One of the things to consider before hiring a web developer to build a website is how the updates and maintenance of that website will be handled
Who is going to do the updates? How much will they cost?
In this Website Design Frequently Asked Questions (Web Design FAQs) video blog, I address the question Will I be able to update my new website myself? by looking at 4 factors that impact website maintenace.
(The article below is a summary of the video, but you’ll get more details and examples if you watch the video.)
4 Factors that Impact Website Maintenance
1. Time vs Money
First, let’s consider… What are the pros and cons of maintaining a website yourself versus having a developer do it for you?
Maintaining the website yourself will take more of your time but it will typically save you money. That’s the advantage of maintaining it yourself. Advantage of updating the website yourself is that you can do it anytime that you want.
If you have a developer maintain it for you, often there is some kind of delay – maybe a few hours, more likely a few days, but possibly a few weeks. Typically, updates will be done sooner if you are able to update the site yourself.
2. Ease of Use
The ease of use largely depends on the platform your developer chooses for your website. Platforms like WordPress are known for their user-friendliness, making it easier for individuals with limited technical knowledge to manage their websites.
When discussing your project with a prospective developer, ask about the platform they plan to use and how accessible it will be for you to handle.
3. Training & Documentation
Another factor that will impact your ability to update your website is whether the developer provides you with any training or instructions on how to update your website.
These may include video tutorials, instructional manuals, or documentation, offering step-by-step guidance on updating your website. Ensuring that you have access to such resources is essential in building your confidence and ability to manage your site effectively.
4. Support
Finally, the support provided by the developer is going to impact your ability to update the website yourself.
Do they have live phone and chat support available if you have an urgent issue? Are they quick to reply to emails? If not, this could make updating your website yourself difficult and frustrating.
Bonus: Software Updates vs Content Updates
It’s also important to understand the difference between content updates and software updates, and who is responsible for each.
Software updates are the regular updates that need to be done to the content management system, plugins and theme to keep them secure and up to date. If you use an online website builder to build your website, these updates are done by the website service provider. If you build the website yourself or hire a developer to do your church website design, you will either need to do these updates yourself or have a developer do them for you like with our Full WordPress Service.
Content updates include things like adding events to the calendar, publishing sermons, and updating info about your ministry or business. Most organizations do content updates themselves, but some of our clients have a monthly content maintenance service and send us their sermons or content updates.
We hope this video and article help you decide the best way to manage and update your website.
Partner with us for worry-free website updates
When you partner with OurChurch.Com to build your website, we take care of all the software updates for you. And we give you the option of doing your own content updates or having us do them for you, which ever is best for you.
If you have any other questions about business, nonprofit or church website design or SEO services, we would love to talk with you. Compete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a free consultation!
Comment and discuss
- Do you prefer to update your website yourself or have a developer do it for you? Why?
Read or watch more Web Design FAQs
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
1 Comment
One important point that could be expanded on is the potential security risks of handling software updates without proper knowledge. Neglecting updates or making errors during the process could leave a website vulnerable to cyber threats.