How much does a website cost?
Websites are valuable
A professional website is increasingly becoming the most valuable tool and the most important investment you can make in your business or organization. There’s no disputing that a strong web presence is the central focus for any successful marketing campaign. Websites are valuable.
In the past, companies spent considerable amounts of money on media buying in efforts to increase business. Today, the focus has shifted to investing in a strong online presence including website, social media, and Internet marketing campaigns. And don’t forget, websites are created for the sole purpose of increasing business leads, generating revenue, and encouraging participation for your business or organization. Done right, the ROI can be dramatic. That’s not the case for many of the things on which we spend money.
You get what you pay for
Everyone has experienced “you get what you pay for” on some level; the cheap weed-eater that doesn’t quite cut the weeds, the generic tires that had to be replaced a year later, the refrigerator that died right after the factory warranty expired, and the laptop that… well, don’t get me started. You know how it goes, buying things and deciding to make a big investment is a big deal. It’s stressful. We’re afraid we’ll get burned and we’ve experienced that, in most cases, we get what we pay for. Websites are no different. You get what you pay for.
I think most folks would be surprised at the amount of expertise and labor hours that go into making an effective website. Web technology is an ever-changing industry and web developers are constantly having to educate, train, and keep up with what’s going on. It takes effort and commitment to stay relevant. Still, some peoples’ pre-conceived notion is that websites are somehow automated, cookie-cutter, or easy-to-make because the “computer does most of the work.” The truth is that is takes time to establish an effective message, gather and create effective content (which is very important), evaluate a target audience and produce an interface that’s usable and effective. You must also write clean code, test on various platforms and mobile devices, effectively integrate social media and Internet marketing techniques to make the website an effective business tool, develop custom features and applications, and the list goes on.
Professionally done, a website project is not like changing a tire. It is a subjective and unique process, with many variables, which requires participation and collaboration from the client. It’s a partnership that includes getting to know the business, determining goals and priorities, developing an appropriate solution, and providing support throughout the process… and beyond. You really can’t walk into a web design firm and say “give me a new website please.” It doesn’t work that way.
The companies out there offering special deals such as a $200 website, or the “tech-savvy” brother-in-law that will do it for cheap, the do-it-yourself website building methods, and so on will not likely get the results you are looking for in the ever-increasing competitive digital world. You need something you can use as a tool and a site that is built to last. It’s also important that you are engaging, memorable, and credible. This is achieved only through creative professional design and great content. Have I mentioned that content is very important? Well it is, and it’s typically one of the most challenging aspects of the web development.
So how much does a website cost?
Many people use the example of buying a car as a comparison for pricing a website and other forms of creative mediums. This analogy holds pretty well for web design and development. For example, if you look at the base price (or starting price) for a car, you will be looking at a number that will likely change by the time you actually make the purchase. As soon as you start adding the navigation system and other items, the price starts going up. In the same way, the price of a website can increase.
I think the car analogy is a okay illustration, but may be too “product-oriented” for an accurate depiction of website pricing. Cars are priced based on mass production. They are inherently cookie-cutter. Go ask someone to make a unique and custom car for you and I’d be willing to the bet the price will be insane. Websites can’t be priced like commercial cars because they are unique. They are one-of-a-kind and must be tailored to be effective. Making a website is more of a process than a product.
So, I’ve often used the analogy of building a home to that of building a website. In many ways the process if the same: you plan/estimate (blueprints), conceptualize (renderings), build (construction). It is based on time and materials and the estimate is just that – an estimate. The numbers may need to be adjusted along the way to compensate for things that occur during the building process. The builder manages and works hard to come in under, or on the original estimate. And that’s always our goal as professional web developers.
It’s also important to mention that, once a website is launched, it doesn’t stop there. It’s like a baby that never grows up or leaves the home. Again, a website is a tool that you have to use in order to grow your business. It takes effort. This is one reason why it’s important to build a strong foundation and do it right the first time.
With this in mind, the following outline will help give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for a website:
Standard corporate websites, that may or may not include content management (the ability to edit your site), can range in price from $2,500 to $15,000.
Websites that include content management and more professional features such as secure customer login areas can go from $15,000 to $25,000.
Websites that include all the bells and whistles like content management, secure user/client areas, mobile versions, eCommerce, and other types of online tools such as custom finance calculators, etc. can start at $25,000 and go as far as $60,000 and beyond. It really depends on the project requirements and the level of commitment and labor that will be needed to produce the website.
Again, making a website isn’t an exact science. It is a custom project and should be thought of as a partnership between the web development company and the client. An initial discussion is needed to help determine requirements and the price of any professionally produced website.
Do you have a website project in mind? If so, contact us for a free evaluation and estimate.
My business is growing and I have recently had a few exciting achievements that I would like to market. I’m looking for a professional touch to my website and some marketing material. But I am a small business and I do all of the design and creating of the products that I offer. I would like to use the handmade and made in the USA aspects of my business to help continue growing my business and bring my products to the forfront of the marketplace. I recently have joined the Ronald McDonald House Charites of Morgantown and made 100 limited edition handbags for them to help raise money for the house. I have been juried into Tamarack and MountainMade. There are several stores in WV and one store in OH that have started carrying my bags. And I am in the process of putting together a collection for Spring and Summer. Can you give me some options and an estimate? Thank you.