In today’s digitally-driven economy, every business needs to have a website in order to be successful in digital marketing. More than two thirds of all consumers rely on digital means like websites and reviews in order to make their purchasing decisions, and 75% judge a company’s credibility based on their website design. If you don’t have a robust website capable of appealing to your target consumers, then you are likely missing out on a lot of potential sales and revenue.
Many small businesses either don’t have a website, or have one that is outdated or too basic. With limitations ranging from budget concerns to an insistence on trying to DIY their website, there are many things that might hold you back from hiring a company to design your website. But you may be surprised to find that hiring a company like us isn’t just an easy process, it also doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Understanding the Cost Factors of Website Design
Many of the costs associated with website design vary from business to business. For example, a company with an uncommon name may pay as little as $12/year to register their domain name, whereas one with more popular or common phrases can cost upwards of thousands of dollars per year.
Choosing the right domain name is a big part of designing a successful business. You want your name to match that of your company as closely as possible. If your domain is already taken, or is too expensive, your designer can help you brainstorm a different name that will still be relevant without the big price tag.
Website hosting is another cost that can vary, from as little as $20/month to as much as $500. It all depends on how many visitors you expect your site to get, the type of website, and whether or not you’d like additional services like email accounts or automatic backups.
A secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate protects both websites and visitors by affirming your credibility as a legitimate site. SSL certificates are optional, and can cost up to $1,500 per year. The importance of an SSL for your site can be determined by your designer to help you make a decision on whether or not this is a necessary expense.
The number of pages that you need also makes a difference in how much your site will cost. Some small businesses may need as little as 3 pages, whereas an ecommerce store may need a hundred or more.
The final variable cost to building a website is how many functions you need it to have. This can include online payments, multiple user profiles, clickable buttons, and more. These functions take time to build into the site, which means they do come at an additional cost.
So How Much Does Designing a Website Cost?
We know you’re going to hate this answer, but it’s the truth: the cost of designing a website depends almost entirely upon your individual vision and goals for the site. As a general rule of thumb, however, for a simple site you can expect to spend between $500 and $3,000, and a more complex site upwards of $10,000 or more. It all depends on the number of hours that the company you hire will have to spend to get the site exactly how you want it.
Designing a website doesn’t have to be a huge expense; we offer a range of website package options to suit every budgetary need, from simple 3-page sites to more complex 10+ page sites. And you can rest assured that, no matter how small or how big your project is, you will receive the same level of care and attention to detail to ensure your website is everything you want it to be.
At Gulf Coast Web, we have over 25 years of experience in managing all types of digital design and marketing campaigns – even for companies outside of our immediate area. Our staff consists of highly-trained digital design advertising professionals who are both passionate about their jobs and excel at what they do. Contact us today to book a consultation with our team. We look forward to outlining exactly how we can help you grow your business with our digital media agency services.