A lot of things can go wrong if you neglect your business website or personal blog. Website maintenance packages are not a nice-to-have, they’re essential, but you already knew that. Not only do you want to be sure that potential customers are having the best experience on your site but that your data is protected too.

Whether you’ve just redesigned your site or want to increase its efficiency, here’s what your website maintenance package should include and what it will cost.

The Cost of a Website Maintenance Package

So, what should you expect to pay for a website maintenance package? Unfortunately, there’s no way to provide you with a specific answer. Every maintenance business charges a slightly different rate based on the services they offer. On average, website maintenance can cost anything between £40 – £250 per month. There are also some packages that are charged on a quarterly or yearly basis.

Some businesses may see website maintenance as a grudge purchase but when you relate it back to how much potential revenue you could lose, it starts looking more like an investment.

Recommended Read: How to Find a WordPress Expert Near You

What Website Maintenance Packages Include

Once you start shopping around for a maintenance package, there are a few specifics that should definitely be included. In many instances, it’s also possible to create your own package based on the needs of your business – it all depends on the organisation you’re dealing with.

WordPress Updates

When you’re running a WordPress site, updates are par for the course. From WordPress itself to plugins and themes, if your website isn’t up to date, things start to break down. Having a maintenance plan in place means these updates will always be taken care of. Any issues that arise during the updates will also be dealt with. Things can go wrong during the updates too. Some plugins that haven’t been updated might not be compatible with the latest version of WordPress, which could break your site. When you pay for a website maintenance package, any issues that arise during the updates will also be dealt with.

Backups

If your site ever had to be hacked or break down due to malware, you’re going to want a recent back-up available to you. Automatic and manual website backups should be included in your maintenance plan. It is possible to make a backup on your own but all too often, website owners forget to do this on a regular basis. With a website maintenance plan in place, you can always restore a recent version of your site if something goes seriously wrong.

Security Maintenance and Prevention

Due to the increase in cybercrime, maintenance packages need to include some form of security support. From monitoring threats and attacks to taking preventative measure to prevent attacks. If you haven’t yet, make sure that you also have an SSL certificate in place. Many website users will bounce away from a site if they don’t see that important lock next to your URL that indicates the site is secure. After all the data breaches that took place in recent years and with hackers still going strong, security is a no-brainer.

General Website Monitoring

Your website may be up and running but is it running at optimal levels? Paying for a maintenance package that includes website monitoring will ensure your website is always running efficiently. This includes monitoring website speed and checking for errors and broken links on a regular basis. Website speed is very important to both users and Google. A site that doesn’t load in 3 seconds or less is more prone to losing hundreds of visitors.  Visitors should also always be able to find the information they want. If they click on a page in their search results and hit a 404 page, your brand won’t give off a good first impression.

Now, let’s look at a few package features that aren’t essential but can certainly boost and improve your online presence.

Website Analytics

If you use your website to generate leads, having someone to assist you with report generation and interpretation can be very helpful. Google Analytics is installed on most websites and can give you more insights into what your visitors are interested in. With this being said, Google Analytics can take some time to fully understand. It’s for this reason that it helps to get the assistance of someone who already does. Simply tell your support consultant what’s most important to your business and they can set up the necessary reports. Once you have the necessary logins, you can access the reports at any time.

Digital Marketing

If you’re not taking full advantage of your website, why bother having it? Packages that include digital marketing services such as SEO, email marketing and AdWords campaign management can help drive even more traffic to your site. Search engine optimisation is particularly important. However, it consists of a number of factors that all need to be taken into account if your website is to succeed. It also requires ongoing monitoring. So, if you don’t have the time for it, find someone who does, your business will benefit either way.

Content Creation

Lastly, creating content can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to provide visitors with more value. If you currently aren’t adding new content to your site on a regular basis or simply don’t have the time, finding a package that includes content creation can be a good solution. Content goes above and beyond blogs too. It really helps your brand stand out on multiple platforms, including social media. Knowing what content your visitors actually want to see and watch is something else a website maintenance and marketing team can assist you with.

What to Expect from a WordPress Website Maintenance Report

Once you sign up for a WordPress website maintenance package, you’ll generally receive some form of report. This report will provide you with insights into the health of your website and what’s been implemented every month.

Here’s some of what may be included in your report:

  • Backup status. These are details on your most recent backup, including the date and time of the backup. This is crucial for disaster recovery and ensuring that your website data is secure.
  • Software updates. This refers to any updates made to the WordPress core, themes, and plugins. You should also receive details on which versions were installed or updated.
  • Security checks. Information about any security scans or checks that were performed on your site is generally also included. This may include details about malware scans, vulnerability assessments, or any security measures that were implemented.
  • Performance metrics. Traffic, page load times, server response times, and overall site speed are some of the metrics an agency would report on. Performance optimization recommendations may also be included.
  • Uptime monitoring. This is data on your website’s uptime and any downtime that occurred during the reporting period. Some agencies provide historical uptime data over an extended period.
  • Broken links and 404 errors. A website maintenance report may also outline any broken links, or 404 errors discovered on your site. This information is crucial for maintaining a positive user experience and SEO.
  • SEO health check. If you’ve signed up for SEO maintenance services, information about your website’s SEO status, including metadata checks, keyword rankings, and any SEO-related recommendations will be included in a report.
  • User comments and feedback. If any users have commented or provided feedback on your website, your agency may include them in your report. This can include comments on blog posts, contact forms, or any other interactive elements.
  • Recommendations. Finally, there are recommendations or action items based on the analysis of your website’s performance and security. This could include suggestions for further optimizations, additional security measures, or feature enhancements.

 

Your business website is your first impression and a part of your digital footprint – make sure that new and existing customers are having the best experience and that your data is well protected.