How much should I spend for my website

How much should I spend for my website is a common question asked by many people who are looking for a website. It goes without saying that every business needs a consistent website for a company. If you’re not familiar with the process that involves setting up a website, running and promoting it, enlisting the services of professionals is a very good move. Too often, business owners have seen their websites being ripped off by cheap websites and unprincipled and slow design companies and the only way to avoid that is by paying a good price and looking for premium services for your online presence in the long run. But how do you know if you’re spending too much? How much should I spend for a website is a commonly asked questions. To ask how much is a website is a lot like asking how much is it to build a house; the price range can vary and there are countless factors that make up the cost. Here are some very important guidelines for you to decide if you’re spending the right price for a business website:

Custom design or a template

The design factor of a website is one of the main things that can determine the cost of a website project. You can use pre-designed website templates but if one of your business goals is to look professional and stand out from your competitors, you need a professional designer to create the perfect design that reflects your business and your branding. If you’re planning on hiring a professional agency or a company, the design segment of the project will cost you around 25-35% of the overall cost.

Domain registration charges

This is a sometimes overlooked expense in web development and it doesn’t matter if you’re a small business owner or a huge corporation- you get more value out of the better domain you pay for. A quality domain is a long-term asset and investment for any business. Domain charges are relatively inexpensive and numerous registrars offer discounts for multiyear registrations. There are plenty of domain registrars such as godaddy.com, name.com who sell available domains.

Web hosting charges- free or paid?

While free hosting may seem appealing, it’s not often consistent and that, in turn, will reflect very badly on your business. The price of web hosting can vary drastically too, depending on your business. When choosing a hosting package, take into consideration the bandwidth and storage space and that depends on the type of website you intend to have for your company. The bigger the website, the more bandwidth and storage you need and it’s entirely worth to pay a bit more for it.

Search Engine Optimization is important

A website for a company can be optimized for search engines during the web development process, but it doesn’t mean the website will rank well on search engines. Driving traffic is one of the main reasons for an online presence and to rank well, you have to pay for an on-going SEO program and strategy. Premium SEO programs will vary significantly based on complexity and you may have to pay monthly for most programs.

Content Management System

Every website needs to be maintained well and most websites today are integrated with Content Management Systems (CMS). If your website is a simple one, you can opt for an undemanding CMS but a complex website will need a more robust platform with many features to manage your website on your own.

Quality content creation

One main reason for any website to fail is when the content is out-dated and fails to be appealing. Having new content updated on your site can play a major role in the overall cost of your website. You can create your own content and save money but it’s very time consuming. The best way is to hire professionals to do the job for you.

Customs applications for websites

Nowadays, even simple websites have some sort of application integrated with them, from subscriptions forms, blogs, member logins, discussion forums, etc. Be prepared to pay if you require these applications or you need another form of custom application based on your business.

Depending on the services you require, the cost you will invest on your website varies. Colombo Web Solutions has lots of experience providing quality service for the best price in the Industry. For you to have some ideas on costs, have a look at our website for starting prices and request a free quote to find out more info.