Our Approach

Why Support and Maintenance Matters

There’s a common misconception in the digital world that the 'Launch Date' is the finish line. In reality, it’s just the starting blocks. My approach to support and maintenance is built on the same principle as my design work. Exceptional results come from genuine, long-term care, not just a one-off transaction.

Launch Day Isn't the End – It's Just the Beginning

Most businesses treat their website like a one-time project. You invest in a beautiful, custom-built site, it launches, and then... nothing. But here's the truth that many agencies won't tell you: your website is a living asset that requires ongoing care and attention. Just like a car, your website will only keep running smoothly if you stay on top of regular servicing and maintenance.

This is where most agency relationships end and most websites begin to fail. We take a different approach. For us, launch day is when the real partnership begins - read my approach to building long-lasting client relationships.

Exceptional results come from genuine, long-term care, not just a one-off transaction.

Why Craft CMS Maintenance Is Critical

If you're using Craft CMS – and if you're working with Amasci and have a content-manged website, it's likely you are; regular maintenance isn't optional. It's essential. Craft CMS is a powerful, flexible platform, but like any software system, it requires consistent updates and care.

I specialise in Craft CMS because it offers unparalleled flexibility and a clean experience for content authors. However, like any world-class software, it requires regular attention.

  • Security & Core Updates: The web moves fast. I manage regular Craft CMS updates to patch security vulnerabilities and ensure your site is compatible with the latest web standards.
  • Plugin Management: Your site likely uses various plugins to extend its functionality. I keep these synchronised and updated, preventing conflicts before they ever impact your users.
  • Performance Tuning: As your content grows, I ensure the backend remains snappy and the frontend remains lightning-fast.
  • Modern standards and tooling: Ensuring that your website keeps up with modern standards and best-practices. Ensuring the tooling and development tools are kept up to date to ensure major changes and improvements are quicker, easier, and more cost-effective.
Craft CMS offers unparalleled flexibility, but like any precision-engineered tool, it requires updates to stay at its peak

Security Vulnerabilities

Hackers are constantly probing websites for weaknesses, and outdated plugins or CMS cores provide them with easy access points. Craft CMS developers work diligently to identify and address security flaws, releasing updates that fortify the system against potential threats. By staying up-to-date, you significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and protect sensitive data. This isn't something you can afford to ignore.

Bug Fixes and Performance Enhancements

Updates address far more than just security issues. They fix bugs, improve overall performance, and include optimisations that enhance speed, efficiency, and compatibility. A website that performs well isn't just better for your users – it's better for your bottom line. Page speed directly impacts user experience, SEO performance, and conversion rates.

Long-Term Stability and Avoiding Technical Debt

Neglecting updates for an extended period creates what is known as "technical debt" – a widening gap between your website's current state and the latest version. This makes future updates more challenging, time-consuming, and expensive. By maintaining your site consistently, you avoid this expensive technical burden and ensure your website remains flexible and competitive as your business grows.

One other way I try and avoid technical debt is by limiting the number of plugins used on a website and also ensuring any plugins used are from a member of the Craft community that has a proven track record.

Access to New Features

Craft CMS continues to evolve with each release, introducing new features and functionalities that empower you to expand capabilities and stay competitive. Regular maintenance ensures you can leverage these new offerings without compatibility issues.

Regular maintenance isn't just an option; it’s the shield that protects from security vulnerabilities.

Hosting and Server Management

Your website doesn't exist in isolation, it lives on servers and hosting infrastructure that also requires attention. Keeping your website and server software up to date prevents compatibility issues that can cause your site to malfunction, as well as ensuring there are no vulnerabilities that can be exploited. This includes:

  • Regular server updates and security patches
  • Performance optimisation to ensure your site runs at peak efficiency
  • Updates to the server services such as PHP, MySQl, Redis
  • Backup protocols that protect your business-critical data
  • Monitoring to catch issues before they impact your business

Your website needs a solid foundation to sit on. Whether it’s monitoring uptime, managing SSL certificates, or optimising server configurations, I handle the technical heavy lifting so you don't have to.

If there’s a server or site issue at 2 AM, it’s my problem, not yours. By managing the hosting environment directly, I can ensure that your server is perfectly tuned for the specific requirements of your website, leading to better reliability and faster load times.

General Consultation: Proactive Over Reactive

Maintenance isn't just about code; it’s about strategy. One of the most valued aspects of my partnerships is the General Consultation that comes naturally with our relationship.

