Keeping Your Business Website Working Without a Full-Time Tech Expert

A practical look at website upkeep, common technical problems, and different ways to get help.

Learn about website maintenance tasks, the skills they require, and how managed services can handle them for you.

Key Takeaways

• Your website needs regular care to stay fast, secure, and visible to customers, but finding time and skills can be hard.

• Hiring a specialist brings deep knowledge but has high fixed costs, while doing it yourself risks mistakes and takes you away from your business.

• A managed website service acts as an ongoing partner, handling technical work for a predictable fee and freeing you to focus on your customers.

What Running a Website Really Involves

A business website is like a digital storefront. It needs to be open, clean, and easy to enter. Keeping it that way involves hidden work. This work includes updating software, checking for security problems, fixing slow loading times, and making sure it works on phones. These tasks are not one-time jobs. They need to happen regularly.

If these tasks are ignored, problems can grow. Your site might become slow. It could become vulnerable to hackers. It might stop showing up properly in search results like Google. This can turn customers away. A government report notes that small businesses using digital tools, like good websites, see benefits in reaching new customers.
Source: (Title: Digital technology adoption for small businesses, Institution: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Jurisdiction: Canada, Date: 2023, URL: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/00001.html)

For a business owner, this creates a choice. You can try to learn and do the work yourself. You can hire someone to do it. Or you can pay a service to manage it for you. Each path has different costs, not just in money, but in your time and stress. A survey found that many Canadian businesses face challenges with the complexity of online operations.
Source: (Title: Canadian Internet Use Survey, Institution: Statistics Canada, Jurisdiction: Canada, Date: 2022-06-22, URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230622/dq230622b-eng.htm)

“Many small business owners are experts in their product, not in web technology. The technical demands of maintaining a secure, fast website can be a significant distraction from core business activities,” explains the Business Development Bank of Canada. They emphasize that getting external support can be a strategic decision to protect the business and save the owner's time.
Source: (Title: Digital marketing, Institution: Business Development Bank of Canada, Jurisdiction: Canada, Date: 2023, URL: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/marketing-sales-export/marketing/digital-marketing)

Finding the Right Help for Your Situation

The best way to handle website upkeep depends on your business size, budget, and comfort with technology. A solo consultant might start by doing simple updates themselves. They can use website builder tools. But for security updates or fixing errors, they might need to find a freelancer for occasional help. This can work but can be unpredictable.

A small retail shop with a team might have more complex needs. They might need to update product photos and prices often. They might run online promotions. Here, having a reliable person or service to make quick changes is important. Hiring a part-time employee is an option. The Canadian government's Job Bank reports that the median hourly wage for web designers and developers is about $32.
Source: (Title: Web designers and developers, Institution: Job Bank, Government of Canada, Jurisdiction: Canada, Date: 2024, URL: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/2774/ca)

A growing company with a busy online store has the highest stakes. Website downtime or a security breach can cost sales and trust. For them, a dedicated managed service can be valuable. This service acts like an outsourced tech department. They monitor the site constantly, apply updates, and fix issues fast. The cost is a regular monthly or yearly fee. This is different from the variable cost of hiring or freelancers.

The Government of Canada advises that “adopting digital technologies often requires complementary investments in skills and processes.” This means that buying a website is not the end. You also need to invest in the knowledge and routines to keep it running well, whether that knowledge is in-house or comes from a trusted partner.
Source: (Title: Digital technology adoption for small businesses, Institution: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Jurisdiction: Canada, Date: 2023, URL: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/00001.html)

Making a Practical Choice

You do not have to become a tech expert to have a professional website. The goal is to keep your site reliable for customers. Look at your own week. How much time could you spend on website tasks without neglecting your core work? Be honest about what you are comfortable doing.

Then, look at the options. Doing it yourself has a low cash cost but a high time cost. Hiring gives you control but adds payroll and management. A managed service offers predictability and frees your time, for a fee. There is no single right answer. The right choice is the one that lets your website support your business without becoming a source of constant worry.

