8 Aug, 2022 | Web Design Agency

List The Major Setbacks Of Website Maintenance

In 2020, 1.5 billion websites are present on the web, and to your surprise, only 200 million of these are active. What has happened to the sites that went inactive, and why? Well, there can be many reasons for it; like the owner closed the business, never got the time to make that website live, ran out of budget, forgot to upgrade the hosting plan, left the idea of business just there, or even didn't have time to manage. There can be a lot many silly reasons or even more worth it reasons for inactive sites. But, believe it or not, you have to devote your time and efforts, to make your website a success. There will be a lot many pitfalls in the journey of owning and working on the success of your website. There will be technical glitches, non-technical problems, hosting issues, or some third-world issues. Let me list the major setbacks that will bug you and make you stay awake for the entire night, finding one silly thing where it went wrong.

Compatibility of themes

When you see plenty of options to get free themes as well as paid ones, you instantly consider that creating a website is extremely simple. But, believe me, it's not a piece of cake. This happens to be the first and foremost issue that developers will be facing when selecting the theme for your website. If you are not in a mood of creating things from scratch and hiring resources to apply the theme of your choice and add a few vital functionalities, you can't simply go ahead purchasing the theme. The resources of the web design company that you have hired will check for the compatibility of your chosen theme with the latest version of the framework or CMS that you are using to design your website. If the selected theme is not compatible, you will be left with no other option then checking for the right theme.

Plugins:

Plugins are the added functionalities to your website that will help the website design company to add features without worrying about starting things from scratch. By adding these existing ready-to-implement features, the developers can concentrate more on customizing their layout as per the theme of your website. However, the implementation of the plugin isn't as easy as its addition. You have to check its compatibility with the latest version of your platform. There are no restrictions & set standards for plugin creators so that it won't be easy on you. Majority of the plugins give basic features for free and request you to upgrade your store to claim major functionalities. You have to check with the type of features that you will need and check for the best one that offers most of them. It would be best if you were cautious while adding plugins, as it will make your site bulky and directly impact on its loading speed. The un-updated plugins will not go well with your website, and the frequently updated ones will leave you no choice but to upgrade. When you want to see the changes that this new implementation will bring, keep in mind that it can go wrong if your website is not compatible with those changes. That's why, even if you have access to the backend of your store, take the assistance of your technical expert or content with resources in the web design company before updating the plugins. Check the detailed information about changes that will be coming with that update. If you will get a green signal, upgrade the said plugins added to your site.

APIs support

When you want to use third-party services to manage your content, marketing, sales, and different segments of business, you have to integrate their APIs at your store. With the change in dynamics, shared standards and updates of search engines, APIs are set to resolve bugs and to upgrade themselves. Every update may not be that major that it will change the frontend functionalities. But, there are chances that upgrade may not sustain righteously with your existing version. Before implementation, please go through the details of the latest update and then implement it on your store. It's better to take assistance from your developers before hitting update.

Web hosting issues

Web hosting is one of the crucial parts of web designing & its issues are something you can't get rid of. If you are hiring resources externally, you don't have to bother as they will be communicating with the web hosting provider. The concern mostly comes when you are navigating your site to different servers, adding redundant servers or losing some of your important web files. There can be certain compatibility issues of the theme or if it's going heavier than the handling capacity of your server. You can be stuck at any stage, and it's tiresome to wait in the queue to talk with the technical person and get your queries solved at once. Mostly, when you talk with the support team, they will be pointing at the problems from your end. That's why it's tricky to get your work done at once.

Jumping from the old website

If you are using the old version of the website since ages, there will come the time of expiry. In contrast to the expiry date of medicines, here your website will get dead if you won't upgrade to the latest version. These days, most of the CMS platforms have the option of installing the downloads of recent updates, but it's not the case for all. You may have to revamp your website or at least take the assistance of technical experts to upgrade your website with the latest version. We know it will add up your budget, but that's part and parcel of website maintenance. These are some of the common hardships that every website owner come across. Taking care of your website may seem easy to you if you are handling a single website, but it will be a lot hectic when you have website business running. You can rely on a web design company to build the alluring layout of your website and handle the timely maintenance of the same. If you wish to hire a web design agency in the UK to streamline your business by taking it online, you can write to us at sales@www.wedowebapps.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the common issues faced during website maintenance?

Website maintenance is crucial for keeping your website updated and running smoothly. Some of the common issues faced during website maintenance include security vulnerabilities, broken links, outdated content, slow page speed, and website downtime. It's important to address these issues promptly to ensure your website remains user-friendly and effective. Regular backups and updates to software and plugins are also necessary steps to maintain the functionality of your website. Additionally, monitoring website analytics can help identify potential issues and areas for improvement. Engaging with a professional website maintenance service can provide peace of mind and ensure your website remains up-to-date and fully functional.

2. How can website downtime and errors impact business?

Website downtime and errors can have a significant negative impact on business. It can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction among customers, which could result in lost sales and damaged reputation. Moreover, if a website is down for an extended period, it could result in lost revenue and customers may turn to competitors. Online businesses that rely on their websites for transactions or communication with their customers will be affected even more severely. In addition, frequent website issues could lead to search engines ranking the website lower in search results. Therefore, it's essential to have a reliable and secure website hosting service and to monitor the website regularly for any issues.

3. What are the risks of not performing regular website maintenance?

The risks of not performing regular website maintenance can vary depending on the complexity and functionality of your website. Generally, the main risks include: 1) Security breaches and hacking attempts, which can compromise sensitive user and company data 2) Reduced website speed and performance, resulting in a poor user experience and lower search engine rankings 3) Broken links and outdated content, which can result in confused or frustrated visitors 4) Compatibility issues with new web browsers and devices, leading to a loss of potential customers 5) Decreased website credibility and reputation, as an outdated or poorly maintained website can reflect poorly on your brand. Regular website maintenance can mitigate these risks and ensure that your website remains secure, fast, and user-friendly.

4. What are the costs associated with website maintenance?

The cost of website maintenance can vary depending on the level of support you require. Basic maintenance services, including updates to plugins and software, can typically cost around £50-£150 per month. If you require more in-depth maintenance, such as security checks and backups, the cost may increase to £200-£500 per month. Some companies also offer one-off maintenance services, such as a website audit or performance analysis, which can cost around £500-£1000. It's important to consider the value of your website to your business and the potential costs of downtime or security breaches when deciding on a maintenance budget.

5. What are the best practices for avoiding website maintenance setbacks?

The best practices for avoiding website maintenance setbacks include regularly backing up your website data, keeping your website software up-to-date, regularly optimizing website speed and performance, monitoring website analytics, and implementing website security measures such as SSL certificates and firewalls. It's also important to have a clear and organized plan for website maintenance, including assigning responsibilities to specific team members and scheduling regular check-ins to ensure everything is running smoothly. Considering partnering with a website maintenance service provider can also offer an efficient, cost-effective way to keep your website running smoothly without the hassle of handling maintenance on your own.

Written by Jose

Jose is a Project Leader at WEDOWEBAPPS. He has knowledge about both project management and time management. His expertise includes analyzing the technical needs of the clients, proposing effective solutions and delivering large-scale projects on time.

List The Major Setbacks Of Website Maintenance

Compatibility of themes

Plugins:

APIs support

Web hosting issues

Jumping from the old website

Frequently Asked Questions

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