Tag: website management services

  • 5 Things Your WordPress Website Management Services Should Include

    5 Things Your WordPress Website Management Services Should Include

    Unsure if your WordPress website management services are up to par? Don’t worry . . . you’ve come to the right spot! This blog post outlines five things to include in quality website management. Read on and gain insight into whether or not your current provider delivers what they promise. Let’s jump in!

    Structure’s mission is to deliver the most efficient yet human WordPress website management services. We ultimately improve our client’s businesses by helping them get better business results from their websites. 

    One of the ways we do this is by providing unbiased information about WordPress management services upfront. Hence, potential clients better understand what level of website management services they need for their vision.

    Get 2 Months of FREE WordPress Management

    Learn more about our WordPress Management Packages and get two months free when you commit annually.

    1. Backups: If something goes wrong, your website management services should include regular backups of your site data

    Having an up-to-date backup of your website data is like a life jacket when you’re boating in the open seas (except less…lifesaving). You can rest easy knowing that if something goes wrong with your WordPress site—and it will—you won’t be stuck paddling upstream with a spoon. You’ll quickly be back on dry land with regular backups as part of your WordPress management service package.

    A backup is only as good as its restore. That means if your WordPress site has decided to pull an unexpected disappearing act, having backups will result in a surefire way to restore order quicker than you can say, ‘Where are my posts’?

    Managed hosting services like WP Engine Managed WordPress Hosting typically include daily backups as a part of your plan. However, suppose you’re hosting your website through another provider like GoDaddy, HostGator, or Bluehost. In that case, you’ll want to ensure you set up a daily WordPress backup system or hire a WordPress management service provider like Structure to put a plan in place for those backups in case you need them.

    The most significant benefit of hiring a WordPress management service to manage your backups is that they not only ensure your website is backed up daily, they’re on hand to help restore your site if it goes down or breaks.

    A WordPress management service like Structure builds a safety net for your website with reliable, timely backups. You can rest assured that no matter what happens with your website, you can have a perfect restoration before you miss any opportunities.

    A WordPress management service like Structure builds a safety net for your website with reliable, timely backups.

    2. Updates: Your website management services should include regular updates to the WordPress core, plugins, and themes

    You must keep your website up-to-date, especially if you want a website that works the way it should and helps you achieve your goals.

    Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as pushing a button, so folks like you hire a professional WordPress website management service.

    Websites require ongoing maintenance and regular updates to the WordPress core, plugins, and themes. Any WordPress management services worth their salt will ensure that these updates remain current so you don’t have to worry about broken links, security risks, or compatibility errors on your website.

    It’s common for a startup founder, marketing director, or website manager to think they can take care of the monthly website updates. However, it was not long before they experienced an issue, and they had to pay a developer $1,000 to fix a dumb little thing that could’ve been avoided with regular updates.

    At Structure, WordPress software updates are a core part of our WordPress management services. We work with you to understand your website’s setup and ensure that WordPress is up-to-date quickly and efficiently. After we update your website, we also complete a thorough Testing and Quality Assurance process to verify your website works as well, if not better, than it did before the update.

    Last but not least, we have a team of WordPress developers on hand to handle any issues that may arise from the update process.

    Get 2 Months of FREE WordPress Management

    Learn more about our WordPress Management Packages and get two months free when you commit annually.

    So if you haven’t already, Schedule a Free Consult Call with Structure ASAP to get the ball rolling and your website up-to-date.

    3. Security: Website management services should also include security measures to protect your site from hackers

    Your WordPress management service must include security measures to protect your WordPress site and ensure you don’t compromise your business or customer data.

    You can guard against malicious activity with the right security solutions while providing a great user experience. Investing in WordPress security is a smart move that will pay off long term!

    What kind of security measures, you might ask? Beyond keeping your website backed up and up-to-date, three security measures come to mind.

    1. Integrated Firewall
    2. Automatic Malware Scanner
    3. Instant Malware Cleaner

    Many DIY website managers and freelancers use WordPress security plugins like iThemes Security, WordFence, & Sucuri on their sites. They’re helpful plugins, but they all have the same problem—their websites get hacked!

    If your security plugin is out-of-date, it’s like walking into a shooting range with a target on your back. There’s a better way!

    Security measures like a third-party firewall, malware scanner, and malware cleaner help protect your WordPress website from malicious activity and hacks and keep it clean.

    Integrated Firewall

    Our integrated web application firewall (WAF) provides complete security for your website from malicious hackers and bots. Furthermore, our Threat Intelligence Network is constantly updated with new rules and IPs to ensure no attacks go unnoticed or uncaught in real time.

