Once your website is live, it’s tempting to think the job is done. But websites need regular care to stay fast, secure and effective, much like a car needs servicing. Here’s what website maintenance involves and why it matters.
What does website maintenance include?
A good maintenance plan typically covers:
- Software updates: keeping the website’s platform, plugins and code dependencies up to date and secure
- Backups: regular copies of your website stored safely, so it can be restored if something goes wrong
- Security monitoring: scanning for malware, suspicious changes and known vulnerabilities
- Uptime monitoring: checking your site is online and alerting someone if it goes down
- SSL certificates: making sure HTTPS keeps working
- Performance checks: keeping your site loading quickly
- Functional checks: testing forms, links and key pages
- Content updates: changing text, prices, images and opening hours as your business changes
- Support: someone to call when you need help
What happens if you don’t maintain your website?
Skipping maintenance rarely causes problems immediately, which is why it’s easy to put off. But over time:
- Security holes appear. Outdated software is the most common way websites get hacked.
- Things break. Browsers change, third-party services update and integrations stop working.
- Forms fail silently. A contact form that stops sending can cost you enquiries for months before anyone notices.
- Speed declines. Websites tend to get slower as content and plugins accumulate.
- Content goes stale. Out-of-date prices, services and opening hours undermine trust.
- Recovery gets expensive. Fixing a hacked or broken site usually costs far more than maintaining it.
Do all websites need the same level of maintenance?
No. A simple, hand-built website with no plugins needs less maintenance than a WordPress site with dozens of plugins, or an online shop processing payments. Your maintenance should match the complexity of your website and how often your content changes.
Can I do it myself?
You can, if you’re comfortable with the technical side and remember to do it regularly. But many business owners find it’s one more job that slips down the list, and mistakes, such as an update that breaks the site with no recent backup, can be costly. A maintenance plan means it’s always done, by someone who knows what to do if something goes wrong.
What to look for in a maintenance plan
- Clear details of what’s included and how often
- Daily backups and quick restores
- Uptime and security monitoring
- Included time for content changes, if you need it
- Fast, friendly support
- No long contracts
Our care plans
Our care plans include hosting, SSL, daily backups, monitoring and security from £25 a month. The Business plan (£55) adds software updates, monthly health checks, content changes and reporting, and the Growth plan (£110) adds ongoing local SEO. All plans are rolling monthly with no lock-in.
