What happens after launch: the website upkeep nobody plans for

A lot of website projects are planned right up to launch day and no further. Then a year or two later, the site is slow, a form has stopped working, or a renewal notice goes to an email address nobody checks. None of this is dramatic, but it slowly undoes the work that went into building the site.

Here’s what ongoing care actually involves.

Software updates

Most websites rely on software that needs updates, especially WordPress sites with plugins. Updates fix security holes and bugs. Skipping them is one of the most common ways small business sites get hacked. Updates should be tested, though, because occasionally one breaks something.

Backups

You should have recent backups stored somewhere other than the website’s own server, and someone should know how to restore them. A backup nobody has ever tested isn’t much of a backup.

Renewals and ownership

Your domain name and hosting renew every year or so. If the card on file expires or the renewal emails go to a former employee, the site can go offline. Make sure renewals are on autopay with a current card, and that the accounts are in your business’s name.

Checking that things still work

Forms, booking tools, payment pages and integrations can stop working when another service changes something on its end. Test your important forms every month or two. It takes five minutes.

Keeping content current

Update hours, services, staff and photos as they change. Add new reviews and examples of recent work. Search engines and customers both notice when a site hasn’t changed in years.

Looking at the numbers

Every couple of months, check how many people visit, how they find you, and how many contact you. You don’t need a fancy dashboard. You just need to notice when something drops so you can find out why.

Deciding who handles it

There are really three options:

• Do it yourself. Fine for simple sites if you’re comfortable with the tools and actually set reminders.
• Ask someone on your team. Works if it’s clearly part of their job, not something extra they’ll get to eventually.
• Hand it to your developer. Usually the least effort for you, and they’ll spot problems early because they know how the site was built.

Whichever you choose, write it down so it doesn’t fall through the cracks.

At A440 Solutions, staying involved after launch is a big part of how we work. We fix issues, make small updates, and record short videos showing you how to handle the routine edits yourself. If your current site has been left on its own for a while, we’re happy to look it over.