One of the first questions I get asked when discussing a website is how much does it cost? My response is oftentimes “it depends.” While that sounds evasive, it really does depend.
Do you want an informational website? Do you want to include a lot of pictures? Do you need a shopping cart? Do you need search engine optimization?
Your business is unique. That means your needs are unique. Because your needs are unique, it’s difficult to give a one-price-fits-all answer. Let’s look at some basics to give you a general idea. Two requirements of any site are domain name and hosting. Further considerations are search engine optimization (how your audience will find you) and maintenance.
Domain Name Registration
Your domain name is unique and is the name that is typed into the address bar, e.g. www.yourbusinessname.com. This is like your home address. Without it, the mailman cannot find your house. Domains are generally bought by the year and cost roughly $10 per year.
Web Hosting
There is also a fee for storing your website on a server. This is called hosting and the cost runs anywhere from $50 per year to $200 per year, depending on what package is selected. The packages differ based on the size of the space, the features, and the length of the contract.
Website Development
The costs of developing a website vary from one project to another. Each website, because it is unique, needs to be tailored to meet the requirements of the targeted visitors and customers. We prefer to meet with you (or talk on the phone) to determine what is right for your business.
A Basic Website Package starts at $300. It consists of three to five pages, which may include Home, About Us, Contact Us, and possibly Services, Portfolio, or FAQ. Image optimization for up to ten photos is included. However, the client provides the content, the images, a logo if desired, and the color scheme. This package does not include the cost of domain name or hosting.
Additional services, such as additional pages, more than ten images, forms, photo gallery, shopping cart, forum, etc, are billed at an hourly rate.
Web Site Maintenance
Maintenance is available on an hourly basis and includes changing or adding content or pictures, adding pages, and more. Most of our websites are now developed using WordPress, so this makes it possible to maintain your own site, if you desire. We can provide videos or one-on-one training to teach you how.
For a nominal monthly fee, we will backup your WordPress site and do WordPress updates on a regular basis.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine submission is included in all websites we develop. And basic search engine optimization techniques are applied, including title and page names, and meta descriptions. Further optimization is an additional cost and is charged at an hourly rate.
As you can see, there are many factors that go into determining the cost of developing a website. Call or email us today for a free consultation! We would love to help you get your message out to the world.
