Guide to Website Management Services

One common misconception many startup founders or small business owners have regarding their web presence is that they can set up a website and call it good. Websites need to be living, growing assets that not only stay up to date with your business through regular posts and updates but also stay online and devoid of bugs and functionality issues. Regular posts and updates are crucial for growing a business online, as they help drive traffic and attract new visitors.

As a busy business owner you might not have the time or expertise to take on website management tasks. That's where management companies come in! There are services out there, like Peak Digital Studio's maintenance service, that will handle all your website updates, bug fixes, improvements, content changes, hosting, and sometimes even search engine optimization (SEO) monitoring for you! Better yet, these services can be affordable for small businesses.

This post will explain website management, how much you should expect to pay, and why hiring a professional might be your best option for long-term success.

"Your website is "the center of your digital ecosystem, like a brick and mortar location; the experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door." - Leland Dieno.

What is Website Management?

Website management oversees all aspects of a website, including updates, security, backups, SEO tracking, and content management. Comprehensive services are essential to manage your website effectively, ensuring it remains polished and effective. Website management tasks include:

• Regular updates to software (e.g., CMS updates).
• Monitoring website performance and uptime.
• Ensuring cybersecurity measures are in place (SSL certificates, firewalls, etc.).
• Content updates (adding blog posts, new products, or services).
• Reviewing SEO audits and ensuring your technical SEO is functioning properly

Website management is critical as it prevents downtime, ensures security, and keeps your website up-to-date and aligned with your business goals.

Website Management: Costs and Sources

There are several factors to consider regarding the cost of website management services:

• The complexity of your website (e.g., static vs. dynamic, e-commerce vs. informational).
• Frequency of updates required (weekly, monthly, real-time).
• Additional services like SEO optimization, content creation, hosting, and marketing integrations.
• Who is providing your website management services?

If you have a relatively simple site on a popular CMS/website-building platform, your costs will be lower than those of a complex custom website.

Costs by Type

For the sake of this guide, we'll assume you have relatively simple business website and are a small business or startup. Below, you will find the average pricing for website management services by provider.

Do-it-yourself

Free (sort of)

You can maintain the site yourself, which is basically free (discounting that some services will cover hosting, content management systems, SEO auditing, and other costs as part of their plans).

The problem is that maintaining the website is time-consuming, and you might not be an expert, which means it takes you way more time than it would an expert. The ultimate cost really comes down to how much you value your time and whether it's worth doing it yourself or outsourcing to an expert.

Employee

$4k - $8k per month

Of course, you can hire someone to manage your site. Salaries for a full-time website manager range from $50-$100k per year. This option is fine if you have tons of website updates to make, but it is likely overkill for a small business or startup. Also, it's time-consuming to hire and manage and lacks flexibility.

Freelancers

$18-$20 per hour

Freelancers are an acceptable option and are relatively inexpensive. The drawback to freelancers is they're hard to reach if you're looking for someone reliable. They are also hard to retain. Often, they focus on new, better-paying gigs, and when one comes around, you might be back in the market for a new freelancer. Additionally, if they go on vacation, then you don't have anyone to fix an emergency if they're gone.

Prthey'renal agencies/website management companies

$200 - $2k per month

Web management companies are excellent options and have several advantages. First, they have multiple people working there, so you have a whole team monitoring and fixing your site. They also likely have several different areas of expertise, so if you require design updates, SEO updates, or bug fixes, a team member specializes in that. Their rates are also comparable to freelancers and are generally more transparent. Perhaps the most significant benefit is the flexibility. You can move on to another one if it's not working out with an agency. Some agencies, like ours, even allow you to pause services, so if you don't require updates for a given period, you can pause payments and come back again when you do.

Want to learn more about Peak Digital Studio's website management services?

What Does Website Services Include?

We addressed this briefly in the introduction, but let's dive deeper into the services website managers provide.

Content Management

This includes regularly updating content on the website, such as adding new blog posts and products to your eCommerce store, adding new team members to your team page, changing copy, and even redesigning pages.

Performance Monitoring

Website management services also generally include performance monitoring. This looks at how fast the website loads and website analytics, such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, and other things that indicate the health and effectiveness of your business website.

Security & Backup

The last thing you want is for your website to be a source of leaked customer data. Website management services include ensuring all security protocols are up to date and regularly backing up the website to restore it if something happens.

Did you know that the Panama Papers leak was likely facilitated by several outdated and vulnerable software components on Mossack Fonseca's system, including an outdated WordPress plugin? A good website manager would ensure these plugins were up to date.

Technical Support

Technical support includes troubleshooting technical issues, ensuring the website is always functional, and managing hosting, DNS, and server configurations.

How to Hire the Right Website Manager: What to Look For

There are several factors to consider when hiring the right website management service for your small business or startup.

