Why Website Maintenance Is Not Optional (And Cost of Ignoring It)

## The Risks of Ignoring Maintenance

### 1. Security
- **90% of hacked sites** were outdated
- WordPress without update = known vulnerability
- A hacked site can cost $1,000+ to recover

### 2. Performance
- Old plugins cause slowness
- Database needs regular cleaning
- Each second of delay = -7% conversion

### 3. SEO
- Google penalizes slow sites
- 404 errors hurt ranking
- Outdated content loses relevance

### 4. User Experience
- Broken links frustrate visitors
- Outdated design gives bad impression
- Broken forms = lost leads

## What Should Be Done Regularly

### Weekly
- Verify site is online
- Reply to contact forms
- Monitor speed

### Monthly
- Update plugins / CMS
- Check broken links
- Review metrics (Analytics)
- Verify backup

### Quarterly
- Security audit
- Database optimization
- Content review
- Full speed test

### Annual
- Review design / UX
- Update texts and photos
- Renew SSL and domain
- Evaluate new features

## Cost of NOT Doing Maintenance

| Problem | Cost to Resolve |
|---|---|
| Hacked site | $500-2,000 |
| Recover lost backup | $200-1,000 |
| Redo site from scratch | $1,000-5,000 |
| Lost leads/sales | Incalculable |

## How Much Does Maintenance Cost?

- **Basic**: $50-100 / month
- **Professional**: $100-200 / month (includes changes)
- **Premium**: $300+ / month (dedicated support)

**Maintenance is like insurance: you hope never to need it, but when you do, it's worth every penny.**