I’ve just launched Site Updates Report, a new WordPress plugin developed specifically to streamline the workflow for agencies and freelancers offering WordPress maintenance.
I built this tool to solve a common friction point: the time-consuming administrative burden of tracking software changes across client sites. Instead of relying on manual logs or memory, this plugin sits in the background and automatically records every core, theme, and plugin update the moment it happens, creating a reliable audit trail without any extra effort on your part.
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The Problem
You spend hours every month ensuring your clients’ websites are secure, fast, and functioning perfectly. You diligently perform WordPress maintenance, patching security holes, updating plugins, and monitoring performance. But because you are doing your job effectively, nothing breaks. The site stays up. The errors are invisible.
And because nothing breaks, the client eventually asks that dreaded question:
What exactly am I paying you for each month?
Your client
It is a frustrating position to be in. The invisibility of your work becomes a liability to your recurring revenue. To the non-technical client, a silent website looks like a website that manages itself.
This is exactly why I built Site Updates Report.
I realised that successful maintenance services are not just about the technical act of clicking “update”; they are about communication. I wanted to build a bridge between the technical work done in the shadows and the perceived value on the client’s invoice.
The Current Solutions
There is no shortage of agency tools on the market. We have heavy-duty dashboards for managing uptime, complex suites for SEO tracking, and project management platforms for handling tasks.
However, when it comes to the simple act of showing a client what has changed on their site, the options have historically been poor. Agencies have generally had two bad options:
- The “Trust Me” Approach: You do the work and hope the client trusts that you are actually logging in and securing their site. This is risky; if a client needs to cut costs, the “invisible” service is the first to go.
- The Manual Spreadsheet: You spend hours at the end of the month manually copying and pasting version numbers into a spreadsheet or document. It is inefficient, unscalable, and frankly, soul-crushing work.
If you are managing 5, 20, or 50 websites, manual reporting is a massive time sink that eats directly into your profitability. You need a solution that sits inside the WordPress install and handles this administration for you.
What is Site Updates Report?
Site Updates Report is a lightweight, “set-and-forget” plugin designed specifically to solve the “proof of work” problem for WordPress professionals.
Unlike complex external dashboards that require third-party connections, this plugin lives within your client’s WordPress environment. It runs quietly in the background, automatically logging every single update made to the site’s ecosystem.
Whether it is a major WordPress core update, a crucial security patch for a plugin, or a theme tweak, the plugin captures it. It creates a definitive audit trail of the site’s evolution.
But it is not just a log; it is a communication engine. It transforms raw data into professional client reports that demonstrate tangible value.
How It Helps You Retain Clients
Retention is the lifeblood of any agency. Acquiring a new client is expensive; keeping an existing one on a retainer is where profit margins are made. Here is how Site Updates Report helps safeguard that revenue.
Automated “Proof of Work”
The core philosophy of the plugin is transparency. You can generate a report for the last 7 days, 30 days, or a custom date range that suits your billing cycle.
Suddenly, a vague invoice item labelled “Monthly Maintenance” becomes a detailed breakdown: “Performed 14 plugin updates, 1 theme update, and patched WordPress core to version 6.7.”
This psychological shift is massive. You are no longer asking the client to pay for “peace of mind”; you are asking them to pay for a specific list of executed tasks.
Professional, White-Label Presentation
Appearance matters. Sending a plain text email listing updates looks lazy, and sending a raw CSV file looks confusing.
Site Updates Report allows you to fully brand your communications. You can upload your agency’s logo, define a custom header, and write a personalised footer. When a client opens the PDF or views the HTML email, it looks like a premium document prepared specifically for them. It reinforces your brand identity and professionalism without you having to open graphic design software.
Granular Audit Trails
The plugin offers granular detail that many general agency tools miss. It tracks the specific version jumps (e.g., WooCommerce updated from v8.5.0 to v8.5.1).
Why Does This Matter?
- Security: It proves you are applying patches promptly.
- Debugging: If a feature breaks, you have an exact timeline of what changed and when. You can pinpoint that a specific update on Tuesday caused the conflict on Wednesday.
- Accountability: It provides a historical record of the site’s health management.
Transparency is the Future of WordPress Maintenance
The WordPress ecosystem is maturing. Clients are becoming more savvy, and the market for maintenance is becoming more competitive. To stand out, agencies need to offer more than just uptime monitoring.
Client reports are the touchpoint that defines the relationship. If you only speak to your client when the server goes down, your relationship is defined by crisis. If you speak to your client every month with a report showing proactive care, your relationship is defined by value.
Site Updates Report automates this positive touchpoint. It ensures that even during quiet months where nothing goes wrong, your client is reminded that you are there, watching the gate, and keeping their digital assets secure.
Summary
I built this plugin because I needed it. I needed a way to streamline my own reporting workflow without adding hours to my workload. I wanted to move away from spreadsheets and give my clients a clear, professional view of the work I was doing for them.
If you are an agency owner, a freelancer, or a maintenance professional tired of manually justifying your invoices, Site Updates Report is the solution you have been looking for. It is a small addition to your plugin stack that makes a massive difference to your client retention and your peace of mind.
Stop doing invisible work. Start getting credit for the maintenance you do.