Perhaps most importantly, are they someone you can work with? Whether you hire someone full-time or opt for an agency, you will have a working relationship. Be sure they're someone they're working with and have solid communication skills.

The next thing is to be sure they're proficient with the platform your site is built on. Here at Peak, for example, we primarily focus on Webflow sites but can also work on just about any other platform, including WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. Some management companies or freelancers only focus on a single platform.

Another thing to consider is whether they do just maintenance services or can also do website design and development. If you want to improve your website continually, you'll need someone who can design and build new pages for you. For example, here at Peak Digital Studio, we are a full-service design, development, and maintenance agency, so we can design and build new websites from scratch or use your existing designs to create new pages or re-design existing ones.

Finally, check out their client list and testimonials. Focus on whether clients discuss how easy they are to work with and how responsive they are. These are critical things to think about with website maintenance services—the last thing you want is to constantly check in to see if they've completed their work or when they'll get to it.

Conclusion

Website management services are a vital investment for any small business or startup looking to maintain a solid online presence. From keeping your website secure and up-to-date to managing content and SEO performance, these services ensure your site stays functional, relevant, and optimized for growth. While DIY and freelance options exist, they often come with significant drawbacks regarding time and reliability. Professional agencies offer a more comprehensive and flexible solution, giving you peace of mind and the ability to focus on your business. Take the time to evaluate your needs and choose the best service that fits your goals and budget for long-term success.

If you're ready to take the next step and improve your website's performance, consider consulting with a web management professional today. Get a customized quote and ensure your online presence is in expert hands.

FAQ

What is website management?

Website management involves overseeing all aspects of a website to ensure it functions smoothly. This includes maintaining the site's content, site maintenance, security, updates, and managing its hosting and user experience. Website managers ensure that the site remains relevant and runs efficiently.

What is a managed website?

A managed website is handled by a third-party service provider or individual. They handle updates, security, performance optimization, and content management, allowing the owner to focus on other business areas.

Can I hire someone to manage my website?

Yes, you can hire a professional or agency to manage your website. They handle regular updates, content management, performance monitoring, and security to keep your site running smoothly.

What does a website manager do?

A website manager is responsible for maintaining a website's functionality, performance, and security. Their tasks include updating content, monitoring site analytics, ensuring regular backups, handling technical troubleshooting, and optimizing the site for search engines.

What are the four elements of website management?

The four critical elements of website management are content updates, performance monitoring, security management, and technical maintenance. These components ensure a website remains relevant, fast, secure, and functional.

How much does it cost a business to maintain a website?

The cost to maintain a business website typically ranges from $200 to $5,000 per year. This includes hosting, security, updates, and content management expenses, depending on the site's size and complexity.

What is a web management service?

A web management service provides all the necessary support to maintain a website. This includes updates, security monitoring, hosting management, content management, and performance optimization to ensure the site functions efficiently.

What does a Web Services Manager do?

A Web Services Manager oversees the development, maintenance, and performance of an organization's web services and online platforms. Their duties include managing web content, ensuring smooth operations, handling updates, and improving the user experience.

How do you manage your WordPress website?

To manage a WordPress website, regularly update plugins and themes, monitor site performance, create backups, and ensure security with tools like firewalls and malware scans. Additionally, keep the content fresh and optimized for SEO.

What is website content management?

Website content management refers to organizing, creating, and updating content on a website. It often involves adding new pages, blogs, images, and other media using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress.

How to improve website performance

Improving website performance involves optimizing various aspects like loading speed, responsiveness, and usability. Key actions include compressing images, using caching, minimizing HTTP requests, enabling browser caching, and optimizing CSS and JavaScript files. Additionally, upgrading hosting plans, using a content delivery network (CDN), and implementing lazy loading can enhance performance.

How to benchmark website performance

You can benchmark website performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or WebPageTest. These tools evaluate aspects like page load time, time to first byte (TTFB), and overall speed index. Compare your site's performance against industry standards or competitors to set goals for improvement.

What are broken links

Broken links are hyperlinks on a website that lead to non-existent or incorrect web pages, resulting in a 404 error. They occur when pages are deleted, URLs are changed, or external websites are moved.

How to fix broken links

Fix broken links by identifying them using tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console. Once identified, you can either update the link with the correct URL, redirect it to a new page, or remove the link altogether.

How to improve website SEO performance

Improving website SEO performance involves optimizing on-page elements like title tags, meta descriptions, and keywords, ensuring mobile-friendliness, and improving page load speed. Additionally, focus on building high-quality backlinks, creating valuable content, and regularly updating the website.

How to measure website performance

Website performance can be measured using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, or GTmetrix. Key metrics to focus on include page load time, first contentful paint, and total blocking time.