smoothly. A poorly updated website can also influence your website’s speed, which can be bad for SEO, user experience, and your overall website’s performance.
How often should this service be performed?
This service should be performed regularly, typically once a week or at a very minimum once a month. The frequency will however depend on how often your website’s software is updated.
Note: Some companies may try to up-sell you on unnecessary software updates. Be sure to ask questions and get clarification on what is actually included in the website update services.
2. Fixing Website Errors
Another important service is fixing errors on your website. These errors can include broken links, 404 errors, errors that ruin your website’s design, and other issues that can make it difficult for visitors to use your website.
What is the benefit of this service?
By fixing these errors, you can improve your website’s usability and make sure that potential customers are able to find the information they need. Additionally, fixing errors can also help improve your website’s ranking on search engines.
3. Daily website back-ups
Daily website backups are a must-have for any website. They ensure that you always have a copy of your site in case something goes wrong. Additionally, they can help you restore your site if it’s ever hacked or taken offline.
What is the benefit of this service?
By having automatic backups, you can rest assured knowing that your website is always safe and you have the possibility to recover older versions of your site if any errors occur or mistakes have been made.
Note: Backups are especially important for eCommerce stores. If your website is hacked and taken offline, you could lose all of your sales data.
4. Support for content updates and website changes
One of the most useful website maintenance services is support for content updates and website changes. As your business grows, you’ll likely need to make changes to your website, such as adding new pages or updating existing content. Additionally, you’ll need to regularly add new content to keep your website fresh and relevant.
Your website maintenance company should be able to help you make changes to your website and add new content as needed. Additionally, they should be available to answer any questions you have about making changes to your site.
What is the benefit of this service?
By having someone to help you make changes to your website, you can save time and money. It also assures you that things are handled right and you do not break your site by accident.
Note: Hiring web designers or web developers by the hour can get very pricey so it is always recommended to choose a plan that offers at least one hour of support a month.
5. Security Monitoring for a healthy website
With so many cyber threats out there, it’s important to make sure that your website is always secure. Your website maintenance company should be able to help you monitor your website for potential security threats by doing frequent security scans and taking steps to prevent them.
What is the benefit of this service?
By taking steps to protect your website, you can rest assured knowing that your website is safe from potential threats. Additionally, you can avoid the costly process of repairing a hacked website.
Note: Be sure to ask about security monitoring when you’re choosing a company. Not all companies offer this service, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the protection you need.
6. Broken links check for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Broken links can hurt your ranking on search engines, so it’s important to regularly check for them and fix them as needed. Your website maintenance company should be able to help you identify and fix broken links on your website.
What is the benefit of this service?
By taking steps to fix links that are broken, you can improve your website’s SEO and help it rank higher in search results. Additionally, you can avoid the frustration of visitors trying to access a page on your website that doesn’t exist.
Broken links are just one of many things that can hurt your website’s SEO, so it is important to monitor it.
Note: You can use a tool like Screaming Frog to check for broken links on your website. This tool is free for websites with up to 500 pages.
7. SSL & Malware Protection
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that helps to keep information safe when it’s being transmitted online. When you have an SSL certificate installed on your website, it means that your website is encrypted and secure. Additionally, most browsers will show a green padlock next to your website’s URL, which helps to build trust with visitors.
Malware is a type of software that can harm your website or steal information. By installing a malware scanner on your website, you can help to protect it from potential threats. Additionally, your website maintenance company should be able to help you remove any malware that’s found on your website.
What is the benefit of this service?
SSL and malware protection are important for keeping your website safe from potential threats. Additionally, they can help to build trust with visitors by showing them that you’re taking steps to protect their information.
Installing an SSL certificate and a malware scanner are just two of the many steps that you can take to protect your website. By choosing a company that offers these services, you can rest assured knowing that your site is always taken care of.
Note: You can use a tool like Sucuri to scan your website for malware. This tool is free for websites with up to 500 pages.
8. Support by a dedicated team that knows your website
One of the best service features, is support by a dedicated team that knows your site. When you have someone who is familiar with your website, they can help you make changes and answer any questions you have. Additionally, they can help you troubleshoot any issues that you’re having with your site.
