Designing and publishing a website is just the beginning of the process. Over time, your website will require regular maintenance to stay up-to-date, function smoothly, and ensure its security. The person or company who created your website likely mentioned a maintenance agreement, and they may want to establish one. So, what is a maintenance agreement, and when should it or shouldn't it be made? In this article, we discuss website maintenance.
First, let’s explore if you need maintenance:
Some of our clients only want a website that briefly describes their services and allows visitors to access contact information. If you fall into this group, you don't need a maintenance agreement. Your website will be created and published, and it will continue to work without any changes. In this case, a maintenance agreement is not necessary, and any minor updates that come up rarely will be handled by the company you’re working with and billed separately. You will only pay for those specific fixes.
For many of our clients, however, websites are like a living organism, almost like a staff member. They are regularly updated, developed, some parts are deactivated, and new plugins are occasionally added. In such cases, maintenance helps optimize both the technical and content aspects of the site.
One of the biggest advantages of maintenance is security updates. If your website uses a Content Management System (CMS), this platform will be regularly updated. These updates often include new features as well as security patches. It’s not just your CMS (and possibly) your web server or the programming language used that may receive security updates. Websites running older versions become vulnerable to cyberattacks. A maintenance agreement ensures these updates are made on time.
Over time, factors such as more visitors and increased traffic may slow down your database. Furthermore, if your website was not structured to accommodate higher traffic during its creation, it will inevitably slow down. Another advantage of maintenance agreements is the regular performance improvements made to your website. Ensuring that visitors can navigate your site quickly is critical for user experience. Regular maintenance is necessary to prevent these issues and enhance performance.
Search engines prioritize websites that are continuously updated and optimized. Adding content, fixing technical errors, and making updates according to search engine algorithms will improve your SEO rankings. With a maintenance agreement, you can easily get the necessary SEO updates done.
No system is completely flawless; your website may suffer damage due to technical faults, cyberattacks, or human error. A regular maintenance agreement ensures that your website is backed up, and any issues are addressed promptly.
The services, products, or announcements offered by businesses may change over time. Keeping the content on your website up to date ensures you communicate effectively with your target audience. A maintenance agreement ensures that these updates are made smoothly and on schedule.
Not all websites have the same needs, but in some cases, maintenance is essential:
E-commerce Sites: Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the security of payment systems, product information, and customer data.
Dynamic Content Sites: Maintenance is crucial for websites that are frequently updated, such as blogs, news sites, or event pages.
Corporate Sites: For businesses that want to maintain a flawless and professional appearance to gain customer trust, maintenance is indispensable.
A maintenance agreement offers businesses both time and cost advantages. Paying a predictable fee for regular support reduces the risk of high costs for sudden issues. Additionally, maintenance services provided by an expert team ensure that your website remains up-to-date, secure, and high-performing.
Maintenance agreements are usually sold as monthly person/day sales. For example, you may commit to receiving 2 person/day (16 hours) of service per month. The price is determined based on this. The number of person/days is adjusted according to the intensity and needs of your site and can be increased when necessary.
New developments are usually not included in the maintenance agreement; the focus is on maintaining the existing system.
The response and resolution times for maintenance agreements are clearly defined. For instance, it may be stated that any issue will be addressed within 2 hours, and resolved within 12 hours.
Conclusion
Creating a website is a step into the digital world, but reinforcing and ensuring its continuity is only possible with regular maintenance. Clients should view the maintenance agreement as an investment, not a cost. Good maintenance ensures that your website runs smoothly and maintains your business’s digital reputation.
By securing your site with a maintenance agreement, you contribute to the long-term success of your business. Therefore, not neglecting to make a maintenance agreement is one of the smartest decisions for a website owner.