As an extension of your business, I’m here to answer the "What if?" questions:

  • "What if we wanted to add an e-commerce element next year?"
  • "How can we better track our conversion rates?"
  • "Is there a way to automate this manual task on the site?"
  • "What about this email I've received? Is it genuine or a scam?"

You don't have to navigate the shifting digital landscape alone. Because I know your brand, your history, and your goals, I can provide advice that is tailored to you, not a generic industry template.

Often when companies employ a larger agency, you get a scheduled check-in with an account manager who may not fully understand your business. When you work with Amasci, you get direct access to me! Someone who knows your website inside and out, understands your goals, and can recommend maintenance and improvements that actually align with your business priorities.

Support shouldn't be a ticket queue. With me, it's a direct conversation with an expert who knows you, your website and your business.

The Value of a Proactive Partnership

When you sign up for support, you aren't just buying hours; you’re buying peace of mind. You’re ensuring that the person who designed and built your site, the person who understands every line of code and every brand nuance, is the same person keeping it running.

Support you can rely on means:

  • Zero Hand-offs: You won't be passed to a junior "support ticket" queue. You talk to me!
  • Proactive Prevention: Finding and fixing small bugs before they become big headaches.
  • Monitored and Maintained: Ensuring your website and server is running, up-to date, and secure.
  • Evolution: Scaling your site as your business grows, ensuring your digital presence never holds you back.

Projects end. Lasting relationships don't. My goal is to ensure that five, ten, or even twenty years from now, your website is still a driving force for your success.

Terry Upton
Written by
Terry Upton
25+ years experience in branding, websites and client support.

Let's chat about your project

Every project is different, and we’d love to hear about yours.

01908 668665 [email protected]

FAQs

The answers to your questions.

Why do I need a maintenance plan if my site is working fine?

Think of a maintenance plan as preventative healthcare for your website. While your site might look fine on the surface, the digital landscape is constantly shifting. Web browsers update, security threats evolve, and CMS software like Craft CMS releases critical patches. Regular maintenance ensures we catch small issues before they become expensive "emergency" repairs. It’s much more cost-effective to maintain a site than to fix a broken one.

What exactly does "Craft CMS Support" include?

All of our maintenance packages are bespoke and tailored to each individual client. However, for Craft CMS support this would include as a minimum:

  • Running monthly updates on Craft CMS core and any associated plugins.
  • Adding new features that would benefit the site or system based on new features rolled out within the core updates and plugins.
  • Fixing any bugs or glitches that might arise on your website.
  • Applying any security patches to keep your data (and your customers' data) safe.
What does "General Consultation" actually mean for me?

It means you have a digital partner on speed dial. Whether you’re wondering if a new marketing idea is technically feasible, need a quick screen-share to learn a new Craft CMS feature, or want advice on improving your SEO, I’m here. You aren't just paying for code; you’re paying for over 25 years of experience to help guide your business decisions.

What happens if I want to add new features later?

Depending on the retainer package you have with Amasci, this might be covered already.

However, even if you only have basic support, then that’s the beauty of a long-term partnership. Because I know your site inside and out, adding a new landing page, integrating a third-party API, or refreshing your brand elements is a seamless process. We don't have to spend weeks "learning" the system; I built it, so we can jump straight into the creative work.

Does maintenance include major Craft CMS version upgrades?

Depending on the retainer package you have with Amasci, this might be covered.

However, in most cases, No, our monthly maintenance focuses on updates within the current major version – security patches, bug fixes, and minor improvements. Major version upgrades require planning, extensive testing and usually some additional development, so we handle those as separate projects with staging environments to avoid disruptions. If a major update breaks something, we revert and troubleshoot immediately.

Does this include hosting costs, Craft CMS licenses, or custom development?

No – maintenance is about keeping your existing site optimal:

  • Hosting and server costs remain separate (we'll help you understand what you need and we usually manage these on your behalf).
  • Craft CMS licenses are separate (we'll help you understand what you need and we can manage these on your behalf).
  • Design, new features, or custom development are handled via retainers or project quotes. This keeps costs predictable and focused on what matters most - reliability!
What if I need urgent support or have a problem?

As a one-person agency, you get direct access to me – ultra-responsive support via email, phone, slack or your preferred channel. No account managers or ticket queues. I know your site intimately because I built it, so fixes are faster and smarter. Proactive monitoring means we catch issues before they affect you.

Wait, I've got more questions!

Let's chat directly. I am more than happy to answer any questions you might have, so please don’t hesitate to ask, no matter how small or trivial they may seem. I’m here to help and guide you through the whole process.