Website Costs
We are often asked, "How much will it cost for you to make me a web site?” Unfortunately, this is not something that is easy to answer without more information. No offense to those who ask, but asking that question is about the same as asking a contractor “How much does it cost to build a house?”
There are a number of variables that effect cost when it comes to designing and building a web site. What’s the scope of the site? Five or 10 pages with simple graphics and no e-commerce? Or 30 pages, numerous product photos, a complex shopping cart…? Obviously, these two web site designs are going to have significantly different prices. So a little forethought and planning is necessary to figure out the overall cost of your web project.
So, long story short, when you see statements on the web sites of professional web designers saying something like “Each client and their needs are unique, the web designer is not trying to scam you. We genuinely do need more detailed information about your web site needs before being able to give you a price.
WEBSITE INFORMATION
Things to consider before creating your site:
The creation of a web site should be an exciting process, relatively easy and enjoyable. Determining what you want the site to look like
and how you want it to function does not have to be a daunting task. These matters will be well coordinated by your web site designer.
So, what’s the most difficult job for you, the client? Without a doubt, the area that prevents most web sites from moving forward is developing the written content for the site. Clients very often say that they will have no problem writing the material themselves, but when it comes down to it, they frequently become blocked.
There are numerous factors involved in this phase of creating a web site, and when the client sits down to really think it all out, it can seem overwhelming: marketing skills, conveying what the company does, peoples’ apprehension about their own writing abilities, deciding on the correct material and how to organize it – sometimes it just becomes too much and the project gets pushed to the back burner, with the professionally-designed web site left unfinished. And what should have taken weeks ends up taking months.
So, if you want one word of advice about what you should do to start work on your web site, it’s this: start formulating your ideas and writing this minute. Because if you don’t, you may already be behind schedule.
But you want “quick and easy!”
Of course, you’ll also see a lot of flashy ads out there that promise “quick and easy” web sites for little money: ”Have your own beautiful web site for only $75 a year. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Just push a few buttons and you’re online!!” If your needs are very, very basic and you just want to “get something online” and not worry about all the other stuff, then the quick template approach may work well for you. Just keep in mind, however, that these types of sites often limit you to “put your logo here, put your text here” type of restraints. They may technically be a “web site”, by the mere fact that they show online, but that doesn’t mean they will bring you business or represent your company in the way you want.