WordPress started as a blogging platform and seamlessly transitioned to an excellent CMS. According to W3Techs, it powers 43% of all online websites globally. Nowadays, most of the business owners with an online presence on WordPress look for a care service for their website. But an online search will reveal one of the following services: Maintenance, Development, Support, Consultancy, and Management. However, most managers don’t know the difference between them and, most important, which one is the one that works best for them.
In the following article, I want to debunk some myths and shed some light on these services outlining the differences so you can easily choose the best one for your WordPress business.
WordPress Maintenance
Let’s start with WordPress Maintenance. In a nutshell, this service means an agency will ensure your website remain in good shape and work as expected. They do this by monitoring the health of your website, doing security checks and fixes, taking backups, etc. When needed will step in and fix issues.
If you want to run your online business hassle-free, then you need WordPress maintenance services. It’s not just a case of simply launching your site, and that’s it. WordPress, as a core system, comes with its updates, aside from plugins, themes, and content. It’s crucial to put in place a post-launch strategy once the site is launched to ensure that it stays up to date, secure, and fully functioning.
On the other hand, a WordPress maintenance agency may not do onsite changes, develop new functionalities or do advanced debugging for your code. Also, they are not doing onsite SEO for your business. You may want to look into WordPress development or support services if you need these services.
Further readings:
- WordPress Maintenance Cost: How much You Should Pay
- How to Choose the Best WordPress Maintenance Agency for Your Business
- Top 10 Reasons to Use a WordPress Maintenance Service
- WordPress Maintenance Package – What should it include?
WordPress Support
The following service I will talk about is WordPress Support. The main difference between WordPress maintenance and WordPress support services is that WP support should include more features and benefits and is suitable for advanced online businesses.
Many bad things can happen to your WordPress website: plugin errors, operating mistakes, server issues, and functionalities that stop working out of the blue, to name a few.
While the maintenance service ensures your website stays in good shape, a WP support service allows you to get advanced debugging, adding small functionalities, speed improvement, consulting, etc. On top of that, you can always ask your support team questions regarding your website. Or you may need advanced maintenance, and server tweaking, which a reputable WP support agency should offer you.
However, A WP Support service may not include advanced WordPress development or digital marketing services. Still, it will offer peace of mind for business owners that their website works as expected and benefits from advanced care and development.
Further readings:
WordPress Consultancy
Now that we’ve discussed WordPress maintenance and support services, let’s continue with the consultancy service.
A WordPress consultant provides a holistic approach to your business. It will advise on the overall strategy of how your website fits in. Usually, their experience is more extensive than WordPress. It includes development, system architecture, website security, performance, SEO, and business growth.
So you get the help of a WordPress consultant when you want to benefit from the advice of someone with vast knowledge and experience in WordPress. Sometimes, you may need to bring two or more consultants knowledgeable in different areas to the same table. For instance, a WordPress developer and an SEO specialist find the best way to implement a technical SEO strategy.
Further readings:
WordPress Development
A WordPress development agency should help you launch your website, add new functionality, code new plugins for your WordPress sites, etc. Overall, the main difference between WordPress maintenance and support services is that while these keep an active website in good shape, you need WordPress development to create a new website or add new plugins and functionalities.
With WP Riders’ monthly development plans, you get a multidisciplinary team of resources, an outsourced CTO, custom feature development, and ongoing website support. Not just a single person. For instance, WPRiders manage them all for you and then communicate to you in a simple language so you would understand what is needed and what is not needed.
Further readings:
- How to Choose a WordPress Ongoing Development Agency
- 14 Key Questions To Ask Ongoing WordPress Development Services
- 10 Key Principles For Five-Star Customer Service In Website Development Agencies
- Agile WordPress Development: How To Maximize The ROI Of Your MVP Website
WordPress Management
WordPress Management Agencies take care of consultancy, maintenance, backups, cybersecurity, changes, and updates of your website, which will help your business grow.
Most WordPress management agencies have extensive knowledge in multiple areas connected to WordPress. For instance, WPRiders has an in-house staff of developers, digital marketers, security specialists, and designers, to name a few.
Besides other services like maintenance, support, consultancy, or development, the WordPress management service puts together all of these, and it’s the most advanced service you can get from an agency.
Further readings:
How to choose the best one for your website
Now that you know what these services are and how they can help you let’s do a recap so you can find out which one is the best for you.
- WordPress Maintenance – You will have your website in good shape, and the agency may make minor edits to it if needed. Usually, it’s a retainer you agree on with the agency.
- WP Support – It’s a more advanced service than the WP maintenance plans and includes LiveChat, email, and phone support. Also, it’s a retainer.
- WordPress Consultancy – Get your doubts answered by WP experts that will tell you what will work for your business, create strategies, etc. It can be on retainer or agreed hours when needed.
- WordPress Development – Get a website built from scratch or add major functionalities and integrations to an existing one. Most of the time, on a per-project basis or a retainer.
- WP Management -It’s a more business-oriented service of WordPress support and consultancy services designed for high-end websites. It’s a retainer most of the time.
Conclusion
Now you know what WordPress care services you will find online and their differences. By knowing them, you will know exactly what you need and what you can ask and expect from a provider, and you will not overpay for something you don’t need yet.
If you are unsure, get in touch with us, and we will analyze your project to find the best WordPress care service for you.
