Why Website Support and Maintenance Matters
Launching a new website is a major milestone.
After months of research, planning, design, and development, you unveil your latest creation to the world. But that doesn’t mean your work is done!
For many organizations, the idea of “website maintenance” is just an optional “feature” to include after a redesign is complete. But websites need continuous care and nurturing to succeed over the long term.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 reasons why you should invest in a support and site improvement plan for your website.
Your website is a digital front door—and like any door, it needs to stay locked and secure. Regular maintenance ensures:
- Security patches are applied promptly
- Modules and plugins stay up to date
- User data and integrations remain protected
If you're running a content management system like Drupal or WordPress, new vulnerabilities are discovered all the time. Without updates, your site can become a target for bots, breaches, or worse—downtime.
Websites are living systems. New pages, documents, and features are added; old content becomes outdated. Maintenance ensures:
- Broken links and outdated PDFs don’t pile up
- Site search is returning the results you expected
- Navigation evolves with your organization’s needs
Without regular review, important content gets buried or lost entirely.
Many organizations ask for ADA and WCAG compliance at launch. But accessibility is ongoing:
- New content and layouts must be tested for contrast and screen reader compatibility
- Automated scans catch regressions before they become legal liabilities
- Staff need guidance on maintaining accessible practices post-launch
Maintaining accessibility is about serving all users—not just meeting a requirement.
When your site is down, services are interrupted, and trust erodes. A robust maintenance plan includes:
- Uptime monitoring
- Automated backups and tested recovery processes
- Proactive server and performance tuning
Even a few minutes of downtime during key service hours can disrupt a user's ability to apply for assistance, submit a request, or get critical updates.
We don’t just want stability—you should also focus on growth. With site improvement as part of your support plan, your team can:
- Add new features incrementally
- Pilot integrations like AI and search enhancements or CRM integrations
- Plan for version upgrades before they become emergencies
We think of post-launch care as a partnership, not a product.
Dan Moriarty is the co-founder, CEO and chief strategist with Electric Citizen.