How much does a marketing website cost?
If you have an established freelance business or a start-up, something you may have considered would be developing a website. More importantly, you might have researched how much this will cost. The truth is, there is no solid answer when it comes to pinpointing a price. Remember that designing a website is a service, not a product. You are looking for expertise and tools to assist your brand. The world of design is large and complex, so costs can vary. Developing a website requires lots of detail. It’s a good idea to talk to a few professional freelancers or agencies about your needs. Both have the technical expertise to understand your vision.
Domain Name — $10 per year
The first thing you need to do is create a domain name. You need to give your business an identity which lets customers flow to your website. Establishing a domain name can help you grow. It also helps you gain traffic and opens up more opportunities online within online advertising. It’s best to get advice from a professional on how to do this. There are lots of things to consider such as accessibility, copyright and SEO. In the meantime, you do some research for yourself to check if your domain can be obtained. Check out names.co.uk and see if your domain name is available.
Hosting — $10 to $30 per month
It’s quite common to get mixed up with the difference between having a domain name and a hosting website. Once you have your domain name set up, you need to host your website. This means providing server space to put your website on. Hosting will put your website onto the internet and give you the platform to let it be viewed and stored. Hosting companies need you to own a domain name before you do anything and host with them. Again, speak to a professional about this who understands the technicalities.
Website
You will need to take into account lots of things when it comes to developing your website. Some of this might include asking:
- What is the goal of your website? Is it to gain traffic? New sales? Generate leads? Or engage customers?
- How many web pages will you have?
- What kind of multimedia and graphics will you use?
- Any product/service descriptions and images?
- Will you include any sign-up forms?
- Will you write everything or will you hire a copywriter?
- Do you need to develop any downloadable information for your customers?
Do it yourself — $10 per month, $500 for some help
If your budget is tight, then it’s a good idea to build your own website from scratch. You can do this with the help of free website builder tools. Some examples include:
If you can fork out some money you can go for the upgraded plan offered. If you can afford to invest a little then can try Squarespace or Bigcommerce which have a small monthly cost.
Although free tools are fantastic to help you get started, it might be better to hire a professional company to help you get your feet off the ground. Check out Maxima Local, Popcorn, and WebFactory. Remember, a well-designed and informative website will boost the traffic you get. Customers will also appreciate a business that is active online because it adds value.
Hiring a professional — $2.5k to $7.5k
Your business might have been established for some time. In which case, you may have a budget and might have thought up setting up a website. You can steer away from free website tools in this case and opt for professional help. There are plenty of freelancers who specialize in website design and can assist you with developing your site. If you have a budget then a professional design agency can give you the best results. Although using an agency can be expensive, the long term benefit of having a well-run website will add value to your business.
A good tip is to make sure you pick the right designer that matches your budget and technical ability. You need to assess how much time and money you are able to commit. A situation you want to avoid is ending up spending more than your budget. This causes a cut back on other marketing activities you might have for your business.
When it comes to setting up a website for your business, it all depends on a variety of factors. Including what stage your business is at and how much your budget is. Remember that building a website is a long term project and one that needs continuous development. So it’s a good idea to speak to professionals who have the knowledge and skills to guide you. If you don’t have the budget, remember it’s not the end of the world. Explore free website builders and make use of the free tools available.
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