    Automatic Malware Scanner

    Our precise malware scanner will thoroughly scan your entire site, including databases and files, to detect even the most complex types of malware.

    Instant Malware Cleaner

    Once a malware scanner has identified malicious files, a malware cleaner can quickly and effectively remove them.

    Don’t let security fears and flaws concern you any longer. Consider Structure as your WordPress management service provider and ensure you’re in the most defensible position against security attacks.

    Consider Structure as your WordPress management service provider and ensure you're in the most defensible position against security attacks.

    4. Reports: Website management services should keep you in the loop and regularly communicate how your website is doing

    Let’s face it, as great a WordPress manager as someone may think they are—you’re ultimately responsible for the outcome of your website. You need to stay in the loop and know what’s going on.

    I encourage all WordPress owners to use a website management service that does regular reporting. Monthly reporting is plenty; if you’re on top of it, there’s nothing wrong with weekly website reports.

    Our personalized Website Report presents a detailed overview of the health of your website. The report is generated based on the insights drawn through our systems and analysis by our team to help you keep track of all the changes and improvements on your website.

    Specifically, our report includes the following:

    • Overview of your website health
    • Core, Plugins, and Themes updates
    • Number and frequency of backups
    • Security scan status and frequency
    • Firewall status and traffic or login requests
    • Uptime state and current rate
    • Performance score and current page size
    • Traffic sessions, page views, and bounce rate

    You may not require an update on all those items. That’s okay! The key is to ensure your WordPress management provider isn’t just secretly working behind the scenes—they must show you the value they’re adding to your business.

    Keep tabs on those WordPress management reports and ensure you have an eagle-eyed view of how your site—and your WordPress management service provider are doing. Please don’t leave it up to guesswork!

    Get 2 Months of FREE WordPress Management

    Learn more about our WordPress Management Packages and get two months free when you commit annually.

    5. Support: If you have any questions or need help with anything, your website management services should offer support when you need it

    Why worry about website management when your website support has got you covered? Websites are complex money-making machines, and it helps when you have an expert on hand to answer any question so you can ensure your website is always working.

    A WordPress management service knows how vital website support is to ensure everything runs smoothly. And ooh baby, they better deliver! When they do their job, it saves you from spending your time frenetically searching for answers, cross-referencing the web, and watching YouTube videos trying to figure out what is happening.

    Structure WordPress Management packages provide a Dedicated, U.S.-based Account Manager and a 24-hour Response Time during the workweek. Typically, you can expect to hear back same-day if it’s not “one of those days,” . . . if you catch the drift.

    Please don’t leave it to luck. Trust a WordPress management service like Structure so you can focus on what you know, and managing your website can be an enjoyable and hassle-free process.

    Finding a good website management service that can handle all the behind-the-scenes work is essential to keep your website running smoothly and looking great.

    A good website manager will handle updates, security, backups, monitoring, and support, so you don’t have to worry about it. This will give you more time to focus on creating great content for your site.

    Do you have a website management service that you’re happy with? Let us know in the comments below.

    Common Questions About WordPress Management Services

    What are WordPress maintenance services?

    WordPress maintenance is a fancy word to describe many activities you must do to ensure your website runs well.

    You can’t just do it sometimes; you must always do it to keep your website healthy. Depending on your website’s complexity, you might need maintenance every day or week.

    This is why folks often hire a WordPress management service like Structure to manage and maintain their website. It takes a lot of work, and you must know what you’re doing!

    How much does it cost to service a WordPress website?

    You can expect the cost to be anywhere between $250 to $1,500 per month, depending on how much support you need.

    For example, a custom-built, large e-commerce website is costly to maintain. The website maintenance company needs more manual work to manage your site.

    On the other hand, a simple informational website is cheap to maintain. The website management provider needs less manual work to manage your site.

    What are the benefits of hiring professional WordPress Management Services?

    Having a WordPress management service like Structure comes with many benefits. You can focus on other business areas and trust WordPress will be handled.

    • A website that works
    • No more inexperienced freelancers
    • Say goodbye to website downtime
    • More time to focus on what’s essential for your business
    • Increased website performance, efficiency, and reliability
    • Peace of mind knowing that an expert is handling your website’s technical aspects

    I mean, you can try to manage your website by yourself. But why would you want to when it only costs $250/mo, and you never have to worry about whether your website is working? WordPress management services are a stupid smart way to ensure you get the best results out of your website.

    Why do you need WordPress maintenance services?

