Most business websites benefit from small updates monthly — content changes, security patches, and software updates — with a fuller design refresh every two to three years to keep things current. A neglected website becomes a security risk and starts looking dated faster than most owners expect.
What counts as website maintenance?
- Applying security patches and software updates
- Monitoring uptime and fixing broken links or errors
- Updating content, pricing, hours, or seasonal information
- Backing up the site regularly
- Checking page speed and performance over time
What happens if a website isn't maintained?
Unpatched software becomes a security vulnerability, broken links and outdated information erode visitor trust, and search rankings can slip as competitors' sites stay fresher and faster. Small neglected issues tend to compound over time.
How often should security updates happen?
Ideally, as soon as updates are available — especially for platforms like WordPress, where outdated plugins are a common entry point for attacks. Ongoing hosting and maintenance plans typically handle this automatically rather than leaving it to the owner to remember.
When does a site need more than maintenance — a redesign?
When the underlying design, mobile experience or platform itself is holding the site back, not just the content. See our article on whether it's time to redesign for the specific signs to look for.
Learn more
See Walker Internet Services' full Website Maintenance service page for what's included in every monthly plan.