In today's world, to run a small- to medium-sized business (SMB) and have an online identity means being able to get your business noticed online. For the majority of small andmicrobusinesses in India, this is usually done by setting up a website. Having a website does provide a sense of professionalism for your SMB; however, many small business owners do not understand that owning and managing a site comes with some physical andmental responsibilities to their business, including the cost, the technology and all the logistics.

This aspect of managing an SMB website can be intimidating for some small business owners in most cases.

There are many ongoing responsibilities associated with SMBs that may feel burdensome to manage - For example: Your site's hosting agreement and potential cost increases, the need to regularly update or add plugins, and the constant need to conduct website security checks. In fact, if an SMB site is left unchanged for many months, it may very well slow down, break or even be hacked into by some malicious source. Because there are so many ongoing responsibilities that companies have, the management of an SMB can be more stressful than it is actually beneficial to many local businesses.

If we are going to have an online identity we need to find alternatives to having our online identity be maintained and managed through an actual website. The best alternative is to choose an online platform to help you establish your identity and business presence. An example of such platform is LocalShouts, which allows business owners to only need to do a little bit of backend work (if any at all) in order to create a presence for their SMB.

Websites require continual maintenance for a number of reasons, as outlined in this article and as will be outlined in the next few sections. LocalShouts (https://www.localshouts.com) offers a ‘zero maintenance’ website. This article will also help Indian retailers, agencies, studios, and other forms of small businesses to evaluate the best option of website service for themselves.

The truth behind ownership, and what it means to be an owner of a small business

The vast majority of individuals view websites as being the same as a simple, static piece of information about a business. However, when you look behind the scenes, you see that a website is like a machine that has many moving parts. Each of these moving parts requires maintenance, much like how your car requires servicing or how you need to clean your store.

Most of the business owners of India are not aware of this reality. They believe that after the completion of their website, that will be the end of their work with the website. However, what you need to understand is the work of building the website is just the start; maintaining it is the real work.

Small businesses usually face these challenges:

Not having technical knowledge
Not having an in-house team
Relying on freelancers who vanish after completing the website
Being too busy running the business
Forgetting renewal dates
Not knowing what to update or how to do it

This often results in websites becoming outdated, unsafe, or simply unusable over time.

That’s where a no-maintenance digital identity tool like LocalShouts (https://www.localshouts.com) becomes extremely helpful. But before we understand why it requires no maintenance, let’s explore why websites do.

Why Websites Need Regular Maintenance

1. Websites Are Built on Software That Needs Updates

Every website runs on software—whether it is WordPress, Shopify, custom code, or any content management system. Software requires regular updates to:

Fix bugs
Improve performance
Patch security issues
Add new features

If you skip updates, your website becomes slow, unstable, or even vulnerable to hacking. It’s similar to keeping your phone outdated; eventually, apps won’t run smoothly.

2. Security Is a Constant Threat

Website security is not a one-time task. Hackers, bots, and malware attack outdated websites daily. Even small local businesses are targeted because they are easy victims.

Common security maintenance includes:

Firewall updates
Malware scans
Backup creation
SSL certificate renewals
Fixing vulnerabilities

Without these, your site can:

Go offline
Display spam content
Harm your customers
Get blacklisted by Google

A single hack can destroy months or years of trust built with your customers.

3. Hosting and Domain Renewals Never End

Your website depends on:

Domain name
Hosting server
Email hosting (optional)

All these come with renewal dates every year. If you miss even one renewal:

Your website disappears
Your domain may be bought by someone else
Your emails stop working

Many small business owners forget these dates or are confused by hosting companies’ technical language.

4. Technical Issues Build Up Over Time

Even a simple website can face problems like

Broken links
Outdated images
Slow loading
Mobile responsiveness issues
Errors after updates
Pages not opening

Someone has to fix these issues regularly. If ignored, your website gradually becomes unusable.

5. Content Gets Old and Needs Refreshing

Today’s customers expect:

Updated prices
New services
Latest offers
Fresh photos
Accurate contact details

If your website is not updated often, customers feel your business is inactive or unreliable. Websites require content maintenance just as much as technical maintenance.

Why Websites Become a Burden for Small and Micro Businesses

Many small business owners start with enthusiasm—“I’ll build a website.” But after a few months, they realize it’s more work than expected.

The most common problems they face include

Not knowing how to update the site
Not being able to contact the original developer
Fear of breaking something
Paying high charges for small changes
Losing access to the website dashboard
Forgetting hosting passwords or renewal dates

And that’s why thousands of websites in India end up abandoned.

