Building a website these days can be done by anyone who can flip a switch and turn on a computer. There are many website builder programs out there that use drag-and-drop. Technology has made it so that you can build a website if you click a mouse button. But do you know what you are doing? Several components go into building a website, and without the guidance of a professional, your site could be inadvertently missing out on thousands of qualified leads every year.
Hiring a web designer to build your online presence is something you should consider whether you are a large corporation or a small mom-and-pop shop. A web designer can build in all the bells and whistles you need to create a professional and trustworthy environment for your customers. They can take you from start to finish in the process, from helping you purchase your domain name to setting your site up for long-term SEO success.
The costs involved in building a website can be as low as a few hundred dollars (not recommended), upward to a few thousand dollars. What you want built into your web page will determine how much you need to spend. Let’s look at what costs are involved in having a web designer build your site, so you can make an informed decision when the time comes.
Factors That Determine a Web Designer’s Project Cost
Depending on the experience level of the web designer the project package cost will vary. Costs are going to be based on what type of website project you are planning and how expansive the scope is, as well as the complexity of the integrations and features.
1. Front-End vs. Back-End
For front-end web development projects such as putting in a new, custom design, you are looking at a less expensive project. If you are looking at building a new website from the ground up or adding on some back-end features, costs will likely be higher. Projects added to the back-end might include:
- Building a content management system (CMS) so you can maintain and administrate your newly constructed site.
- Adding on e-commerce features for making purchases, processing payments, and securing customer information.
- Integrating with your marketing software.
Other Elements to Consider
Some website features may cost a little more because of their complexity and the work involved to build in and implement them, such as integrating a forms submission section, or a full-functioning bulletin board system (BBS). You might intend to install all of the above or a variation of these options. The size of your website is also determined by the number of pages you have, which may impact the project’s price.
2. The Complexity of the Website
Not every website owner will want the same things. There is no cookie-cutter approach to web design. If your current website is a total disaster, it’s going to take your web designer more time to fix the problem than if you just need some minor changes.
Before any work is done, your web designer will meet with you to find out exactly what you need for your site, let you know how complex your request is and how they plan to achieve your goals, an estimate of how long the project will take, and what the estimated cost will be.
3. Website Add-Ons
If you start from scratch and need social media, content creation, marketing, and SEO, you are going to want to find a full-service website developer. Not all web designers have the same set of skills, and some agencies might not be able to do all the complex tasks you require under one roof. These additional services incur additional costs:
- Website design – If you’re not using an out-of-the-box template, a web design agency can improve and add extra features to your website for you. On average, web design companies will charge from $2,000 to $5,000 to design an informational or simple site and $5,000 to $8,000 for an ecommerce or more complex site.
- Copywriting – If you need content for your web pages, some web design companies can help with this aspect, from writing about your products to writing about the company itself, adding bios for your staff, or even creating articles you can use for SEO purposes.
- Branding work – You may be an already established brand that needs website and logo redesign or even a complete makeover of your brand. Services like these are going to increase rates, and are considered separate from building your site. Not every web design company also handles branding, but if they do, expect the cost to range from $1,000 to $5,000 in addition to your website design estimate, depending on the scope of the project.
- Search engine optimization (SEO) – Besides SEO best practices, your web designer may provide additional services specifically for improving the optimization of your website for search engines. These services generally range from $50 to $75/hr.
It’s Time to Make Your Website Work for You
Many businesses are wasting money on marketing and advertising, sending traffic to websites that don’t convert.
At KangoMedia, We design websites and digital marketing campaigns that convert website visitors into leads and paying customers so that you get a positive return on investment.
Clients that work with us often see dramatic results in the form of an increase in website leads, requests for quotes, service calls, and sales. Businesses choose to work with KangoMedia because of our focus on growing their business. We are more than a service provider, we are your partner in growth.
Give us a shout, and let’s talk about your business.