As a WordPress developer or agency owner, you probably already know how crucial it is to maintain WordPress websites meticulously. This includes safeguarding site security, optimising overall site health, enhancing loading speeds, and assisting clients with ongoing updates or new features.
Besides these technical duties, offering WordPress maintenance can significantly benefit your business, helping to boost recurring revenue and stabilise cash flow.
Most companies offering WordPress maintenance services have monthly pricing plans – typically 2 to 4 packages with a set of services for each. Just starting to design your maintenance plans or refining your existing offerings? You’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 valuable service ideas for your WP maintenance plans.
Automation
Before diving into the list, a quick note on automation. IBM defines automation as “the application of technology, programs, robotics, or processes to achieve outcomes with minimal human input.”
For WordPress maintenance, automation can save time, increase efficiency, and improve profitability. There are several tools available, like Glow, that help you manage multiple WordPress sites. These tools can automate many aspects of WordPress maintenance.
11 Essential WordPress Maintenance Services
1. Updating & Managing Plugins, Themes, and WP Core
WordPress relies on thousands of contributors for core updates, and for the creation of plugins and themes. To keep sites secure, plugins and themes need regular updates. Automating this process with a WordPress management tool can save time as your client base grows. It’s also helpful to regularly remove any inactive or outdated plugins to maintain security and performance.
2. Testing Enquiry Forms
Nothing frustrates clients more than discovering their enquiry forms aren’t working. Regularly testing forms can prevent issues from going unnoticed. Many WordPress management tools, like Glow, have built-in features to automate form testing and provide alerts if issues arise, allowing you to fix them proactively.
3. Custom Development Time
One service clients tend to appreciate is allocated time for custom development each month. This can cover tweaks, updates, or additions to their site. Whether it’s one, two, or more hours per month, make sure to include this in your plans. Using a support ticket system can also help manage these requests efficiently.
4. Speed Testing & Optimisation
Slow-loading websites are a common complaint from clients. Including speed testing and optimisation in your plans can help address this before it becomes an issue. It can be time-consuming, so you may want to include this feature only in higher-tier packages.
5. Backups
Regular backups are an essential safeguard. Clients expect them, so make sure it’s clear that you perform frequent backups. A reliable backup tool should also offer an easy restore option to quickly bring a site back online if needed.
6. Uptime Monitoring
Monitoring a site’s uptime helps ensure your client’s site stays accessible. Many tools can alert you instantly if a site goes down, so you can act before clients even notice. Consider a WordPress management tool with built-in uptime monitoring for greater efficiency.
7. Website Hosting
Some agencies include website hosting in their monthly maintenance plans, while others offer it as a separate, annual service. Adding hosting to your plan can be a valuable add-on for clients, but it’s up to you whether it fits best as an included service or as a standalone offer.
8. Scanning & Fixing Broken Links
Scanning and fixing broken links is another valuable service that enhances usability and SEO. Like speed testing, this may be better suited to higher-tier plans due to the time it requires. If your agency provides marketing services, this pairs well with SEO offerings.
9. Regular Reports
Clients appreciate regular updates on the work being done to maintain their site. Including clear, client-friendly reports in your maintenance plans can improve client satisfaction and trust. Avoid jargon; explain your work in straightforward language that reinforces the value of their investment.
10. Malware Removal
Malware removal is a critical service that clients may not fully understand, but will generally recognise as essential. Including malware scanning and removal in your plan highlights your proactive approach to protecting their site. This service can literally save a site from disaster, underscoring the importance of ongoing maintenance.
11. Content creation and updates
Good content has the power to dramatically improve conversion rates on websites. Bad content has the opposite effect. Having content as part of your service offering can really help with client retention. But you’re not a copywriter – you’re a web designer. Solution? Partner with a company like WordHound, who work alongside web designers and agencies to deliver professional copywriting for their clients’ websites.
Building a Profitable WordPress Maintenance Service
As we’ve seen, there are many valuable services you can include in your WordPress maintenance plans. Here’s a recap of the 11 services:
1. Updating & Managing Plugins, Themes, and WP Core
2. Testing Enquiry Forms
3. Custom Development Time
4. Speed Testing & Optimisation
5. Backups
6. Uptime Monitoring
7. Website Hosting
8. Scanning & Fixing Broken Links
9. Regular Reports
10. Malware Removal
11. Content creation and updates
To ensure success, avoid over-servicing clients relative to your fees – and always clearly communicate the work being done. Get it right, and you’ll start to build a profitable WordPress maintenance service with loyal, satisfied clients.
I’m proud to be part of WordHound’s Overnight Agency Toolbox, where I share how adding a maintenance service to your web design business can become a powerful tool for growth. If you’re a web designer looking to simplify WordPress site management and deliver more value to your clients, Glow can help you streamline your maintenance plans and stay on top of everything with ease.
