maintaining and running websites

A website can't just be launched and forgotten. Even if no changes are made, it needs to be checked regularly, as links to other websites may have failed, leaving your visitors with the dreaded 404 Not Found error message. Websites should be thoroughly tested at least once a month to make sure nothing bad has happened.

Websites usually contain information that needs regular updating, such as names and telephone numbers. In addition, you might have fresh text for an existing page, or even the need for new pages—for instance, if you are expanding your goods or services or offering new ones.

Your website should give your visitors something new and interesting to see each time. This might be an on-line newsletter, special offers, a 'thought for the day', new images of your activities, something that either draws your visitors back or makes their time on your website more agreeable.

All this means that you need someone to maintain your website. You can do it in-house by training someone to do this work as a web expert, or you can buy interface software that allows your staff to update your site without needing technical knowledge. This software, however, needs to be set-up and maintained for them. If you want more than a few staff to be able to add and edit content, then you might want to consider a content management system.

Or, instead of involving your staff, you can hire me to do this work. I offer a range of packages, from one that guarantees you a full 'M.O.T.' of your site every month to see that all is well, to an hourly rate to have regular daily, weekly or monthly changes made for you. My standard package offers you a guaranteed two hours a month of any sort of web work over and above the 'M.O.T'. I am happy, if you have no work for me one month, to let credit roll forward and, conversely, I won't charge you for a busy month if I anticipate quiet months to come. I can bill you as you wish, and you receive clear time-sheets from me with details of work carried out.

If you have a daily need for two or more hours of someone's time actually running your website, the price and time alloted for this would have to be agreed in advance. If you need even more substantial work on your website every day (if, for instance, you post daily prices or many special offers), if may be more cost-effective it to you to hire your own web manager. I am happy to help you with this.