A website care plan is a monthly service that keeps your site online, secure and up to date. Prices vary widely, and so does what you actually get. This checklist covers what a solid plan includes, what to watch out for and what to ask before you sign anything.
The 12-point checklist
Keeping the site online
- Hosting is included or clearly priced. You should know exactly what you pay for hosting and who controls the account.
- SSL certificate, renewed automatically. The padlock in the browser should never lapse.
- Uptime monitoring. Checks every few minutes, with someone alerted when the site goes down.
- Daily backups stored offsite. Backups kept on the same server as your site can be lost with it.
Keeping it secure
- Software and security updates. Core software, themes and plugins updated on a schedule, with a check afterward.
- Malware scanning and cleanup. Know whether cleanup is included or billed extra.
- Protection against scrapers and bad bots. Server rules that block site copiers and hide sensitive files.
- A tested restore. A backup only matters if it can be restored. Ask when they last tested one.
Keeping it useful
- Edit time or a clear edit policy. Small text, photo and hours changes shouldn't need a new quote each time.
- Speed checks. Most local customers search on their phones, and slow pages lose them.
- Form and link testing. A broken contact form can cost you leads for weeks before anyone notices.
- A monthly report in plain English. What was updated, uptime, traffic and anything that needs a decision from you.
Red flags
- You don't control your domain. Your domain should be registered in your business's name, with you as the owner.
- No clear way to leave. A fair plan says how you get your files and data if you cancel.
- Long contracts for basic upkeep. Maintenance doesn't need a 12-month lock-in.
- Guaranteed rankings. No one controls Google's results. Promises of first-page rankings are a warning sign.
- No reporting. If you can't see what was done, you can't tell whether anything was.
6 questions to ask before you sign
- Where are backups stored, how long are they kept, and when was a restore last tested?
- What exactly counts as an edit, and what happens to unused hours?
- How fast do you respond when the site is down, and how do I reach you?
- Is malware cleanup included, or billed separately?
- Who owns the domain, hosting account and files?
- What do I get if I cancel, and how much notice do you need?
Doing it yourself
You can handle much of this on your own if you have the time. At a minimum, turn on automatic backups with your host, keep a copy offsite, update software monthly and test your contact form after every update. The work isn't hard. The hard part is doing it every month without fail, and that's what most owners end up paying for.
If you'd like a second opinion on your current setup, our free site health report checks most of this list for you. You can also compare our care plans.
This guide is general information for small business owners, not legal, tax or security advice. Platform rules, including Google's, change often; check the official documentation before acting. Steadline Digital sells the services described here.