Website Care is planned technical upkeep for a running site. The useful question is not whether a plan promises to keep everything “safe”, but which tasks it includes, who performs them and what happens when something goes wrong.
Match maintenance to the website’s technology
Different systems need different work. A site may use a managed website platform, a content management system with plugins, or a custom application. Do not assume every site has the same update process or that a supplier subscription covers every part of the system.
A Website Care proposal should identify the parts covered and any services managed by another provider.
Four areas to clarify
1. Updates and access
Confirm who monitors relevant updates, how changes are tested and who can access the site’s administration. Removing unused access and keeping a record of ownership are useful operational tasks. Maintenance reduces some risks; it cannot guarantee that a site will never be compromised.
2. Backups and recovery
Ask what is backed up, how often, where it is retained and whether restoration has been tested. Recovery depends on the available backup and the nature of the incident. “Zero data loss” should not be assumed without a specific, verified arrangement that supports that commitment.
3. Availability and performance
Agree what is monitored and how an issue is reported. A performance check can identify slow pages or unnecessarily large assets, but results vary by device, network and page. Clarify which fixes are included and which require separate work.
4. Minor content changes
Examples may include correcting a phone number, updating a price or changing an opening-hours notice. A new service section, rewritten offer or integration may fall outside maintenance. Written limits help avoid confusion.
Website Care and Growth Care are different services
In our current offer, Website Care starts at £79 per month excluding VAT. It focuses on maintenance, security updates and agreed minor changes.
Growth Care starts at £149 per month excluding VAT and covers planned work on content, structure and visibility according to the chosen level. Neither service automatically includes the other. They can be combined where both are useful; see current pricing and the proposal for the precise scope.
What to ask a provider
Request a clear list of covered systems, response arrangements, exclusions and handover responsibilities. Keep company-owned accounts under company control and know how to retrieve access and documentation if the arrangement ends.
If you are uncertain about the current state, start with the Free Growth Check. A deeper paid assessment can be scoped where the initial review identifies a more complex issue. Maintenance supports reliability; it does not guarantee rankings, AI citations or a particular level of enquiries.