Are you compromising on quality to reduce website maintenance costs? Or perhaps you’re overspending on maintenance and wondering if there’s a way to cut it down? Well, we’ve got news for you – there’s a sweet spot in website maintenance, and it’s all about finding the balance between cost and quality.
But how much should you be investing in monthly maintenance to strike that perfect balance?
On average, businesses should aim to invest at least 5-10% of their website development budget into monthly maintenance, which results in improving your search engine rankings by up to 30%.
So, if you’re wondering how to optimize your website maintenance without compromising on quality or overspending on website maintenance services, we’ve got you covered. Let’s find that sweet spot together and keep your website running smoothly for years to come.
How To Calculate The Cost Of Website Maintenance?
Let’s say you run an e-commerce store using the Shopify platform, and you need to maintain the website on a monthly basis. Let’s take a sample metrics to understand the cost better
Factors affecting maintenance cost for e-commerce website:
- No. of hours required
- Platform expenses
- Cost of domain expertise
Let’s take an example to understand the cost calculation with the help of some assumed data.
Average maintenance time required in a month: 9 to 12 hours
Minimum Expense: Maintenance Cost for 9 hours per month
Maintenance time per month (T) = 9 hours
Hourly rate for maintenance (R) = $100 per hour
Domain expertise cost = D
Platform expenses = P
The domain expertise cost can be calculated as:
D = T x R
D = 9 x $100
D = $900 per month
Then, the total monthly website maintenance cost can be calculated as:
Total cost = Domain expertise cost + Platform expenses
Assuming the monthly platform cost is $229
Total cost = D + P
Total cost = $900 + $229
Total monthly website maintenance cost = $1129
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Maximum Expense: Maintenance Cost for 12 hours per month
Maintenance time per month (T) = 12 hours
Hourly rate for maintenance (R) = $100 per hour
Domain expertise cost = D
Platform expenses = P
The domain expertise cost can be calculated as:
D = T x R
D = 12 x $100
D = $1200 per month
Then, the total monthly website maintenance cost can be calculated as:
Total cost = Domain expertise cost + Platform expenses
Assuming the monthly platform cost is $229
Total cost = D + P
Total cost = $1200 + $229
Total monthly website maintenance cost = $1429
Based on the above calculations, we can conclude that the minimum maintenance cost per month would be $1129 and the maximum would be $1429. If you are paying more, then you need to look into resource and task allocation in addition to checking the technology integration for your website.
If you are paying less than the minimum limit, then you should at least consider looking into the details of the maintenance activities and the overall website performance to rule out the possibility of ignored issues.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Website Maintenance
People commonly associate website maintenance costs to be solely attributed to the number of hours required to get the work done. However, there are other factors like the complexity of the issue, the technical expertise required, the priority of the task, etc. It is recommended to take all applicable factors into consideration when calculating or understanding the maintenance cost for your website.
- Frequency Of Maintenance Issues
The frequency of maintenance issues can have a significant impact on the cost of website maintenance.
A report by GoDaddy found that small business owners spend an average of 5 hours per month on website maintenance, but this can vary depending on the complexity of the website and the frequency of updates required.
For instance, a website that requires daily updates and monitoring will have a higher maintenance cost than a website that only needs updates once a month.
- Extent of Manual Effort Required
The amount of manual effort required for maintenance tasks can also impact the cost of website maintenance.
A study by HubSpot found that small business owners spend an average of 2-5 hours per week on website updates, which can include tasks such as creating new pages, updating content, and testing website functionality.
Websites that require more extensive manual effort, such as custom coding or design changes, will have a higher maintenance cost.
- Technology Relevance
Outdated technology can also impact the cost of website maintenance. A survey by W3Techs found that only 2.5% of websites still use Flash technology, which is no longer supported by major web browsers.
Websites that use outdated technology may require additional maintenance to remain compatible with newer web browsers, which can increase the maintenance cost.
- High Maintenance Requirement for The Platform
Websites with high maintenance requirements may also have limitations due to their current technology.
For example, a website with complex integrations or customizations may require more maintenance, which can be costly. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to invest in newer technology that is easier to maintain in the long run.
Recommended Strategies By Experience Website Developers For Reducing Website Maintenance Cost
Yes, it is possible to reduce website maintenance costs by assessing the efficiency of current maintenance practices and exploring technological upgrades. By optimizing current website maintenance services and adopting new technologies, businesses can improve the effectiveness of their maintenance efforts while reducing costs.
Maximizing Efficiency
One way to reduce website maintenance costs is to ensure that maintenance tasks are being performed efficiently.
- Regularly Update Website Software
Keeping website software up to date is crucial for maintaining website security and performance.
By regularly updating website software, businesses can reduce the risk of security breaches and minimize the need for manual maintenance tasks. For example, updating to the latest version of WordPress or a website theme can provide bug fixes, security updates, and improved performance.
- Outsource Website Maintenance
Outsourcing website maintenance services to a third-party provider can be a cost-effective solution for small businesses that don’t have the resources to hire in-house staff.
According to a survey by Clutch, the average cost of outsourced website maintenance is $100-$149 per hour. Outsourcing can provide access to specialized expertise and resources without the need to hire new staff or purchase new tools.
Technology Upgrades
Another way to reduce website maintenance costs is to explore technological upgrades as newer technologies may also offer additional features and functionalities that can help reduce the need for manual maintenance tasks.
- Adopt automation Tools
Investing in automation tools can help reduce the time and effort required for routine maintenance tasks.
For example, tools like Jetpack, UpdraftPlus, and WP-Optimize can automate tasks like backups, updates, and optimization, which can significantly reduce manual effort and lower costs.
- Use A Reliable Hosting Provider
Choosing a reliable hosting provider can help reduce maintenance costs and prevent unexpected downtime.
According to a study by the Hosting Tribunal, 1 hour of downtime can cost businesses anywhere from $10,000 to $1 million, depending on the size of the company and the industry. By choosing a reliable hosting provider, businesses can minimize the risk of downtime and reduce associated costs.
By implementing these cost-saving measures, businesses can improve their website performance and functionality while freeing up resources to focus on other aspects of their business.
Achieve Higher Conversion Rate, User Retention, & Performance with Professional Website Maintenance Services
It can be a daunting task for businesses to manage maintenance needs in-house, and outsourcing to the wrong provider can result in higher costs and lower-quality services.
By partnering with a trusted and experienced website maintenance service provider like Galaxy Weblinks, you can ensure that your website is always optimized for performance, security, and functionality.
Our team ensures on-time resolution of issues with proactive audits to prevent minor problems from becoming major obstacles. We have also advised our clients on the best technology to reduce maintenance requirements and also scale their businesses sustainably.
Get an in-depth website audit and website maintenance services costs to ensure a high-performing website.
