Why WordPress Maintenance Could Be Key for Your Freelance Business

The web design industry is maturing. New projects used to be the lifeblood of freelancing, and companies spent money on feature-packed websites to establish themselves online. But those opportunities seem fewer and farther between these days.

Don’t get me wrong. New projects will continue to be a money-maker. But there are fewer gigs to go around and competition is fierce. Relying solely on this strategy is more challenging than ever.

I’ve seen evidence of this in my business. Prospective clients are more likely to ask me about maintaining their existing WordPress site rather than building a new one.

It’s a disappointing development on one hand. Building a new site is the “fun” part of this business as opposed to the messiness of working with one built by someone else. Even dealing with a site you built years ago is no picnic.

This shift could have some long-term benefits, though. It may be key to a freelance business that thrives into the future. Let’s talk about why maintenance matters.

There Are a Lot of Poorly-Maintained WordPress Websites

WordPress is still the most widely-used content management system (CMS). But that doesn’t mean every site is well maintained – quite the contrary.

According to W3Techs, over 10% of all WordPress sites are behind at least a full version number. And only 71% of sites running version 6 are fully up-to-date. So, yeah, there are a lot of outdated websites floating around.

Granted, not every outdated website is still needed. Some were left to rot in cyberspace. However, there are plenty of reasons organizations fall behind on maintenance. Perhaps their in-house developer is no longer in the picture. Or an agency dumped a site into their lap without instructions. These things happen.

Even with features like automatic updates, outdated WordPress sites are still out there. That’s not likely to change anytime soon.

That’s an opportunity for freelancers to come to the rescue. It’s akin to someone who hasn’t seen a doctor in a few years. A full evaluation is needed to find what needs fixing. Our job is to diagnose any issues and propose a cure.

Finding even a few of these clients every year is beneficial. You’re adding cashflow and connections to your coffers.

Building Relationships Through Website Maintenance

WordPress maintenance isn’t a one-time thing. It’s weekly, monthly, and yearly. There are no breaks in the action.

Site owners need a professional on hand to look after their website. A site that runs smoothly allows sales and leads to continue flowing in. That’s too important to ignore or leave to chance.

It’s a good reason for freelancers to offer maintenance contracts. Not only does this give peace of mind to clients, it also provides recurring revenue and builds long-term relationships. Both are essential pieces to a healthy business.

The value of a good client relationship can pay dividends for years. It may start with a modest maintenance gig. But it could lead to a lot more. For example, you’re the one they’ll call when it’s time for a redesign or a new feature.

A successful partnership may also lead to referrals. It reduces the effort required to find new clients and helps your business grow. You’ll have more time to focus on your to-do list and less worry about where your next project will come from.

A Slower, Steadier Approach to Revenue

A constant stream of new site builds makes your bank account happy. Everyone loves getting a big deposit check. And the final payment after launch feels even better. It’s a freelancer’s dream – it certainly was for me.

For the most part, shifting your focus toward maintenance isn’t as exciting. Playing in the enterprise sector may be the exception. Those clients tend to pay well for keeping their mission-critical sites going. There probably aren’t enough of those contracts for everyone, though.

Otherwise, the payouts tend to be lower and the work more mundane. However, it’s still a worthwhile trade. You lose a few thrills while gaining a lot of stability.

Economic uncertainty can hit us at any time. Maintenance work is something we can count on. The very nature of the WordPress ecosystem ensures it. New features are added to WordPress core, while plugins and themes evolve. Server technology and APIs don’t stand still. And yes, sometimes things break. Who’s going to fix them?

It also helps us know where we stand. We know when this revenue is coming and can plan accordingly. And we can raise rates as needed.

A focus on maintenance puts us in more control. We can’t predict every up and down of our workload. But we can give our business a solid pillar to stand on. That has value.

Maintenance Makes Sense for Freelancers

Change is always difficult. I’ve spent most of my career looking for new projects and relying on their near-instant income. I also scoffed at taking on new maintenance clients as it wasn’t interesting.

That has changed in recent years. There aren’t as many startups looking for new websites these days. The small and medium-sized businesses I often work with aren’t spending like they used to. Maintenance offers a way to keep working with clients.

There are a lot of benefits. There’s satisfaction in helping a client get their site in tip-top shape. I know what to expect regarding client needs. I’m also still in the loop when they want something bigger. And oh yeah, there’s always something to do.

I don’t worry as much about booking new gigs. And it hasn’t stopped me from building new sites when the opportunity arises.

Maybe focusing on maintenance is the next logical step for freelancers. After all, the web is already a bustling metropolis. Someone needs to look after its many citizens.