You have just had your website created. Well done. But here's a reality that many discover too late: an unmaintained website gradually becomes slow, vulnerable, and obsolete. And one day it may simply crash or be hacked.
Web maintenance is not an option: it is the condition for your investment to remain effective over time.
Why a website deteriorates without maintenance
Security updates
WordPress and its extensions receive regular updates. These updates address known security vulnerabilities. If you don't apply them, your site remains exposed to attacks that become easier to carry out over time.
In figures: 90% of hacked WordPress sites used an outdated version of the CMS or its plugins.
Technology compatibility
The web is evolving. PHP (the language that runs WordPress) is releasing new versions. Browsers evolve. If your site is not updated, parts of it may stop working without you realizing it.
Performance
Caches, databases and temporary files accumulate. Without regular cleaning, your site will gradually slow down. A site that took 1.5 seconds to load when delivered can reach 4 or 5 seconds a year later without maintenance.
What real site maintenance includes
- WordPress updates (core, theme, plugins) with compatibility check
- Regular backup of files and database (ideally daily, stored off-server)
- Availability monitoring: immediate alert if the site goes down
- Performance analysis and corrections if necessary
- Security check: malware scanning, access audit
- Broken links control and forms
How much does site maintenance cost?
A professional maintenance contract in France costs between €50 and €200 per month depending on the level of service included:
- Basic pack (50-80 €/month): updates, backups, availability monitoring
- Intermediate pack (80-150 €/month): the previous ones + bug fixes, reactive support, monthly report
- Premium pack (150-300 €/month): the previous ones + continuous optimization, small developments, technical SEO
Breaked down to a day, it's often less expensive than an hour of emergency intervention when something breaks.
The cost of an unmaintained site
Here is what the lack of maintenance can cost:
- Hirked site: €500 to €2,000 for cleaning and restoration
- Data loss without backup: reconstruction of the site from scratch
- Google penalty if your site distributes malware: disappearance of search results
- Breakdown on D-day (launch of a campaign, peak period): direct loss of income
Maintenance is also a continuous evolution
A good maintenance contract goes beyond technology. It allows you to evolve: add a page, modify a service, publish news. Your service provider becomes a digital partner, not just a technician.
If your site is more than 2 years old and has never been maintained, an audit is essential above all. It is very likely that significant corrections will be necessary before even talking about evolution.
