It might sound like a good deal when somebody says “You only pay once”. It’s a terrible deal, at least for websites.
Think of it this way – would you try to build and run your own 5g cell towers so you don’t have to pay AT&T or Telus each month to keep your iPhone connected?
Website Quotes Without Ongoing Support and/or Maintenance Plans Are Risky!
Websites are NOT like the ‘90s software that you bought once in a box. Server hardware and software specs keep changing, new cybersecurity threats emerge, and things might break – especially on more complex websites.
But wait, why should you take my words when it comes to web design?
My 20+ Years in Various Positions In The Web Design World In A Snap
I was the nerdy kid in middle school who learned how to write HTML and CSS as the word “internet” became mainstream in the 90s. I stumbled into being a freelance graphic and web designer in 2005. As the demand for my work grew, I brought on subcontractors and admin help… and I have now grown to an agency owner with graphic designers, web developers and social/PPC specialists working with me. My firm provides a hybrid of boutique agency + niche SaaS + digital marketing, and I now have over 20 years of experience in this field.
In those 20+ years, I’ve done everything from close-cropping headshots on a pirated installation of Adobe Photoshop, to building out databases and APIs on the Amazon Web Services cloud (and everything in between).
So, do you trust me now? Maybe you missed my web designer red flag #1 post?
Jeff Kee featured On G4 Tech TV in 2007 with Leo
Thinking of self-hosting on Bluehost or Digital Ocean? Think Again
Testing your DIY skills should be for a live-edge shelf or a coffee table – NOT for proving you can self-deploy a website on a cost-effective shared hosting environment.
This won’t impress your dates, unlike woodwork – trust me, I graduated high school a virgin.
Unless you’re a nerd like me (highly skilled in managing web hosting environments and firewall rules), don’t even think about “getting the WordPress files and upload to a webhost” – focus on your business operations! You’ll be better off with less headaches and more productivity.
Websites Are Not A One-And-Done Product – It’s A Digital Organism That Needs Love
Websites need software updates, security monitoring, and hosting management
We need to think of websites differently – it’s a digital organism that lives on the cloud, interacting with (and defending against) many different entities.
Modern websites require attention and upkeep.
Even for a basic website, you want (at the very least) a Managed Hosting plan. If your website is on a solid SaaS platform like Shopify or Webflow, you are in good hands. Many agencies will offer custom-design services on these solid frameworks instead of re-inventing the wheel (we recommend this over a custom build 9/10 times, but that’s a whole other topic).
Websites on SaaS (Software as a Service) should get the following covered at the very least:
- Operating system and server software upkeep & upgrades to keep up with industry standards (take a look at our 2024 software and hardware upgrade recap for Brixwork as an example).
- Monitor and mitigate cyberattacks, ill-intended crawlers and scrapers, and DDOS attacks that can compromise website performance and speed or breach the system to turn it into a spam factory.
- Tech support for back-end (website admin) panel issues, fix broken pages/modules, upgrade software & plugins as needed.
Website upgrades and changes as your business grows
Good web designers should also offer future changes and upgrade opportunities. Browser specs can change, or your business grows quickly and you require more pages and functions. Both my agencies (including HOVR Marketing Inc.) offer a 1 year lock-in on hourly labour rates for all new sign-ups, for example.
If you really value immediate cost savings over long dependability, ignore this Red Flag and take a chance – you may get lucky! But my web designer Red Flag #2 should be a non-negotiable.
