Things to consider

When people contact us for help with designing a new website they obviously have one main question…

How much is this going to cost?
Of course, it’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask and also important because we are all working to a budget and don’t have a limitless amount of money to spend. We are especially cautious when it comes to paying for something intangible like a website – you can’t hold it in your hand, so how much can it really be worth?

The cost of web design work varies wildly. You could ask for quotes from 10 different designers and receive 10 completely different quotes, ranging from a few hundred pounds upwards. So how do you decide what amount you are willing to pay?

Factors That Affect the Price of Website Design

1. The components and features you need.

Never assume that your needs are “simple” or should be cheaper than a designer’s standard rate. Some things look easy but are very complicated, while others seem like a big deal but are very easy to implement. Your site may only consist of a single page, yet that doesn’t mean it’s automatically cheaper than one with 5 or more pages.

The thing to remember is that designers do not always price by the amount of time something takes. Your doctor can stitch a cut in 10 minutes, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t require knowledge, skill, and precision. Likewise, we have spent considerable time learning to do what we do. If anyone could do it, we wouldn’t have jobs. Adding things like forums, ecommerce, opt-ins, memberships, and other customised functionality is simply going to cost more money.

2. Your designer’s skill level.

Yes, you can get a website for £150. No, it won’t be the same quality as a website that costs £500. It’s like the difference between a bicycle and a Lexus. Both will get you where you need to go, but one is decidedly better than the other. Designers who charge more are providing you with expertise you won’t find at a bargain rate – and in most cases the benefits will definitely outweigh the added costs. If you automatically choose the cheapest option, you risk getting what you paid for.

So how much should you pay?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before deciding on a budget for website design.

Business Websites:

How important is it to have a website for your business? We are now in the 21st century and over 60% of internet users research products and services online before they make a purchase. If your company doesn’t have a website, regardless of what you do or how many employees you have, you are totally missing out. That said, having an ugly, outdated website isn’t going to help you much in the reputation department. It’s easy to tell yourself that any web presence is better than none, but you can certainly lose potential clients or customers if they perceive your brand as “cheap” or out of touch.

What does my website actually do for my business? Do people use your website to learn about what you offer? Make appointments? Purchase products? Find your phone number? Two important points about this:

1. If your website doesn’t lead to more business, that’s a problem. And it’s not because the web doesn’t work – it’s because your site doesn’t.

2. If your website does lead to more business, it’s time to ask yourself what could help improve conversion rates or make things easier for clients and customers.

What does my business really need? We have talked to business owners who are obsessed with things that simply don’t matter. They absolutely must have a menu that pops out a certain way, or they want to push content lower on the page just to make the logo bigger. And while they’re worrying about all those nitpicking details they are missing the fact that half their visitors never click beyond the homepage.

So what should you spend?

Website designs for businesses are difficult to price because there are so many factors involved and obviously every website is different. We would say you should always expect at least several hundred pounds. Don’t like that answer? Try thinking of your website as an additional sales employee and we think you’ll see why you are getting a bargain no matter what you spend.