When your business needs a website, one of the most important questions you need to ask is: “How much does a website cost?” The answers to this question can help ensure that your new website is both affordable for your business and built with the features that will make it truly successful.
In this article, we will discuss some basic tips on how to budget for web design and development costs based on our experience building websites over the years, as well as some common questions people have when they get started.
Some people interested in building a website ask for three things: good design, ease of use, and affordability. So, how much does a website cost?
How much does a website cost? This is a question that web designers hear all the time. The answer is “it depends” on what you want out of your site and how much help or support you need along the way.
For example, if your business has an e-commerce component in addition to a blog, then there are other considerations that can add cost to the project. On top of this, some sites have unique designs or functionality which will require additional time from the developer. Asking for these types of things might make sense if they’re important to you and your business goals but they often come with their own costs attached.
While there aren’t any hard numbers we can give (and certainly no guarantees!), below are some rough estimates based on our own experiences building websites:
- Base level lead generating website: $2,500
- Small pre-built theme website: ~$5,000
- Semi-custom lead-generating website: ~$7,500
- Fully custom WooCommerce website: ~$25,000
Make sure you know what you’re getting from your web designer and how much your website really costs.
Before you begin the process of getting a website, it’s important to be clear about your needs and expectations. You should know exactly what you want from your site and how much it will cost. There are many differences between a regular website and an application (for example, Facebook) so be sure that you know what type of site you need before jumping into development.
Your web designer should be able to explain all the options to you and help you make a decision that will fit your needs best.
The second thing to do is find a web designer who can help you make the right decisions.
- Make sure they understand what you need—and don’t be afraid to ask questions if something seems unclear.
- Ask them how they would go about accomplishing your objectives, whether it’s through custom design or software development.
- Find out how long the project will take and how much it might cost when all is said and done (including hosting fees).
Always look for a website designer that has the needs of your business in mind, and that they have the heart of a teacher! When your new website is completed you’ll not only need to know how to use it, but you’ll also need to know what the plan is to convert your visitors into customers.
A big part of your site’s success is the domain name. It can be very important in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) so make sure to choose wisely depending on your business niche. Not every domain name is created equal.
The domain is the name that people will type into their web browser to go to your website (ex: wikipedia.org). It should be easy for both you and your customers to remember, spell, type, pronounce, and share (no numbers, or hyphens). While there are several factors that contribute to what makes a good domain name, these are the most important considerations:
- Easy To Remember: You need something that sticks in people’s minds and gets them excited about visiting your site. Think of it like advertising – if you want someone to remember your brand name then it needs to be memorable!
- Easy To Spell: This is especially true if you plan on incorporating text links or QR codes into your website design later on down the road (and let’s face it – everyone does). The more simple and more straightforward it is for someone who doesn’t know how computers work will make things much easier for everyone involved!
- Domain Name Length: Your domain name is your online identity, but how long should your domain name be? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the length of your domain name, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, shorter names are generally easier to remember than longer ones. Second, if you’re using keywords in your domain name, you’ll want to make sure they’re all included so that people can easily find your site. And finally, it’s generally best to keep your domain name between 3 and 15 characters long.
- Unique: This is a really important feature to look out for when you’re choosing your domain name. You could have the best domain name in the world but if there are 100 other sites that have it, then it won’t be as effective. If you can find a domain name that is unique and matches your brand name then it’s a win-win!
Sure, the website looks good, but is it well-written? Your website’s content needs to have both your visitor and Google in mind with good copywriting and SEO.
Copywriting (also known as content creation) is writing content for your site that will attract visitors and help them understand what you do. It’s important to have good copywriting because visitors will decide whether or not they want to stay on your site based on the first paragraph or two of text they see when they land on your home page! If your copy is poorly written, visitors won’t spend any time on your site (leading to a high bounce rate, and you don’t want that!) and you will lose out on valuable traffic (and potential clients/customers).
Keep in mind that the more you need your web designer to write for you, the more of an investment you’ll need to put in, but if you decide to write this yourself you may lose out on the SEO that your copywriter would be able to implement for you.
Wait, you keep mentioning SEO, so what is that?
SEO, or search engine optimization is the practice of optimizing a website for Google search with the goal of earning higher web traffic levels and improving the visibility of the site.
The benefits of SEO are numerous, but can be boiled down to a few key points: first, it can help improve your site’s visibility in search results, which can lead to increased web traffic levels; second, it can improve the click-through rate (CTR) for your site, which can lead to improved conversions and ROI; and third, it can help you create a more user-friendly and effective website overall.
SEO costs can vary depending on the size of your business and your goals. However, small businesses can expect to spend between $400 and $2,000 per month on SEO, while larger businesses may spend upwards of $20,000 per month. The cost of an SEO campaign also depends on the level of competition for your keywords. If you’re in a highly competitive market, you can expect to pay more for your SEO services.
SEO is an important part of any digital marketing strategy and should be given careful consideration. If you’re looking to improve your website’s visibility and organic traffic levels, then investing in SEO is a wise decision.
Building a quality website requires significant effort and resources and your budget should fairly reflect that fact!
You should expect to pay a premium for a quality website. If you want your site to look good, work well, be secure, and convert, you’ll need to hire an experienced web designer who can build it effectively.
Quality websites take time and effort to create. The more features and functionality that are required by the client/customer; the longer it will take for both parties (you & your designer) to reach an agreement on what exactly is included in the final product and how much it will cost.
The complexity of your website will have a direct impact on its cost as well as its time-frame – so choose wisely! A well-designed WordPress website with a clear call to action may be all that’s needed if you only intend on publishing information about yourself or your company. For more intricate projects, added functionality may be achieved by utilizing premium WordPress plugins which typically require higher budgets due to their advanced functionality.
Many businesses find themselves surprised at how much money they spend building their very first website because they didn’t realize just how much work goes into creating one until after they’ve finished building it (and sometimes even after launching).
So, How much does a website cost? Conclusion:
So, how much does a website cost? It really depends on your level of investment. Building a quality website requires significant effort and resources and your budget should fairly reflect that.
Template-based websites without customizations may seem like a cost savings opportunity, but they will lack the flexibility that your business will need as it grows. Fully custom websites are going to run much higher but will offer you more flexibility, and be made for your business directly. Adding eCommerce or other intricate features will also push the cost of your website up as well.
At the end, Your website is the sum of its parts and is meant to be an extension of your business into the digital world, and is well worth the investment.
