Website maintenance covers everything that keeps your site running after it's built — security updates, backups, SSL renewal, content changes, and server monitoring. Think of it like servicing your car: skip it long enough and something expensive breaks.

A lot of people think once a website is built, it's done. Set and forget. I wish that were true, but the internet doesn't work that way. Here's what's actually involved and why it matters.

What Website Maintenance Includes

When I talk about maintenance, I'm talking about these specific things:

  • Security updates: Server software, frameworks, and dependencies all get security patches. Applying these promptly is what stops hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities.
  • Backups: Automated daily or weekly backups of your entire site and database. If something goes wrong — hack, accidental deletion, server failure — you can be restored in minutes instead of rebuilding from scratch.
  • SSL certificate: That padlock in the browser bar. It needs renewing (usually annually), and if it lapses, visitors see a scary "Not Secure" warning and leave immediately.
  • Uptime monitoring: Automated checks every few minutes to make sure your site is actually online. If it goes down, I get alerted and can fix it before you even notice.
  • Performance monitoring: Checking that load times haven't crept up. Databases grow, images accumulate, and sites gradually slow down without regular optimisation.
  • Content updates: Changed your phone number? New service? Updated pricing? These small changes keep your site accurate and your customers informed.
  • Broken link checks: Links to external sites break over time. Dead links look unprofessional and hurt your Google rankings.

What Happens Without Maintenance

I've picked up websites from businesses that haven't touched their site in 2-3 years. Here's what I typically find:

  • Hacked sites: 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, and outdated websites are the easiest targets. I've seen sites redirecting to gambling pages, injected with spam links, or quietly mining cryptocurrency. The business owner had no idea.
  • Expired SSL: The browser shows a full-page warning saying "Your connection is not private." 85% of visitors leave immediately. Your site is technically still there, but nobody can use it without clicking through scary warnings.
  • Broken functionality: Forms stop sending emails, images won't load, pages throw errors. Things that worked perfectly at launch slowly break as server software updates around them.
  • Google rankings drop: Google crawls your site regularly. If it finds security issues, slow load times, or broken pages, your rankings suffer. You might not even notice until you realise you haven't had a web enquiry in months.
  • Outdated information: Old pricing, discontinued services, wrong phone number. Customers call a number that doesn't work, or show up expecting services you stopped offering. Not a great look.

Fixing a neglected website often costs more than maintaining it would have. Prevention is always cheaper than cure.

How Much Does Maintenance Cost?

Here's what you'll find in the market:

  • DIY: Free, if you know what you're doing. You'll need to handle server updates, backups, SSL renewal, security monitoring, and troubleshooting yourself. Realistic for developers, not realistic for most business owners.
  • Basic managed: $50-100/month. Usually covers updates and backups but not much else. Often doesn't include hosting.
  • Full managed: $100-200/month. Hosting, backups, security, SSL, monitoring, and support included. This is the "set it and forget it" option for business owners.
  • Babayagas managed hosting: $149/month. This covers VPS hosting, daily backups, SSL, CDN, security monitoring, server maintenance, and direct support from me. No ticket queues, no overseas call centres.

DIY vs Managed Maintenance

If you built your site with WordPress and you're comfortable updating plugins, running backups, and monitoring for security issues — you can absolutely handle maintenance yourself. Set up automated backups, keep everything updated, and check in monthly.

But here's the reality for most business owners I work with in Murray Bridge: your time is worth money. If you're spending 2-3 hours a month on website maintenance instead of working on your business, that's costing you more than the $149 you'd pay someone to handle it.

Plus, when something genuinely breaks — and eventually something always does — having someone who knows your site inside out and can fix it in minutes is worth every cent.

What to Look for in a Maintenance Provider

If you're shopping around for someone to maintain your website, here's what to ask:

  • What's included? Get a specific list. "Maintenance" means different things to different providers.
  • How often are backups? Daily is ideal. Weekly is acceptable. Monthly is risky.
  • Where are backups stored? They should be stored separately from your server. If the server dies, backups on the same server are useless.
  • What's the response time? If your site goes down on a Saturday, will anyone notice? How quickly will it be fixed?
  • Do you own the code? Some providers hold your website hostage. Make sure you own your code and can take it elsewhere if you want to.
  • What's not included? Major redesigns, new features, and big content overhauls are usually separate from maintenance. Know where the line is.

Your website is a business asset. Treat it like one. Get in touch if you want to talk about keeping yours in good shape.