The average cost for a monthly website maintenance package starts from R300 for a basic package, and goes up to R6000 for a more advanced package. Basic website maintenance packages are better suited for small business websites that don’t require a lot of changes on a monthly basis
If you have a more complex website, such as an eCommerce site that needs frequent updates, you’ll need to sign-up for a higher-tier website maintenance package that can accommodate it.
What Determines Website Maintenance Costs?
Essentially, the type, size, and frequency of updates required for your website will determine the cost of website maintenance.
- Type of website your have
- Your website can either be a simple 5-page website or an eCommerce website.
- The size of your website
- This refers to the number of pages and the amount of content on your website.
- How frequently you need updates
- This is determined by how often you make changes to your website, such as adding blog posts or products.
Other factors that will also influence the cost of website maintenance include if you have any custom-developed functionality or features, and the platform your website is built on, such as WordPress, for example.
Lastly, if you are looking for a hands-off website maintenance service, the cost will also increase. It’s a good idea to manage certain tasks on your website yourself, such as adding blog posts, in order to lower the costs.
How To Choose The Correct Website Maintenance Package
Website maintenance packages are typically divided into three different tiers: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. Each tier offers its own level of support and types of services.
The different types of support and services offered can include:
- Support Hours or Website Edits
- WordPress core, plugins and theme updates
- Cloud Website Backups
- Responsive or Mobile Optimisation
- Speed Optimisation
- Security Optimisation
- Monthly Website Analytics Reports
To determine your budget, ask yourself the following questions:
- What type of website do you have?
- How big is your website?
- How often do you need to make changes to your website?
- Which types of optimisation services do you think your website needs?
- Do you have any custom-developed functionality on your website?
Look For A Website Maintenance Package With No Hourly Rates
If possible, you should try and get a website maintenance package that charges a flat monthly fee instead of hourly rates. This is because some service providers use your support hours for both maintenance tasks and website edits or content changes.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Website Maintenance Package
Before you sign up for a website maintenance package, it’s important to plan ahead with what you want to do with your website. The worst thing you can do is sign up and not use all the services that come with the package.
Here’s three tips to help you get started:
- If you need to add additional pages to your website, have the written and visual content ready beforehand.
- If you are expanding your blog, have your posts ready in advance.
- Read the monthly website maintenance reports to understand how your website is performing each month.
How Often Does Website Maintenance Need To Be Done?
Generally, you should perform website maintenance at least once a week for minor maintenance tasks, and monthly for major tasks. But, the frequency comes down to the size and complexity of your website. For example, a regular small business website will need bi-weekly website maintenance and an eCommerce website will need weekly website maintenance.
What Tasks Are Usually Included In Website Maintenance?
| Task | Description |
| Updating WordPress Core | Keep your WordPress core version up-to-date. |
| Theme Updates | Keep your WordPress Themes up-to-date. |
| Plugin Updates | Keep your plugins up-to-date. |
| WordPress Site Backup | Backup your entire WordPress website. |
| Website Speed Check | Make sure your website loads quickly for all users. |
| Website Security Scans | Perform security scans regularly to identify any potential vulnerabilities. |
| Database Optimisation | Improve your WordPress database’s performance by optimising it. |
| Website Forms | Verify that all forms on your website are functioning correctly. |
| Broken Links | Regularly identify and fix any broken links on your website. |
| Website Content | Keep your website content fresh by updating it regularly. |
| Browser Compatibility | Ensure your website displays correctly across all browsers and devices. |
| Website Traffic Monitoring | Keep an eye on visitor behaviour and website performance. |
| Website Uptime Monitoring | Keep track of your website’s uptime and downtime. |
| SSL Certificate Checks | Make sure your SSL certificate is valid and functioning correctly. |
| 404 Error Monitoring | Identify and fix 404 errors on your website. |
| Image Optimisation | Optimise images for improved web performance. |
| Mobile Friendly | Ensure your website is mobile-friendly across all devices. |
| Social Media Links | Verify all social media links and widgets are functioning properly. |
| Website Analytics | Regularly analyse your Website Analytics data. |
| Contact Information | Keep all contact information up-to-date. |
| Website Accessibility | Make sure your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. |
| Website Typography | Ensure your website typography is consistent and easy to read. |
| Newsletter Integration | Verify your newsletter integration is functioning correctly. |
| SEO Metadata | Regularly update your page titles and meta descriptions. |
| Website Sitemap | Keep your website’s sitemap current. |
| Error Logs | Regularly check your website’s error logs to identify any issues. |
| Website Hosting Plan | Regularly review your hosting plan to ensure it meets your website’s needs. |
Conclusion
Once you’ve launched your small business website, it’s important to carry out website maintenance to avoid any potential technical issues, user experience issues or errors. Remember, the goal of website maintenance is to grow your website, ensure your website runs quickly and error-free, and provides a great experience for your visitors.