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Sites by Sara is proud to be developing robust websites with dynamic functionality and easy-to-update interfaces for clients via Word Press, Joomla, Drupal & ExpressEngine. While these CMS solutions offer just about any kind of functionality imaginable, they do require some level of housekeeping.
A Content Management System allows for any layperson to make simple web updates without having any HTML or other programming knowledge. It also allows users to login to the admin panel from any computer in the world, without needing any special software installed. Users can easily add/remove pages, edit text, images, documents, etc. in a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) interface. Updates are applied in real-time.
Most CMS solutions are considered to be “agile” development platforms, because of their highly customizable and scalable services. Design elements and functionality can be added, removed or changed sitewide or on a per page basis. Many businesses have built their complex websites with these systems. Having a CMS website or blog is ideal for clients who want the freedom to publish their own content.
While simple web updates can be handled by a layperson, rather than a webmaster, you would need to pay a professional to keep up with the upgrades and security patches required by the CMS.
Beginning October 15th, all Word Press clients are subject to the following rates if they wish to have Sites by Sara maintain the integrity of their site’s security and updates. Updates include: Word Press version upgrades and security patches, plugin updates and testing. Think of this as insurance: Sites by Sara will test each of your plugins against the latest upgrades to WordPress and their interaction with other plugins. Should conflicts arise, Sites by Sara will find a solution for your site’s functionality at no additional cost to you–delivering you peace of mind and a top of the line secure site!
Rates: $150/quarterly to do site updates and keep up to 10 plugins updated and working (Additional plugins beyond 10 are $15 each per quarter.) This coverage protects your website; if a plugin is discontinued or no longer supported, Sites by Sara will find a suitable solution at no additional cost to you. That’s a small price to pay in order to ensure the health and wellness of your site in the long run.
Note: The monthly updates package is optional, however your site is at RISK of breaking or becoming outdated. While clients can install updates on their own, it is not recommended without extensive Word Press training. Word Press upgrades have to be done incrementally through an interface that will allow rollbacks (in case the site or any of its associated plugins ‘break’ upon upgrade). Sites by Sara also reserves the right to change ALL passwords (including WordPress blog access for all users, database, FTP, control panels, etc) if your Word Press site has been attacked. Any changes to passwords or logins will be emailed to the client without delay.
The monthly service fee provides you with the peace of mind that someone is monitoring and seeing to the technical health of your site. If you opt out of this maintenance contract and want to add it later, there is a $300 reimplementation fee and no guarantee that Sites by Sara will be able to “fix” your site without having to rebuild it. In this case, the breakages would be subject to my hourly rate of $75.
For clients whose Word Press sites have minimal add-ons (meaning 3 or less plugins), Sites by Sara will be glad to update your site with the latest version of Word Press as it becomes available for an administrative fee of $75. Each plugin requiring an update will cost an additional $25 each. This does cover your site from breakages; however, if there are plugin or WordPress version conflicts upon upgrade, Sites by Sara will rollback to an earlier version of the existing plugin so as to ensure the integrity of your site’s functionality. Further tweaking to ensure the site’s functionality and security for the conflicting plugin/version will be subject to Site’s by Sara’s hourly rate. (Note that up to ten plugin updates are included in the quarterly package stated above, at no additional cost to you.
Update your site without having to know any code.
A web presence built with a CMS does require some regular maintenance. It is advisable that you have a professional monitor your site’s version upgrades. Your site’s files should be regularly updated with available security patches and functionality upgrades. Any customization plugins or modules (bits of modular “add-on” code) that are installed on your website will also require corresponding updates. And finally, because a CMS is a database driven platform, database optimization is needed to keep your website performing well.
These housekeeping tasks are a small price to pay for the flexibility and relative ease with which your web presence can grow and evolve on the WordPress platform. As a service to existing Word Press clients, Sites by Sara does offer maintenance service contracts.
For more information about insuring your Word Press site, call Sites by Sara at 801-414-6285 today.
