Even if I didn’t build your website, I can maintain and provide WordPress support. That includes making WordPress and plugin updates, checking the hosting is suitable, ensuring that backups happen, keeping the site safe from hackers and malware, and giving you advice as and when you need it.
Website rescue
If you’re looking for help because your website has been hacked, or has broken, that’s something I can probably help with as a one-off task. Don’t panic, it might look bad but the solution might be simpler than you’d expect. I can take steps to prevent it happening again.
Hosting
The better the hosting company, the less chance that something will break. I can offer an opinion on the hosting package’s suitability, check everything is configured correctly, and that you’re using up-to-date versions of essential technology such PHP and MySQL. If you need new hosting, I recommend either WP Engine (if you’re able to afford it) or Siteground (cheap but still good and reliable).
Automated backups
Backing up your website is an essential, regular task but one that often gets overlooked or taken for granted. Ideally your website hosting company does daily backups. If not, I automate the task using a well regarded and reliable WordPress plugin called Backup Buddy. Backup Buddy backs up everything including your MySQL database, WordPress core files, theme, uploaded images and documents; the resultant compressed file is ready to download and can also be automatically saved to the cloud.
Security
Your website should have an SSL security certificate. I can check it’s set up correctly, or guide you to get a free or paid-for certificate if you don’t have one.
I install a plugin called WordFence to constantly protect your website against a host of potential internet nasties. It blocks persistent attempts to login to WordPress, alerts us if suspicious files are spotted on your website or if your site is used to send spam, and warns if legitimate users’ passwords are not secure enough.
Updates to WordPress and plugins
One of the most common reasons websites get hacked is if WordPress or plugins are outdated versions. I use a tool called iThemes Sync to manage 20+ websites, which enables me to make updates within a day or two of their release.
WordPress support and advice
WordPress is one of the easier tools for managing website content, but now and then you’ll need someone to show you how to do a task, you’ll need advice on the best way to publish content, or just an opinion.
Minor bug fixes and tweaks
There are always going to be small things that break or don’t quite work as you hoped. If it’s a quick task, that’s included in WordPress support. If it’s a major new feature, I’m always happy to quote for it.
Cost for WordPress support and maintenance
For a websites that I’ve built, I charge 16.5% of the original build cost per year to support the site. If it’s a site I didn’t build, I’d need to take a look at the website and the theme and plugins used, before giving a quote. If you’re interested, please contact me and I’ll send you some questions to establish how simple or complex it’s going to be.
Part of the WordPress Community
Together with Mark Root-Wiley and Tara Collins, I’m a co-organiser for NTEN’s WordPress Community forum which supports non-profits who use WordPress.
I used to volunteer on the WordPress.org support forums – see the WordPress questions I’ve helped to answer to see how I give advice.
Each year, I attend WordCamp London, WordCamp Europe and the Nonprofit Technology Conference in the US, which has its own WordPress day. Sometimes I organise or present sessions.
If you’d like to get more of an idea what I’d be like to work with, watch my videos on WordPress.tv.
