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Most web designers and developers offer care plans as a way to earn extra revenue, not to ensure your long-term success. The problem is that anyone can hang their shingle and call themselves a website care plan provider — even if that means only doing the bare minimum to click that red update button every once in a while.
But a website care plan isn’t just for maintenance and updates, it’s about investing in a partnership with someone as invested in your website as you are.
When it comes to choosing a website care plan provider, your organization needs a partner that prioritizes you, proactively works to find issues on your website before they become problems, and puts what’s best for your business over mere service delivery.
The pitfalls of budget-friendly options: Prioritize personalized attention
Do a bit of googling and you’ll find an abundance of cheap website support and care plan options that are virtually indistinguishable. You might be tempted to choose the cheap option because it feels like car insurance — you have to have it but never use it.
The problem with choosing the “cheap” or “budget-friendly” option is the limited, one-size-fits-all support and a lack of personalized attention. It’s no wonder so many clients have stories of feeling ignored and underserved. Trust me, when something goes wrong, it’s usually at the worst time, which is exactly when you don’t want low-level or non-existent support.
Unfortunately, many website care plans are generic services offered by people who want to do as little as possible and don’t actually want you to use them. As a result, they don’t prioritize the things you need most, like prevention and monitoring, and instead sit back and wait for you to realize there’s a problem.
Inevitably, important things get overlooked.
- Your website experiences increased vulnerabilities, failed updates, and unexpected downtime.
- Each new problem becomes another thing to react to, leaving your site, visitors, and sales at risk.
- Instead of peace of mind, you worry where the next problem will come from.
- What was initially an investment to free up time, is once again a problem distracting you from more important growth initiatives and goals.
Understanding the role of a comprehensive website care plan
Your website is an essential part of your organization, it’s your business’s front door to the internet and the first experience new clients have with your brand. And while no one plans on leaving their website and reputation vulnerable, many owners leave the dependability, security, and reputation of their site and business to whoever happened to last work on it— or just as often, no one at all.
Maybe you can relate?
Your website has a job to do: It needs to build your brand, grow your email list, and drive the conversion you care about most. With a care plan in place, it can always do its job.
And, with the right partner, when an issue arises, it’s dealt with immediately and likely before you even know there was an issue. No babysitting, no micromanaging. You’re free to focus on what you need to do as part of your job.
Choosing the right website partner
Now, you might be wondering “How do I choose the best website support and care plan provider for my business needs? Will they truly care about me and my business or are they in it for the recurring revenue?”
I get it. Your passion is providing a fantastic service for your clients, your priorities are making a bigger impact in the world, and your goals are growing a passionate group of donors. When it comes to website support, you may not even know what some of the items listed in a care plan are — and that can be confusing and overwhelming.
It’s why I prioritize educating clients on what is required to properly manage their WordPress website, provide guidance on security best practices, and keep them up to date on industry changes and new trends.
My goal is for you to feel empowered to make smart decisions about what is best for your website, its management, and how it’s used to support your businesses. And yes, sometimes that means I’m not the best fit.
Over the years, I’ve built my brand and reputation on creating long-term relationships with my clients based on trust, collaboration, and understanding. I take pride in forging partnerships with my clients, instead of just finishing projects or providing services. To provide that level of support, it’s important for me to understand your business goals and what you need from your website. This way, I can be there for you every step of the way, resolving any issues that may arise, proactively planning for the future, and providing peace of mind.
Good news: Website care plans are an essential focus of my business. While some agencies view website care plans as just another add-on in their list of services, for me, they’re at the heart of what I do. I don’t just build websites and move on; I’m committed to ensuring that your online presence thrives long after the initial launch.
Questions to ask potential website care plan providers
When you’re ready to interview prospective website care plan partners, ask questions and pay attention to how they’re answered. That will help you make a decision you can feel good about.
Here are a few questions to consider asking:
- How do you prioritize client needs in your care plans?
This answer will tell you whether they are solely focused on the bottom line or if they take the individual needs of each client into account, crafting their plans with your business in mind and demonstrating that they are committed to building partnerships and growth. - What measures do you take to prevent issues and ensure website security?
Every care plan will have some amount of security included. The answer to this question demonstrates whether they take a proactive approach to prioritize minimizing potential disruptions and ensuring the safety and reliability of your online presence. - How do you handle support requests and ensure personalized attention for each client?
The answer to this will reveal if they are going to deliver responsive, personalized support that keeps your unique business situation in mind, rather than put you in a ticket queue that treats every problem as the same. - What’s your process for handling emergency situations outside regular hours?
Their response will show if they are ready and capable of addressing urgent issues promptly and effectively, ensuring the continuity of your businesses website, services, and minimizing downtime. - Do you have any restrictions on the websites you support, and how do you help clients determine if your services are a good fit for them?
This answer will show you if and how they will assist you in determining if their service is suitable for your needs, helping you make informed decisions. - How do you educate clients on best practices and keep them informed about industry changes?
This answer will demonstrate their commitment to keeping you informed about best practices and the latest changes in the industry, empowering you to stay ahead of an evolving online landscape. - Do you handle website support tasks internally, or do you outsource the work?
The answer to this helps you determine their accountability and the consistency of the service. It’s better to have someone familiar with your business handling the support process than someone who just knows how to push buttons. - Can you share success stories or examples of how your care plans have benefited other clients?
This question will help you understand if they are dedicated to your success and that they have the experience to back that up by sharing the tangible benefits and outcomes of their care plans.
Ready for dedicated help?
By asking the right questions, you can walk away comfortable and confident with your choice and the partner you ultimately choose to work with. The choice you make should provide you with the peace of mind and your organization the dedicated help, ongoing technical maintenance, and direct access to expert support it needs.
Are you looking for a reliable partner who can provide you with ongoing technical maintenance, dedicated help, and direct access to expert support? If so, I would love to answer your questions. Contact me about a care plan, and let’s determine if we are a good fit for each other, and whether I can give you the peace of mind you deserve.
