Website Maintenance vs Website Administration
Executive Summary
Your website is not something you “hand off” to an agency—it is a core business asset that requires leadership and direction from the business owner.
At Gun Store Websites and Gun Store Digital Marketing, we provide the technical foundation: hosting, maintenance, security, and marketing execution when contracted.
However, day-to-day website administration and business decisions remain the responsibility of the business owner—just as they do in any physical store.
This article explains the difference between maintenance and administration, what it takes to operate a WooCommerce website successfully, and why every business owner is both the CEO and CMO of their website.
Website Maintenance: The Technical Foundation (What We Handle)
Website maintenance refers to the behind-the-scenes technical work that keeps your website online, secure, and functioning properly.
This is the infrastructure layer of your site—critical, but not involved in business decisions.
Website maintenance typically includes:
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Hosting and server management
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Core WordPress updates
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Plugin and theme updates
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Security monitoring and malware protection
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Backups and restore capability
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Performance optimization and uptime monitoring
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Technical troubleshooting when issues arise
Maintenance ensures your website operates reliably.
It does not determine what you sell, how you price products, or what gets promoted.
Website Administration: Operating the Business Side of Your Website
Website administration is the ongoing operation of your website as a business.
This is where your website becomes more than a technical asset—it becomes a revenue-producing system that reflects real-world business decisions.
Website administration includes:
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Managing products, pricing, and inventory
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Uploading new firearms, ammo, accessories, or training offerings
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Writing and editing product descriptions and on-site content
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Setting sale pricing, promotions, and featured products
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Processing orders and overseeing fulfillment
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Managing tax settings, shipping rules, and compliance workflows
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Reviewing analytics and conversion performance
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Deciding what gets marketed—and when
This is not maintenance.
This is running your business online.
Structure vs Day-to-Day Administration (An Important Clarification)
Not all website tasks are daily operational responsibilities.
Structural elements such as:
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Product categories
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Attributes
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Filters
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Navigation logic
are typically established during the website build or adjusted strategically as the business evolves. These changes are handled collaboratively when needed and are not part of routine daily administration.
This distinction keeps your website organized, scalable, and optimized without constant restructuring.
What It Takes to Be a Good WooCommerce Website Administrator
Running a WooCommerce website is similar to managing a modern point-of-sale system—not simply “updating a website.”
A capable WooCommerce administrator understands:
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How pricing impacts margins and advertising performance
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How inventory accuracy affects customer trust and compliance
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How product content influences conversions and search visibility
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How promotions align with seasonality and demand
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How business decisions directly affect marketing results
This role requires business judgment and awareness—not just technical ability.
That is why website administration remains with the business owner.
Your Role as the CEO of Your Website
Every business owner is the CEO of their website, whether they actively think about it or not.
As CEO, you are responsible for:
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What you sell
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How products are priced
- What your home page banners are featuring
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Which offerings are prioritized
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How your brand is presented
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What success looks like
Your website is not a brochure.
It is a core business operation.
No agency should be making executive business decisions without your direction.
Your Role as the CMO of Your Website
You are also the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of your website.
This means you ultimately guide:
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Product focus and featured offerings
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Promotional timing and priorities
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Brand messaging and positioning
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Marketing objectives and expectations
Marketing execution can be delegated.
Marketing ownership cannot.
When SEO, advertising, or content campaigns are in place, they perform best when the business owner remains actively involved in direction and priorities.
Clear Expectations: What Your Woocommerce Website Agency Does vs What You Do
We Provide:
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Secure hosting
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Ongoing website maintenance
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Security monitoring and backups
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Website infrastructure and structure
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Technical support
- Training/Tutorial Assistance
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Marketing execution (when contracted)
You Provide:
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Day-to-day website administration
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Product, pricing, and inventory decisions
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Order and fulfillment oversight
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Business priorities and direction
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Strategic leadership
This separation is intentional and necessary for long-term success.
Why This Model Works
When roles are clearly defined:
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Websites stay accurate and compliant
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Marketing campaigns perform better
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Decisions happen faster
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Accountability is clear
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Results improve
Your website stops being “something an agency runs” and becomes a business system you actively lead—with expert support behind you.
Final Thought
If you can run a firearm business, you can run your website.
Our role is to provide the platform, stability, support, training and marketing horsepower.
Your role is to lead the business it supports.
