Having a website is more than just having it created. It also entails frequent maintenance. Just like anything else, what you have now is not perfect. Throughout the days and months, you are bound to experience bugs, errors, and crashes. Along with it, you are also going to find areas of improvement. All of that falls under website maintenance cost.
The question is not about whether or not you are going to need website maintenance, but instead, how much is it going to cost. The answer to that is not as straightforward as you would think. Different types of websites with different features and services need different kinds of maintenance.
An ecommerce website catering to hundreds of thousands of customers a day will have a higher maintenance cost than a personal blog website. To fully understand the difference in costs, you need to know what problems website maintenance address.
Table of Contents
1. Your Content is Not Forever
Don’t ever think that your articles and graphics would last you until the end of time. No matter how great they are now, they are bound to need an update. You are going to evaluate the performance of your content and improve them over time. Revise articles, add more graphics, improve accuracy of information, target them more to your demographic, and so on.
2. Website Compatibility
Decades ago, developers only had to worry about how a website will look on a computer monitor. Things are different now. There are a variety of devices and that means different compatibility and scaling.
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A website that looks great on desktop doesn’t necessarily mean it will function perfectly in mobile mode. You also need to pay attention on new devices that are being released and their aspect ratio. Make sure that your website works flawlessly and smoothly with most devices.
3. Security Issues are Part of Website Maintenance Cost
If there is one thing that needs constant updating, that is your website security. Hackers are only getting better every day. What might have done the job to keep them out yesterday, may not apply today. The only way to keep them out is to be at the forefront of updates. Change things before they can find a way to break through your security.
4. Add New Features and Update Pre-existing Ones
As time goes by, new things are developed. If you want your website to stay competitive, you need to add the newest features available in the market.
Take for example in ecommerce, chatbots and automated chatting systems weren’t a thing back then, but now, it is the standard. If you are not adding such feature into your own website, you are on a path of being outdated.
Also, keep an eye on your plugins and website software. Your maintenance includes their regular updates. It can lead to better performance, stability, speed, and so many more. It doesn’t mean that it works well now, it shouldn’t be working any better.
5. 404 Errors
One of the most dreaded errors is a 404. If you don’t know what this is, it generally means that something cannot be found. It can be caused by different things such as a deleted, moved, or missing link. If this happens, you are going to want to provide an immediate solution. When a 404 error occurs on vital pages, your website or business operations can be crippled to its core.
How Much Are You Going to Pay For Website Maintenance Cost?
As mentioned earlier, there is no single rate to go about. Website maintenance cost varies based on the type of website you are running. Nevertheless, there is a cost range you can base your estimation on. Take a look.
| Type of Website | Monthly Maintenance Cost |
| Personal Website | $ 5 – 25 / month |
| Medium Blog | $ 20 – 60 / month |
| Large Blog | $ 50 – 300 / month |
| Small Ecommerce Website | $ 30 – 35 / month |
| Small Business Website | $ 35 – 100 / month |
| SMB Business Website | $ 125 – 500 / month |
| Corporate Website | $ 200 – 3500 / month |
| Web Application | $ 300 – 2500 / month |
| Custom Business Website | $ 350 – 4500 / month |
| Professional Ecommerce Website | $ 80 – 150 / month |
| Enterprise Ecommerce Website | $ 300 – 1000 / month |
| Custom Ecommerce Website | $ 2000 – 5000 / month |
What Are You Paying For?
You know that website maintenance aims to improve your website. However, the costs are more than that. Here are what are included in the expenses that you pay on a regular.
Domain Registration
Your website has got to have a name. Registering your domain name is what does that and it makes sure that it is only you that can use it. Without a domain name, there is no way for customers to find and reach your website.
Hosting Cost
If you want your website to go live, you need a hosting service. It is where your files will be placed and will act as the server.
Website Design Cost
Designing your website involves more than just dragging pictures and putting colors. You are also going to want design elements to be interactive and have wide range compatibility.
Technical Website Maintenance
When things are going wrong, your technical website maintenance is what makes everything going right again.
Additional Plugins and Tools
New features and capabilities of your website comes from plugins and tools. Adding more and the most recent versions, ensures that you are modernizing your website.
SSL License
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and it protects information that is received and transferred between website and user.
Depending on the type of website you have, each of them is going to cost either more or less. As a result, the price range becomes greater the more complicated the website becomes.
What are Your Website Maintenance Options?
Now you know the price, to whom are you going to pay? You actually have three choices on how to get the maintenance your website needs. No one is better than the other, it all depends on your preference and the factors that surround you. So, choose the one that best suits your needs.
1. Hire Your Own Team
If you are constantly in need of a maintenance team, hiring your own is the most economical choice. At least, you have them when you need them which is going to be all the time.
However, you can have a high website maintenance cost. You have to pay for their individual salaries and benefits. Though, when you are always in need of their services, you can ultimately get the most out of what you pay for.
2. Get Freelancers to Do It For Cheaper Website Maintenance Cost
Being on a budget and running a website that isn’t all that high maintenance, hiring freelancers is enough. By being able to contact one when you need them the most, you only have to pay for what you use.
It is going to be more budget friendly but you can’t have the technical support you need any time of the day. Instead, you have to pile up the problems and issues you have and then hire a freelancer to get the most out of your money.
3. Hire A Web Maintenance Company
With the first two choices, you have to do your fair share of hiring. This one doesn’t. There are agencies that provide the web maintenance services that you need. They already have filtered out their manpower to be made up of the best. So, you are only left with deciding the things you want done.
It is also a much cheaper alternative since you don’t necessarily have to pay for individual salaries. Instead, compensate only for the services you need. Though, this isn’t the best part just yet.
Web maintenance companies are more flexible than freelancers. You can approach them anytime with any problem you have. So, you get the help you need as soon as you find a problem.
What’s the Best Choice?
Even the most skilled developers don’t make and maintain their own website. They get the right people to do the job. It’s because it is extensive work requiring different skills and expertise. If that is the case, there is no situation in which it is viable for you to do it alone. All the more if you are someone who doesn’t have the skills.
As a business owner, you want all the time you have to be spent on things that matter. You don’t want to dwell on administrative work or ones that don’t contribute to your business. Hiring web developers and making technical decisions for your website are just some of that. So, take the easy and guaranteed choice which is hiring a web maintenance company. Contact us today for a free consultation and quotation.