    WordPress gets new updates every month. This makes WordPress more secure and better at work. If you have a WordPress website, you need to do some things to keep it secure. You need to keep the core code updated and any plugins you might use. If you don’t hire a WordPress maintenance service, you’ll be on the hook for doing these things yourself.

    Furthermore, having a dedicated WordPress professional on hand and only an email away is priceless. Eventually, your website will give you trouble, and you’ll need someone to help. Having a WordPress management service provider available and familiar with your website is a surefire way of setting yourself up for success.

  • 10 Reasons a Good WordPress Management Service Will Save You Time & Money

    10 Reasons a Good WordPress Management Service Will Save You Time & Money

    In this article, we share how (and why) a professional WordPress management service is worth the cost and will make you much more productive.

    WordPress Management Service Explained

    Your WordPress website should be a time-saver and a money-maker, but it needs to be well-managed to run like a well-oiled machine. This will take time and energy unless you’re a seasoned website developer. That’s when it’s time to turn to a WordPress Management Service.

    WordPress management services do various things, such as providing technical support, installing security patches, maintaining the WordPress database, optimizing WordPress performance, and more.

    If you have no idea what I just said, you’re in the right place.

    When you choose to use a WordPress management service, they’ll take care of all these tasks for you, freeing up your time so that you can focus on other aspects of running your website or growing your business.

    That said, it’s essential to choose a suitable WordPress management service provider who is experienced and has a proven process for managing your website. This will ensure that your website remains secure and functioning correctly.

    Get 2 Months of FREE WordPress Management

    Learn more about our WordPress Management Packages and get two months free when you commit annually.

    Problems with Bad WordPress Management Service

    With a good WordPress management service, you can rest assured that your WordPress website is in the hands of experts who know WordPress—and your website—inside out.

    However, we know that’s not always the case. Many WordPress management services take your money and don’t save you any time. If you’ve ever hired a WordPress management service, you may have experienced one of these things.

    1. You have no idea if they’re doing anything

    One of the biggest problems with WordPress management services is the need for more transparency regarding how they will manage your website.

    The thing is, anyone can sound like they know what they’re talking about. But when the end of the billing period rolls around, and you don’t see any improvements or reports, you start to wonder if they’re doing anything.

    2. Your website gets ignored and forgotten about

    WordPress websites require plugins to make specific functionality work. And plugin developers update their plugins regularly, which means your WordPress plugins may become increasingly outdated as the days go on during any given month.

    If your service provider doesn’t have a proven process for regularly updating your website and sharing the information with you, your website is getting forgotten, and you’re paying for nothing.

    3. They don’t know the ins and outs of your website

    Your website is complex, and it’s unique to your business. Unfortunately, many WordPress management services focus on one-size-fits-all solutions and often fail to address the specific needs of your website, thus leading to subpar performance or limited functionality in certain areas. 

    What happens is that they don’t save you any time or money. Instead, they took your money and gave you a headache—not to mention an outdated site burning oil.

    How to Find a WordPress Management Service Worth Hiring

    You must find WordPress management services that offer transparency in their WordPress management processes, provide tailored solutions, and understand WordPress trends well. Doing so will ensure that your WordPress website is up-to-date, secure, and optimized for maximum results. 

    Finally, it is essential to remember that WordPress management services vary widely, so it is vital to research WordPress management services thoroughly before making a decision. Doing so will ensure that WordPress websites receive the highest quality WordPress management service possible.

    Our article WordPress Management and Maintenance Services: How to Outsource, DIY, or Keep In House to learn more about finding the right service provider.

    Why Every Business Should Hire a WordPress Management Service

    WordPress management services are vital for businesses looking to grow their online presence.

    These services will save you time and money, keep your website secure and updated, and ensure that your website works. Here are the reasons why.

    If you or your team are still getting familiar with website development and maintenance, you need to hire a service to handle these tasks. Not only is website management going to drive you crazy, but it's also going to bog you down.

    1. Managing a website requires technical knowledge or expertise

    If you or your team are still getting familiar with website development and maintenance, you need to hire a service to handle these tasks. Not only will website management drive you crazy, but it will also bog you down.

    A WordPress management service will give you back hours each week and allow you to focus on high-value activities that will move your work forward.

    2. WordPress management takes a lot of time

    Managing a website can take significant time; some people may need more time or resources to do it themselves. A good WordPress management service will take the burden off your shoulders and free up time to focus on other aspects of your business.

    3. Regular updates and maintenance are required

    A WordPress management service can update your website with the latest core and plugin updates. This ensures you don’t experience any downtime or security breaches that would drive customers away.

