Most people think about the website. The design, the copy, the deadline. What they don't think about much is what happens the day after it goes live. That's where expectations can fall apart, so I want to spell it out clearly.
What you actually get
When I finish a Webspansion project, you get a live, working website at your domain. It's built in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, no CMS, no login portal, no monthly platform subscription required. It loads fast, it's mobile-friendly, and it's built to last without constant upkeep.
The files belong to you. If you ever want to move hosts, hand things off to a developer, or make changes yourself, you can. The code isn't locked into a proprietary builder that disappears if the company folds.
What I do after launch
If something is broken, a broken link, a layout issue on a specific device, a form that doesn't submit, I want to know about it, and I'll fix it. That applies especially in the first week or two after launch, when most issues surface.
What I'm not is a maintenance plan. I'm one person running a free project with limited availability. I can't guarantee same-day responses, ongoing redesigns, or monthly content updates. If you need that level of ongoing support, you'll need a professional agency or a retainer arrangement with a web developer.
What you're responsible for
A few things stay in your hands after delivery.
Your domain. If you have a custom domain, you're paying for it through a registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. That renewal is your responsibility. If it lapses, your site goes down. I can't help with that.
Your content. If your hours change, you move locations, add a new service, or want to update your About page, those are content updates. Send them to me at help@getwebspansion.org and I'll get to them when I can. Small text edits are generally fine. Major restructuring is a different conversation.
Your Google Business Profile. A website helps with search, but for local businesses, your Google Business Profile is equally important. That's something you manage directly through Google. If you haven't claimed yours, do that.
When things change significantly
If your business changes enough that the website no longer makes sense, you pivot, you rename, you add an entirely new service line, that might be a rebuild conversation, not a small update. I'll be honest about that when it comes up. Some changes are worth absorbing; others are effectively a new project.
It helps to think of the website I deliver as a solid starting point, not a finished product that never needs to change. The best websites get refined over time. The starting point just has to be better than nothing, and genuinely good at what it does on day one.
The honest version of what Webspansion is
I build your website well. I launch it. I catch and fix early issues. Beyond that, the relationship is more limited than what you'd get from a paid agency or a retainer developer. That's the honest trade-off of a free program run by a college student.
If that sounds like a fair deal, apply here. If you want to know more about what the program includes before you decide, read what Webspansion is and what it isn't or check the what to expect page.
Common questions about what happens after your website launches
Who owns my website after Webspansion builds it?+
You do. The files belong to you, and the site is built in plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with no CMS or proprietary builder locking you in. If you ever want to move hosts, hand things off to another developer, or make changes yourself, you can.
Does Webspansion provide ongoing support and maintenance after launch?+
Not as a formal maintenance plan. Webspansion is a free project run by one person with limited availability, so I can't guarantee same-day responses, ongoing redesigns, or monthly content updates. If something breaks early on, I want to know and I'll fix it, but for guaranteed ongoing support you'd need a paid agency or a retainer arrangement with a web developer.
What does hosting cost and do I have to pay for a domain?+
Hosting is currently free. A custom domain is optional and costs roughly $10 to $15 a year, paid by you directly to a registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. That renewal is your responsibility, and if it lapses your site goes down.
Can I get content updates to my site after it launches?+
Yes, based on availability. Send updates like changed hours, a new location, a new service, or About page edits to help@getwebspansion.org and I'll get to them when I can. Small text edits are generally fine; major restructuring is a different conversation, and a big enough change can become a rebuild rather than a small update.
What am I responsible for after my website goes live?+
A few things stay in your hands. You handle your custom domain renewal if you have one, you send me any content changes you want made, and you manage your own Google Business Profile directly through Google. The website helps with search, but for local businesses your Google Business Profile is equally important.