What does website maintenance include is a fair question, because it is one of the least visible things a small business pays for. When it is done well nothing happens, which is the point. When it is skipped, the site slows down, breaks after an update or gets hacked, usually at the worst possible moment. This guide explains what maintenance actually covers for a typical small business WordPress site and how to tell whether you are getting it.
What does website maintenance include: the core tasks
Software updates
WordPress core, the theme and every plugin release updates regularly, many of them security fixes. Updates should be applied promptly but not blindly. A careful process takes a backup first, updates, then checks the key pages and forms still work. WordPress’s own documentation recommends backing up before any update for exactly this reason.
Backups
Automatic backups of files and the database, stored somewhere other than the web server, with enough history to roll back to a version from before a problem started. A backup that has never been test restored is a hope, not a backup.
Security
Keeping software current closes most holes. On top of that, maintenance should cover strong admin passwords, removing unused plugins and old admin accounts, an SSL certificate that renews, and monitoring for malware. The National Cyber Security Centre’s small business guide is a good benchmark for the basics.
Uptime and speed
Monitoring that alerts someone when the site goes down, and periodic checks on load time, especially on mobile. Caching, image sizes and bloated plugins are the usual causes of a slow site.
Forms and enquiries
Test submissions on every contact form, because a form that silently stops sending emails costs enquiries without anyone noticing. This is the check most often skipped and the one with the most direct cost.
Small content changes
Opening hours, prices, phone numbers, staff changes and seasonal notices. Most maintenance plans include a set amount of editing time each month.
What maintenance usually does not include
New pages, redesigns, new features and SEO work are normally separate. SEO in particular is ongoing work of its own, which we explain in how long SEO takes. If a maintenance plan promises rankings, ask what exactly is being done each month.
Signs your site is not being maintained
- The WordPress dashboard shows a list of pending plugin updates
- The copyright year in the footer is out of date
- Nobody can tell you when the last backup was taken or where it is stored
- You have not received a test enquiry from your own contact form in months
- Pages load slowly on your phone
What it should cost
For a small brochure site, maintenance is usually a modest monthly fee rather than a large one. The price rises with the number of plugins, integrations and the amount of editing time included. We cover the full picture of running costs in how much a website costs in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can I maintain my own website?
Yes, if you are comfortable taking backups and testing after updates. The risk is not the difficulty, it is that it gets forgotten when the business is busy.
How often should updates be done?
Security updates as soon as practical. Routine updates weekly or fortnightly, always with a backup first.
Does maintenance matter for SEO?
Indirectly. A slow, broken or hacked site loses visitors and rankings. Maintenance keeps the foundation working so SEO work has something solid to build on.
Website maintenance in Luton
Ivy Hive looks after small business websites across Luton and Bedfordshire, with updates, backups, security checks and editing time included. See our website design and maintenance service, or get in touch for a quick health check of your current site.
