Let’s face it; your website is arguably a must-have marketing tool. It forms the hub of all your inbound marketing strategy, and it is likely the number one thing that prospects want to see before making a purchase decision.
As businesses understand and appreciate the value of inbound marketing and SEO strategy, business websites are getting better overall. They are now faster, mobile-friendly, sleeker, and more useful. As consumers demand a better user experience, websites need to provide functionality, performance, and ease-of-use.
These are some of the factors that businesses must consider before accepting a website price, whether they are building a new site or renovating an existing one.
Website Development and Design Pricing are Not Always Straightforward
Setting a website price is not always so simple or straightforward. Although it may feel easy to shop for a website designer by comparing published online prices, you may not end up with what you expected or a site that is optimized for your business. Website designers and developers must consider many factors and nuances before quoting price estimates. Hence, many website agencies do not have a pricing listing because of the nature of their service.
A good website design or development company will first discuss with you to find out what you want, expect, and need on your website. Is it a marketing, business, or informational site? Web designers should take their time, effort, and resources to understand the various aspects of your business and brand before giving you an estimate.
For instance, if you want to generate higher walk-in sales for your business, a web designer will have to factor in such issues when creating and designing the website to enable it to attract customers to your store and buy your brand.
Therefore, it’s critical for a web designer first to understand your needs and your desired level of post-publication involvement in maintaining the site and keeping it updated with relevant SEO content for ranking and visibility.
Understanding these facts enables designers to quote an estimate for a solution that is appropriate to your particular situation. Thus, be wary of off-the-shelf prices lest you end up looking for another designer to finish the project.
Examples of Aspects that Affect Website Pricing
- Copywriting: will you need help writing your website copy? Edits to optimize for Search Engines? For marketing?
- Images: Will you be providing professional photographs, or will the designer look for stock images, or need to provide extensive editing of non-professional photographs you supply?
- Functionality: Will your website need any functionality included such as online booking of appointments, ecommerce with PCI compliance, event calendar with registration, uploading of resumes, newsletter opt-in integration or the ability for affiliates to register? Content Updating: Do you need the ability to update your website content yourself (without coding knowledge)?
- Data import: Are you redesigning an existing website from which a large volume of content must be migrated? Revisions: How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Website Tools: Will you need website analytics tracking, security monitoring, SSL installation, cookie consent banner, content management system, or other tools, and are they included in the price?
There are many things that affect website pricing. You are not expected to know whether your site needs all of these. But again, a good website designer will know the questions to ask you and determine what makes sense for you, your business and your website.
Over to You
Pricing for web design and development services is not cut and dry. You must factor in numerous variables such as the examples listed above, as well as the experience of potential agencies and the services they provide. It is vital to understand what you need before you accept any website price. Choose a website designer that can help you determine those needs.
