Recently updated on November 30th, 2023 at 05:28 pm
Maintaining your website is the key to keeping it running like a well-oiled machine. You want your most important digital asset to work hard for you. However, most businesses do not consider the investment that’s needed after their website is built. Cost is easily one of the major headaches of a business owner – along with customer complaints on slow page loads, the dreaded “screen of death” and other common website issues.
Understanding what website maintenance involves can help you plan and manage your budget better. Depending on the scale and functions of your site, there are several aspects that need to be checked regularly, and most of the maintenance tasks require highly technical skills. But think about your car. Sure, you’d spend money for a routine tune-up, but this cost outweighs the benefits, and even higher expenses (not to mention the hassle) of unexpected repairs!
Keeping a website in top condition can be a costly exercise, so we’ve rounded up some ways to help you reduce website maintenance costs. Let’s check them out.
How to reduce website maintenance costs
1. Keep it simple
Simple, clean designs tend to be less expensive to maintain than complex, feature-rich websites. Prioritise the set of features and functionalities that you need and focus on creating a streamlined, user-friendly website.
Use open-source software
Consider using open-source software for your website, such as WordPress, as it's often free and has a large community of developers who can help with updates and maintenance.
Choose cost-effective hosting
Choose a hosting provider that offers reliable service at an affordable price. Using cloud-based hosting services, for instance, can be more cost-effective than traditional dedicated servers.
Consistency (and prevention) is key
The more regular you do your maintenance tasks - such as plugin and theme updates and malware scans - the less likely you’ll encounter problems. Staying consistent keeps you on top of issues before they happen.
Regular backups
Regularly backing up your website will help you recover quickly from any unexpected issues and reduce the cost of repairs.
Hire a professional
Self-maintenance may be cheaper, but it takes specialist skills to do web maintenance properly. Hiring a professional web developer or a website maintenance provider will ensure the job gets done consistently and correctly.
Should I hire a Website Maintenance Agency?
Many business owners think that hiring a website maintenance agency requires a large budget. That’s not necessarily true. Often smaller website maintenance agencies have lower overhead costs, which means they can offer flexible and affordable arrangements. In addition, letting professionals do the job minimises errors that may lead to more expensive website repairs.
Self-maintenance can be a cost-effective option if you have a small website with relatively simple features and maintenance needs. However, if your website is more complex, it may be more efficient to hire a web maintenance agency, as they will have a team of developers and designers available to work on the different aspects of your website. Additionally, an agency may be able to provide other services such as content creation, graphic design and digital marketing.
Conclusion
Key to a successful online brand presence is a highly functional website that provides a seamless user experience. Overall, website maintenance is an ongoing process that requires investment to ensure the website continues to perform well and meet users’ needs. With careful planning and the right maintenance provider, managing your website upkeep can be easier on the pocket (and less of a headache!).
Spark provides all the services you need to have a smooth, functional, and user-friendly website. Our friendly experts can help you assess your specific needs and budget to determine the best option for you.
