If you’re paying a monthly fee for “website services,” do you actually know what you’re getting?
We’ve seen too many small business and nonprofit clients hand over hundreds of dollars every month—sometimes for years—without ever really knowing what’s being done behind the scenes. Even worse? Some discover that their SEO hasn’t been touched in months, or they don’t even own their own domain or site.
Let’s fix that.
Here’s what you should expect (and request!) from your ongoing website services—and how to know if it’s time for a switch.
What “Monthly Website Services” Should Include
If you’re paying for monthly website maintenance, strategy, or support, you deserve real value. While every provider’s package will vary, at the very least, you should be receiving:
1. Access to Your Accounts
You should own and have access to:
- Your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.)
- Your website hosting (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress on a host like GoDaddy or Hostinger, etc.)
- Your analytics and email integrations (Google Analytics, Mailchimp, etc.)
Red flag: If your provider says they “own” your domain or won’t give you login access, it’s time to reconsider.
2. Monthly SEO Monitoring and Updates
Search engines change fast—and your SEO strategy should grow with it.
Ask your provider:
- Are keywords being monitored and refreshed?
- Are old pages being optimized?
- Is metadata being updated?
- Are blog posts or new content being added?
If not, your ranking is likely stagnating.
3. Site Health Checks
Your site should be regularly checked for:
- Broken links
- Outdated plugins or integrations
- Slow loading times
- Mobile responsiveness issues
- Accessibility compliance
These are the silent killers of both SEO and user trust.
4. Content or Design Updates
If you’re promoting new services, running seasonal events, or updating staff—your website should reflect that.
Some monthly plans include content edits or minor design tweaks. Make sure you know:
- What updates are included
- How often you can request changes
- What the process is for submitting updates
5. Clear Reporting
If you’re paying monthly, you should receive a monthly report. Even a simple snapshot of:
- Traffic trends
- Top pages
- SEO keyword performance
- Update log (what they worked on)
You shouldn’t have to guess what you’re paying for.
Remember: Your Website Is a Living Asset
InYour website isn’t just a digital business card—it’s often your first impression. It should be:
Updated to reflect your business today (not three years ago)
- Easy to navigate
- Aligned with your brand
- Optimized for search engines
- Updated to reflect your business today (not three years ago)
What We Recommend
At Kaysi Stanley Marketing, we help our clients own their online presence. Whether we’re designing from scratch or managing ongoing updates, we make sure:
- You understand what’s happening
- You keep full access and ownership
- You see tangible results from your investment
Because marketing should feel empowering—not confusing.
Feeling in the Dark About Your Website?
We offer honest website audits for small businesses and nonprofits—no strings, just clarity.
We’ll walk you through:
- What’s working
- What’s missing
- What you don’t need to be paying for anymore
Or DM us @kaysistanleymarketing
Let’s make sure your website is working for you—not against you