What Does Website Maintenance Actually Include? And Do You Really Need It?
You’ve launched your website. It’s live. It looks great. Job done, right?
Not quite.
Just like a car or a boiler, your website needs regular care to keep it running smoothly. But if you’re like most small business owners I talk to in Hampshire and Surrey, you might be wondering:
“What does website maintenance actually include? And do I really need it?”
Here’s a plain-English breakdown of what’s involved, why it matters, and how you can stay in control without it turning into a tech headache.
First – What Is Website Maintenance?
Website maintenance is the ongoing care and attention your website needs after it goes live. It’s about keeping everything secure, fast, up-to-date and working as it should.
Think of it like MOT and servicing for your website.
Without it, things break. Or worse, your site gets hacked, goes offline or disappears from Google.
So What’s Actually Included?
Here’s what a proper website maintenance plan should cover – and what I include in mine.
Regular Software Updates
WordPress, themes and plugins all need updating regularly. These updates:
- Patch security holes
- Fix bugs
- Add new features
- Keep your site compatible with the latest tech
Skipping updates for too long can lead to broken layouts, slow performance or full-on site crashes.
Daily or Weekly Backups
If something goes wrong – a plugin update fails, your site is hacked, or you accidentally delete a page – a backup is your safety net.
A good maintenance plan includes automated backups stored securely off-site (not just on the same server as your site).
Security Monitoring
Websites get targeted by bots and hackers all the time. Even small, local business sites.
Maintenance includes security scans, firewall protection, and alerts for suspicious activity – so issues can be spotted and dealt with fast.
Uptime Monitoring
Is your website online 24/7? You might not know unless someone checks.
Uptime monitoring alerts me if your site goes down so I can jump on it before you even notice.
Performance Checks
Over time, things can slow down. Maybe an image is too large. Maybe a plugin is causing issues. I check site speed regularly and tweak where needed to keep things snappy.
A fast site = happy visitors = better rankings.
Broken Link Fixes
If your site links to something that no longer exists (like a deleted page or changed URL), that’s a broken link – and both Google and visitors hate them.
I scan for broken links and fix or redirect them as needed.
Plugin and Theme Audits
Not all plugins are created equal. Some are badly coded, abandoned by their developers, or clash with other parts of your site.
Maintenance includes regular plugin reviews to keep your site lean and conflict-free.
Small Content Edits
Most of my care plans include a few minutes each month for simple changes – like updating opening hours, swapping out a team photo, or tweaking wording.
You don’t need to book a separate project for every little thing.
What Maintenance Doesn’t Usually Include
It’s good to be clear: full site redesigns, complex development work, or major new features (like adding a full shop or booking system) are usually separate from routine maintenance.
But for the day-to-day running of your site, a care plan keeps you covered.
“Can’t I Just Do It Myself?”
You can, absolutely – especially if you’re confident with WordPress.
But here’s why many of my clients prefer to leave it to me:
- They don’t have time
- They’re worried about breaking something
- They’ve tried before and things went wrong
- They’d rather have peace of mind knowing a pro is on it
Plus, when things go wrong (and occasionally they do), you’ve got someone on hand who knows your site inside out.
What Happens If You Skip Maintenance?
Here’s what I’ve seen first-hand with neglected sites:
- Plugins stop working
- Contact forms break (and leads go missing)
- Hacked sites redirecting to spam
- Whole websites going offline due to failed updates
- Google penalties for slow speed or broken structure
Fixing those problems usually costs more than preventing them in the first place.
What You Can Do Next
If your website is live but no one’s keeping an eye on it – now’s the time to change that.
Whether you want a one-off health check or a full monthly care plan, I can help keep your site safe, fast, and running smoothly – without you having to lift a finger.
It’s one less thing to worry about. And your website deserves looking after.