Because “Set It and Forget It” Doesn’t Work Anymore
Imagine hiring a top-notch contractor to build your dream kitchen. Then, after it’s built, you never clean it, check for leaks, or replace broken parts. That’s what it’s like when you invest in a great website and never maintain it.
Website maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it’s critical. And neglecting it can lead to problems far more expensive than the cost of ongoing upkeep.
What Website Maintenance Includes
Regular maintenance is more than just “checking in.” At minimum, it should cover the following:
- Core and plugin updates
- Performance optimization
- Security monitoring
- Backups and recovery plans
- Form and feature testing
- Content and SEO audits
If you’re not doing these things regularly, your site might already be underperforming—or vulnerable to breakdown.
The Real Costs of Neglect
1. Broken Features
Outdated code can cause any number of issues on your website: your contact form stops working, your menu glitches, your embedded video disappears, etc. Worse? You might not notice until a customer tells you.
2. Security Vulnerabilities
Hackers love outdated plugins and platforms. A compromised site can take hours—or days—to clean up, especially if Google blacklists it as a result.
3. Slow Load Times
Old themes and bloated media slow your site down. Visitors bounce. Your SEO rating tanks. Your rankings and reputation both take a hit.
4. Missed SEO Opportunities
Without regular updates, you’re missing out on:
- Structured data updates
- Image optimization
- 404 cleanup
- Content refreshes
All of which help maintain visibility in search engines.
5. Poor First Impressions
Dead links, outdated blog posts, copyright dates from a decade ago… All of these kinds of website issues hurt your credibility. And that affects sales more than you think.
What Our Clients Often Say (and Why It’s Risky)
“We don’t make changes often.” Platforms and threats evolve whether you update your site or not.
“We didn’t budget for ongoing support.” Fixing a broken or hacked site usually costs more than regular maintenance.
“It looks fine from the outside.” Many issues are invisible to users until something bigger fails—and by then, the damage is already done.
What Ongoing Maintenance Looks Like With Us
At Electric Easel, we offer maintenance as part of our partnership services. That means:
- Proactive site assessments and checks
- Security and plugin updates as needed
- Regular backups
- Quarterly audits and reporting
- Quick fixes if something breaks
When you partner with us, you can confidently focus on your business. We’ll be behind the scenes making sure your site keeps doing its job.
Final Thoughts
Skipping maintenance might feel like a short-term time or money saver, but it almost always creates bigger, long-term problems. Protect your investment. Keep your site healthy. Make ongoing maintenance a priority for your website.