Your next step is simple. Write down the last three website problems you faced. Were they about speed, looking wrong on a phone, or an update you delayed? This list shows your real needs. Use it to talk to a freelancer or a managed service provider. Ask them how they would handle those specific issues. Their answers will help you see which path fits you best.

Article Recap

This article explained the ongoing work required to maintain a business website, including updates, security, and performance fixes. It described how these technical tasks can be challenging for business owners who are not specialists. The article compared three main approaches: handling tasks yourself, hiring an employee or freelancer, and using a managed website service. It highlighted the trade-offs in cost, time, and control for each approach, using Canadian wage data and business advice to inform the discussion. The piece included expert insights on the strategic value of external support and guidance from Canadian institutions. It concluded by encouraging business owners to assess their specific needs and time constraints to make a practical, informed decision about website management, focusing on solutions that provide reliability and free them to concentrate on their customers and core business operations.

FAQ

1. What are the most common website maintenance tasks?
   Common tasks include updating the website's core software and any plugins or extensions. You need to check and fix security vulnerabilities. It is important to monitor the site speed and optimize images. You should also ensure the site displays correctly on all devices and browsers. Finally, performing regular backups is essential in case something goes wrong.
   
   These tasks prevent most major problems. Without them, your site can become slow, insecure, or broken. Setting a regular schedule, like checking for updates every two weeks, can help. You can use tools within your website platform to automate some of this work.

2. How much does it typically cost to hire someone to manage a website in Canada?
   Costs vary widely. Hiring a freelance web developer for occasional work might cost between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on their experience and your project. According to Job Bank Canada, the median hourly wage for a web designer or developer is around $32, but a full-time employee would also require benefits and payroll costs.
   
   For a managed service, you typically pay a monthly subscription. This can range from about $100 to over $500 per month. The price depends on the complexity of your site and the level of support. Always ask exactly what is included, such as how many updates or hours of support are provided.

3. What is the main advantage of a managed website service?
   The main advantage is predictability. You pay a fixed fee for a set of services. This makes budgeting easier. The service provider handles the technical work proactively. This means they often find and fix problems before you notice them. It frees you from having to manage a person or learn technical skills.
   
   This allows you to focus on your business. You are not distracted by website issues. A good service will also provide reports on your site's health and performance. This gives you peace of mind that your digital storefront is being watched by experts.

4. Can I manage my website myself if I use a simple website builder?
   Yes, you can. Website builders are designed to be user-friendly. They handle many technical updates automatically in the background. You can easily update text, images, and products yourself. This is a good, low-cost option for very simple sites.
   
   However, you are still responsible for your content, passwords, and basic decisions. You should learn about website security basics, like using strong passwords. You are also responsible for connecting your domain name and email. If you encounter an error or want advanced features, you may still need to seek help from the builder's support or a professional.

5. What should I ask a potential managed service provider?
   Ask about their specific response times for different types of issues. Ask what happens if your website goes down. Request a clear list of all tasks included in the monthly fee. Find out if there are limits on the number of changes or support requests. Ask how they handle emergency issues outside of business hours.
   
   Also, ask for examples of similar businesses they work with. Check if they provide regular performance reports. Finally, understand the contract terms, especially how you can end the service if needed. Good providers will answer these questions clearly and without pressure.

6. How do I know if my website needs more professional help?
   There are clear signs. If your website loads very slowly, that can drive customers away. If you frequently see error messages or broken features, that is a sign. If you are constantly worried about hackers or spam. If you are avoiding making updates because you fear breaking something. If you simply do not have the time to keep up with the necessary tasks.
   
   If several of these points sound familiar, it is time to look for help. Start by getting quotes from a few freelancers or managed services. Compare what they offer against your pain points and budget. Investing in reliable website management is an investment in your business's credibility and customer trust.