Web users spend an average of 15 seconds on your website. So, you have a very limited time to grab their attention. It becomes important for web designers to design aesthetically pleasing websites that are easy to use.
But at what cost?
Website design pricing can be a tricky subject. So many different factors are involved in determining how much you will spend on your website, and because of this, it is often difficult to find the right balance for your needs.
The following article provides insight into various factors that influence your small business website design pricing.
The Team Building It
Small businesses should consider a web designer that specializes in working with small companies. A larger company that builds websites for Fortune 500 companies simply may not have the experience to build your site effectively.
Web design specialists know what it takes to create a website that performs on both an aesthetic and practical level. They are generally better equipped to handle the tasks of creating engaging content, maintaining search engine rankings, and getting your site noticed by potential customers.
The Technology Behind It
There are several technologies at work behind every modern website design project. They include CMS (content management system), e-commerce plug-ins, and photography.
The more CMS and e-commerce features you want, the more your web designer will charge. The price for using photos on your site also depends on how many photos you use.
The Number of Pages You Need
Bigger sites generally mean higher costs. However, a large site doesn’t necessarily mean much when it comes to improving SEO rankings. On average, 10 pages are enough to represent your business online adequately.
How Fast You Need It Done
When you are in a rush, you have to pay more. Faster web design is generally more expensive because it requires the developer to use more resources than usual. This is especially true when major changes or updates are needed on the site.
How Easy It Will Be to Maintain
Regular website maintenance is essential. Many small business owners are not web-savvy and would have difficulty maintaining the website on their own once it’s live.
Web design companies typically offer monthly or quarterly support packages that include: updating content, adding new pages, and editing graphics. They may charge an additional fee for this service that’s separate from the initial cost of designing your site.
How Attractive You Want It to Be
Aesthetics play a huge role in website design costs. The attractiveness of your site can determine how many visitors you get in a month and how long they stay there.
The more complicated your site is, the higher costs will be for maintaining it over time.
How Extensive the Content Will Be
The more content you have on your site, the higher costs of maintenance will be. Blogs need regular posts and updates to stay fresh and interesting to current readers. The same goes for e-commerce sites, which need to be updated regularly with new products and pricing information to attract sales.
What Your Budget Is
Many good website design firms these days offer monthly contracts. One of the most important things to do before signing any contract is to find out how much this company charges per hour. You don’t want to end up with a surprise bill at the end of the project.
What Else You Plan to Have Done With It
A website won’t mean much if it sits on your online server. It would help if you had some marketing plan and/or social media presence, as well. If this isn’t something you will do yourself, inquire about what other marketing services are included in their fees.
Whether These Fees Are Flat or Hourly
While you will likely pay more for a flat fee, it allows you to have peace of mind in knowing what the final price tag will be. It also means that your budget won’t change due to unforeseen expenses or delays.
The Cost of Hosting Your Website
Hosting and domain fee costs are sometimes included in the total price of your website. However, if they aren’t, you will have to pay separately for them. This means an additional $15-$20 per month for hosting and another $10 for your domain name.
The Location of Your Target Audience
You should keep location in mind when you are looking at different web design firms (like Channel 13 marketing). If your target market is large, it may be worth having an offshore team build your site. This is because the costs of doing so locally will likely exceed whatever they can do for less abroad.
However, if your audience is local or regional, you don’t need to worry about having a site that works well for international customers. There is no reason to consider going this route unless you are interested in writing in another language.
Training for You and Your Staff
If you are not tech-savvy or have never dealt with web design before, your website designer may offer you and your staff training sessions to make sure that everything is working the way it should. If learning how to use a site is part of the package, this fee will be included in the main price tag.
Understand Website Design Pricing
If you are considering building a new website or redesigning an existing one but aren’t sure what kinds of prices to expect, these are some things that will most likely affect the final price tag. By knowing these website design pricing factors ahead of time, you can put together a budget that is both realistic and fair to everyone involved in the process.
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