For most small businesses, the best person to update your website is a team on a flat monthly fee that handles both your changes and the maintenance that keeps the site safe. It costs far less than hiring staff, it’s faster than waiting on a busy designer, and it’s more consistent than hiring someone new for every job.
That’s the short answer. Here’s the longer one.
When a new client comes to us, there’s usually someone who has been “the website person” up to that point. Sometimes it’s the front desk clerk. Sometimes it’s someone higher up, like the marketing director. In almost every case, they’re out of their area of expertise and spending far too much time trying to get things done on the website, time that should have gone to their actual job.
If that sounds familiar, you have options. Each one below has real strengths, and each one fits some businesses better than others.
1. Do it yourself
Good fit if: your site rarely changes, you’re comfortable in WordPress, and you have the time.
Watch out for: the hidden cost. Doing it yourself is free in dollars and expensive in hours. A five-minute change can turn into an afternoon when a layout shifts or a form stops working. And the behind-the-scenes work, like updates, backups, and security, is usually the first thing to get skipped.
2. Your original web designer
Good fit if: they’re responsive, offer ongoing support, and enjoy that kind of work.
Watch out for: priorities. Most designers make their living building new sites, so a small change to yours goes to the back of the line. Many move on after the project is finished, and some disappear entirely. (If that’s happened to you, here’s how to get your website back.)
3. Freelancers by the job
Good fit if: you need a one-time task, and you’re comfortable writing up exactly what you want.
Watch out for: starting over every time. Marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to hire someone, but you’ll explain your site from scratch with each new person, quality varies, and no one is watching your site’s security between jobs.
4. A virtual assistant
Good fit if: you need help with admin work and simple content updates, like publishing a blog post or swapping a photo.
Watch out for: asking for more than the role is built for. A good generalist VA can handle a lot, but most aren’t developers, and you shouldn’t expect them to be. Maintenance, security, troubleshooting a broken page, and anything more complicated are best handled by a WordPress professional.
5. A staff member
Good fit if: your website is central to the business and changes constantly, enough to justify a dedicated role.
Watch out for: the trade-off. A staff member knows your business, but website work pulls them away from their real job. Hiring dedicated web staff costs far more than most small business websites need.
6. A website care plan team
Good fit if: your site needs regular changes, and you want one place to send them, with maintenance built in.
Watch out for: fine print. Look for clearly stated monthly time, no long contracts, and maintenance included. Be wary of “unlimited” promises, which usually come with limits somewhere else.
The options side by side
| Option | How you pay | Turnaround | Updates and security | Knows your site | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | Your time | Whenever you get to it | Often skipped | Yes | Sites that rarely change |
| Original designer | Hourly or per project | Depends on their schedule | Sometimes | Yes, at first | Designers who offer ongoing support |
| Freelancers by the job | Per task | Varies by person | Rarely | No | One-time tasks |
| Virtual assistant | Hourly or retainer | Usually quick | Rarely | Over time | Admin and simple content updates |
| Staff member | A salary | Fast, if they have time | If they know how | Yes | Sites central to the business |
| Website care plan team | Flat monthly fee | Usually within a business day | Included | Over time | Most small businesses |
The questions that decide it
- How often does your site need changes? If the answer is “more than once in a while,” a one-off approach gets tiring fast.
- How fast do they need to happen? Holiday hours that go live after the holiday don’t help anyone.
- What happens when something breaks at 4 p.m. on a Friday? If the honest answer is “I’d have to figure that out,” that’s worth solving before it happens.
What working with a website care team looks like
With our Website Care plan, it works like this:
- Send it over. Email us what you need, in plain English.
- We handle it. Most requests are done within one business day.
- You check it off. We’ll confirm when it’s done.
Our rule is simple: if it’s clear, achievable, and you can give us access, we’ll handle it. That covers things like this month’s blog post, a new team member’s bio and headshot, updated hours, or a new menu. Most requests take us 15 to 30 minutes, and maintenance is included, so your site stays updated, backed up, and secure in the background.
Website Care is $199/month, month-to-month, with no contracts.
See what Website Care includes → · Tell us what your site needs →
FAQ
Can I still edit my own website if I hire a team?
Yes. You keep full access. Make the changes you’re comfortable with, and send us the rest.
Is a VA or a website care plan better for website updates?
A VA can be a good fit for simple content updates, especially if they already help with other parts of your business. For maintenance, security, and anything technical, a WordPress professional is the safer choice. A care plan covers both.
How do I hand my website over to a new team?
Usually, all you need is access to your domain plus either your WordPress admin or your hosting account. Here’s our guide to getting your website back if your designer isn’t responding.
How fast should website changes be done?
For small changes, within a business day or two is a reasonable expectation. Something broken should get attention the same business day.