A digital identity tool should simplify life, not add more work. This is exactly why LocalShouts solves the problem.

Why LocalShouts Doesn’t Need Maintenance

LocalShouts is designed for small and micro businesses that simply want:

A clean digital identity
Easy information sharing
A simple link to send customers
A professional online presence
Zero technical responsibilities

Unlike websites, LocalShouts does not require hosting, updates, security checks, or plug-ins. Everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, handled by the platform team.

1. No Hosting or Domain Required

LocalShouts gives you a ready-to-use link. You don’t need to buy:

Domains
Hosting servers
SSL certificates

Everything is included automatically.

2. Fully Managed Platform

The LocalShouts team handles:

Performance optimization
Security
Bug fixes
Backups
Everything technical

You don’t see any dashboards related to coding or complicated settings. You simply update your business information when needed—nothing more.

3. Auto-Security and Auto-Updates

LocalShouts is built to stay:

Secure
Updated
Fast

4. No Requirements for Side plug-ins updated and installed, you will never have conflicts or errors in the code or be alerted to any vulnerabilities. - This is all done by LocalShouts in the background.

5. Mobile Friendly at All Times—Most website owners have difficulty achieving a professionally designed mobile site. Each LocalShouts business card is professionally designed and mobile-friendly right out of the box with no effort from you.

6. No Risk of Problematic Updates—Websites frequently become inoperable due to an updated operating system (OS) or application; LocalShouts cards will never have that issue, as each card is built with predefined structures that have been thoroughly tested and verified. Just type in your information, and your cards are fully functional forever!

7. Use LocalShouts to Change Business Information Without Needing a Technical Expert to Create Your Card - Editing your business information on your LocalShouts card is as easy as changing your profile information; you will not require a web developer!

Websites vs. LocalShouts: What Matters to Small Businesses

Here’s the truth:

Not every business needs a full website. Many small and micro businesses in India only need:

A place to display business details
Contact options
Photos
Prices
Location
Reviews
Services

LocalShouts provides all of this without maintenance.

Websites are powerful but require:

Money
Time
Skills
Attention

For a business that already struggles with day-to-day operations, website maintenance becomes an unnecessary burden.

Which One Should You Choose?

If your business needs:

Custom pages
Complex features
Online booking
E-commerce
Integrations

Then a website is useful.

But if your business needs

A simple digital identity
Customer-friendly information
Easy link sharing
No maintenance
Affordable pricing

Then LocalShouts is the smarter choice.

Most local businesses—salons, coaching centers, electricians, freelancers, caterers, home bakers, real estate agents, gyms, teachers, and studios—fall in the second category.

Why LocalShouts Saves Time, Money, and Stress

Thousands of Indian businesses waste money every year on:

Domain renewals
Hosting
Redesign charges
Fixing issues
Security
Plugin maintenance

LocalShouts removes all these costs and responsibilities. You simply create your card, share it, and focus on growing your business.

It’s the best of both worlds:

Professional like a website
Simple, like a digital card
Zero maintenance, like a social profile

This makes it ideal for small businesses that want results without complexity.

Conclusion

While websites can be great for advertising, they also require ongoing maintenance due to issues like security and software updates. Many small and micro business owners in India will struggle to find the funding, time, and technical know-how to maintain their websites.

LocalShouts solves this issue by providing businesses with a no-maintenance digital identity that performs securely and professionally and is simple to update as needed. For those companies that simply want to get their information online without the hassle of dealing with hosting providers, renewal dates, or technical maintenance, LocalShouts is the easiest and smartest way to go.

If your aim is to increase your business's visibility, establish credibility, and make it as easy as possible for potential customers to locate your details when they search online, then LocalShouts is all you need—no maintenance required!

FAQs

1. Why do websites need maintenance every year?

Because they depend on software, hosting, security tools, and domains that require regular updates to stay functional and safe.

2. Can a website work without maintenance?

Technically yes, but it becomes slow, outdated, and vulnerable. Most abandoned websites eventually break or get hacked.

3. Does LocalShouts replace the need for a website?

For many small businesses, yes. If you only need to share business information, contact details, location, and photos, LocalShouts is enough.

4. Is LocalShouts better than a website for local businesses?

If your priority is simplicity, speed, and zero maintenance, then yes. Websites are better only for advanced needs.

5. Does LocalShouts require any technical skills?

No. It is designed for anyone—shop owners, freelancers, home businesses, and service providers—without technical knowledge.

6. What happens if I forget to update my LocalShouts card?

Nothing breaks. Your card continues working. You can update it anytime without affecting performance.