What is the benefit of this service?
By having someone who knows your website, you can get help when you need it and avoid any potential problems. Additionally, they can help you make changes to your website and ensure that it’s always running smoothly.
When you’re looking for a maintenance company, make sure to ask about their support team. This is an important service that can help you keep your website running smoothly.
Note: Make sure to ask about support when you’re choosing a company. Not all companies offer this service, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the support team you need.
9. Web hosting services to provide better and faster support
Web hosting services can help to make your website faster and more reliable. Additionally, they can provide you with support if you’re having any issues with your website. By having someone who is familiar with your website, they can help you make changes and answer any questions you have.
What is the benefit of this service?
Having your website hosted with the same company that handles your maintenance allows them to fix web server-related issues faster and more efficiently. If your website is hosted elsewhere, fixing the issue can take longer because either the maintenance team or you yourself will need to coordinate with the hosting company.
10. Monthly reports to see how your website is doing
Monthly reports can help you see how your website is doing and where it needs improvement. Additionally, they can help you track your website’s progress over time. By having someone who is familiar with your website, they can help you make changes and answer any questions you have.
What is the benefit of this service?
Monthly reports are a great way to see how your website is performing and to identify any areas that need improvement. By tracking your website’s progress, you can make sure that it is always improving.
What is not included in website maintenance services?
There are a few things that are not typically included in maintenance services. These things include:
– Website design
– Web development
– Search engine optimization (SEO)
Website design, web development, and SEO are not typically included in website maintenance services. However, some companies may offer these services as part of a package deal or as a separate service. If you’re interested in these services, be sure to ask about them when you’re choosing a company to maintain your site.
Do I really need a website maintenance service?
The answer to this question depends on your site and your needs. If you have a simple site that doesn’t require much maintenance, you may not need a website maintenance service. However, if you have a complex site or one that requires frequent updates, you can really benefit a lot from it.
Is it recommended?
In our experience, it is usually recommended to have a maintenance service if you are running a business that can afford it. The time you spend on doing everything yourself is very cost inefficient considering you could be doing other things to grow your business.
It is important to note that not all web maintenance services are created equal. Some companies may offer more services than others. When you’re choosing a company, be sure to ask about the services they offer and what is included in their packages. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting the services you need.
What are the differences between a basic website maintenance package and a more advanced one?
The main difference between a basic maintenance package and a more advanced one is the number of services included and the amount of support. A basic maintenance package may only include a few services and monthly reports. A more advanced maintenance package often also includes more advanced services such as support, which is important if your website regularly has fresh content or if you need changes on a regular basis.
How much do website maintenance packages cost?
Website maintenance packages can vary in price depending on the company you choose and the services you need. In our experience the price will usually increase if you need more services or support. Most companies already have a selection of website maintenance plans ready so you can compare them to see what plan matches your needs.
Monthly or Annual?
Some companies may just offer a monthly package while others might allow you to pay annually. Since you first have to get to know a company we always recommend starting out with a monthly plan.
When you’re choosing a website maintenance company, be sure to ask about their prices if they are not included on the website and get a list of what is included in their packages. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting the best value for your money.
Is website maintenance important for SEO?
Websites are living entities that need care and attention in order to function properly. While a website maintenance service is not required for search engine rankings, Google (and other search engines) does favor websites that are maintained and up to date.
Is it a guarantee for better rankings?
A website maintenance service can help you keep your website up to date and running smoothly. This, in turn, can help improve your SEO and overall website performance.
However, it is important to note that it is no guarantee for better SEO since a lot more factors are involved in ranking a site or page. You should always have a separate SEO strategy in place to realize these goals.
Conclusion
Website maintenance is important for website owners that don’t have the time, tools and knowledge for keeping their site up-to-date and running smoothly. In the process of choosing a website maintenance company, be sure to ask about the services they offer and what is included in their packages. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting the best value for your money.
Website maintenance plans vary lot in terms of prices ranges. It mainly comes down to your needs and they will increase if you need more services or support.
If you have any questions about website maintenance, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to chat with you about your needs and see how we can help.
