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When I started out there was no money – I had to do it myself or get it for free. That’s when I started asking my host for help and they were very helpful.
I started joining groups and places where bloggers hung out as the years went on and I always found myself asking why they were paying for things their host would do for free.
5 Monetization Mistakes Keeping Your Blog From Making Money helps you skip guesswork and move faster so you can hit publish sooner.
Turns out, they just didn’t know I would mention it and they would ask their host and come back and say “Wow, I never knew they would do that.”
Today, I thought we’d talk about when to call your host and when to hire a tech.
When I say “tech”, if you didn’t know, I mean someone who handles all the behind-the-scenes stuff on your blog. The person who fixes things when they break (sometimes this is your host), moves things when you switch themes, sets up your backups, cleans up messes (sometimes this is your host), and makes your blog actually work when you’re ready to throw your laptop in the trash. Not a designer, not a VA – a tech. A blog fixer-upper.
Not Every Blog Fix Should Cost You Money
If you’re like most bloggers, the first time something breaks on your site, you panic. Maybe the homepage won’t load. Maybe an update crashes everything. Maybe you just want to scream because your logo disappeared and it’s 2 AM. <– been there…
So what do you do? You hire someone to fix it (after you panic.. let’s be real).
But here’s the truth:
A lot of blog issues can be fixed by your hosting provider – for free.
You’re already paying for hosting. So you might as well get your money’s worth before shelling out extra cash for a tech.
Let’s break it down.
💻 What Can Your Host Help With?
Most bloggers are shocked by what their hosting plan includes – especially if they’re using companies like SiteGround, BigScoots, or WPX that offer stellar support.
You can (and should) contact your host for:
- Site downtime or errors (500, 403, 404s)
- Restoring a backup after something goes wrong
- SSL certificate installation or renewal
- DNS changes (like when connecting your domain or email)
- Email setup tied to your domain
- PHP version updates
- Plugin conflicts causing crashes
- WordPress core or PHP errors
- Site speed issues (some hosts will actually walk you through it)
Pro tip: Always try chat support first. They can often fix things faster than a tech would even return your email. (not true with Bigscoots – they answer my emails almost as soon as I hit send – they’re fantastic!)
🛠️ When You Do Need to Hire a Tech
Hosts are amazing – but they have limits. Here’s when it’s worth hiring a tech:
- Custom coding or design changes
- Fixing something you broke and don’t have a backup
- Migrating your site to a new host without built-in transfer
- Diagnosing malware or a hacked site (contact your host first, sometimes they can help, too or work with your tech on it)
- Cleaning up plugin bloat and theme conflicts
- Creating or editing custom plugins or child themes
- Speed optimization beyond the basics
- Anything your host tells you is outside their scope
Basically: if it’s customization or something your host didn’t install, you’ll likely need a tech.
🤝 Retainer vs. Hourly: What’s the Smarter Move?
If you’re paying a tech every time something breaks, you’ll eventually feel it in your budget. That’s where a retainer can save your sanity and your money.
A retainer means:
- You pay monthly (or quarterly) for access to your tech
- You get priority when things go sideways
- You can usually ask small questions or get minor fixes included
- You’re not scrambling when something breaks on launch day
Hourly techs are great for one-off tasks, but if you’re blogging consistently and making updates often -especially if you run multiple sites – having a tech on standby is peace of mind you can’t put a price on (except, you know, you can – and it’s usually cheaper than panic-hiring someone in a crisis).
My Tech is on retainer and I love him! He is always just an email away and he answers all my questions and fixes all my “stuff”!
Need a tech who actually knows what he’s doing (and won’t ghost you)?
👉 This is who I use and recommend. He’s been my go-to for years – fixes everything, explains what he’s doing, and doesn’t make me feel stupid for asking.
🧭 How to Know Who to Call
Here’s the rule of thumb:
If it’s technical but not custom, start with your host. If it’s custom or complex, call your tech.
Before you hire out:
- Check your host’s support chat or ticket system
- Ask if what you need is included in your plan
- Get in the habit of asking before paying out of pocket
You may find that 80% of what you thought needed a tech? Already covered.
🎯 Final Tip: Don’t Just Pay – Learn
Every time your tech fixes something, ask what went wrong and how they fixed it. It’s one of the best ways to learn. You don’t need to become your own developer – but understanding the basics makes you a better blog owner, plain and simple.
