All professionally built HTML websites require regular maintenance due to the complexity and always changing online environment. If you are not prepared for a monthly maintenance fee, our agency is probably not the agency for you. There are plenty of “online builders” that are for the most part self sustainable. Online builders like wix, go daddy, etc. are not a wise choice for actual operating businesses. These sites are geared more towards your photographer and other small operations with minimum budgets.
For example: You have your website, which is built on a code framework. Added to these websites are plugins like social media feeds, forms, calendars, slideshows, chat, pop ups, Ect. Consider this a small list, there are many more elements that require updating regularly to keep your website running.
Each of these is its own application that has its own developed code base. When developers release updates for these separate software’s, they must be updated to keep the site performing.
A website’s code, plugins, and even the server software are continually expiring and need to be upgraded to newer versions. These upgrades do not happen magically, they need to be programmed or manually done by your web agency.
By not upgrading software as the upgrades are released, you run the risk of security risks or breaking code in the website, in return creating more work by jumping updates often times causing more expense than just keeping things updated as the site lives.
Another huge factor to keep your website updated weekly is that it is what Google likes to see. Google wants to know your site is in good health, and being upkept.
Some of the common maintenance performed weekly on modern websites are:
- Framework Upgrades
- Plugin Upgrades
- Backups of Database & Website
- Security Checks
- Speed Checks
- Navigation
- Link Structure
- CMS Updates
- PHP Updates
In conclusion, if you have a thriving business and are serious about getting the most out of your website and protecting your investment, having your web agency maintain your website is a must. Keeping your site secure and updated with the latest technology and software proves to yield higher rankings in search, and protects your website from security breaches and hackers.
If you don’t maintain a website, it will die.