    4. You want to improve optimization for search engines

    A management service can help optimize a website for search engines to improve its visibility and search rankings. This can result in more website traffic and, ultimately, more sales.

    5. You need help with customization and content updates

    A management service can help you add or update content on your website so it stays up-to-date and customers see the most relevant information. There’s nothing more effective at turning away customers than an outdated site. Don’t let that be yours!

    6. Website backups and security is a priority

    A management service can help ensure a website is backed up regularly and protected against hacking and other security threats. Not only will security issues create downtime on your site, but they can also mean someone has stolen your customer’s private information. Nobody wants to write that email.

    7. You want your website to perform well

    A management service can help optimize website performance by implementing caching, minifying resources, and other techniques to improve load times and overall user experience. You are losing customers if your website doesn’t load within 5 seconds. Ensuring your customers aren’t walking out the door the moment they walk in is invaluable.

    WordPress Management Service Common Questions

    WordPress Management Service Common Questions

    What is a WordPress management or maintenance service?

    A WordPress management or maintenance service is a service provider that offers WordPress website maintenance, support, and growth services.

    What are the benefits of a WordPress management service?

    A quality WordPress management service will give you many benefits:

    1. Complete peace of mind that a team of WordPress experts manages and maintains your website.
    2. Hours back every week so you can focus on high-value activities that drive your business forward.
    3. Happy customers love using your website because it works like a charm, it’s fast, and it’s easy to use.
    4. Advice and implementation for SEO and other digital marketing strategies that support your website.
    5. Quick customer support so you can rest easy knowing that help is available anytime.

    Ultimately, WordPress management services save time, energy, and money while ensuring optimal performance and security for WordPress websites.

    What types of WordPress management service is available?

    WordPress management services vary depending on the provider. Common WordPress maintenance and support services include:

    • WordPress updates
    • WordPress security monitoring
    • WordPress backups
    • Performance optimization
    • Content management

    Some providers may also offer additional web development or SEO services.

    Structure WordPress Management Packages include all of these services and more, including:

    • Dedicated Account Manager
    • 24-hour Response time (during the workweek)
    • Monthly detailed website report

    What should I consider when looking for a WordPress Management Service?

    When choosing WordPress management services, consider the provider’s reputation, experience, and customer support. It would be best to look at the types of services included in the package and how much it costs.

    Finally, read reviews from other customers to see if their experiences match what you need for your WordPress website.

    Why do I need WordPress maintenance?

    Without a working website, you won’t meet your marketing objectives—that’s where WordPress management services come in.

    Overall, WordPress management services provide peace of mind that your website is in good hands and looks professionally done. It also saves time, energy, and money while ensuring your WordPress website stays healthy and performs well.

    What is the difference between WordPress and a managed WordPress service?

    WordPress is the software used to create websites, while WordPress management services focus more on upkeep and maintenance than creating the website.

    What is the difference between managed WordPress and regular hosting?

    Managed WordPress hosting is a service that provides WordPress users with specialized WordPress-focused features for their websites, such as automatic WordPress updates, WordPress-specific security measures, daily backups, and more.

    On the other hand, regular hosting services provide the same features without WordPress-specific functionality, automatic updates, or premium support. The main difference is that managed WordPress hosting has been optimized for WordPress to ensure the best performance and security for WordPress websites.

    If I hire a WordPress management service, do I own my content on WordPress?

    Yes, you should! But it depends on the WordPress management service. If you hire a WordPress management service, they should give you complete ownership of your content and website. Before engaging their services, it’s essential to clarify this point with the WordPress management provider.

    How much do website management and maintenance services cost?

    The cost of WordPress maintenance services depends on the WordPress management service provider and their benefits. Some WordPress maintenance providers charge a one-time fee or an ongoing monthly subscription, while others offer packages tailored to your needs.

    It’s also worth noting that WordPress maintenance costs can vary depending on the size and complexity of the website.

    We have a few WordPress management packages at Structure, ranging from $249/mo for our Essential WordPress Management Package to $1,299/mo., for our Premium WordPress Management Package .

    Can WordPress manage multiple sites?

    Yes, WordPress can manage multiple sites. The WordPress Multisite Network is a feature that allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard. This makes updating and maintaining a multi-site environment more accessible with minimal effort.

    However, note that WordPress management services are more complex when you have a WordPress network of sites. Structure provides additional support in our second-tier Professional WordPress Management Package for WordPress multisite clients because of the additional work and risk required to manage a network.