There are many different types of websites out there. Some are informational websites, some are industry websites that people can use to generate a quote for technical products, and some are Ecommerce sites. As part of my function here at AWG, I speak to many people over the course of the week that are looking to redesign their website, or start a new business. One of the very difficult questions is “How much does a website cost” or “how much does it cost to make a website”?
How much does a regular website cost?
If you’re looking to have a regular website done – let’s assume in this case you have a restaurant and you just need like a 5 page site, with just a contact form and good call to action messages. I’ve seen people charge anything from $1,000 to $10,000 believe it or not. Those are prices for a custom site, designed properly with search engine friendliness in mind. If you’re looking at a price tag for a template site and it’s free or $10 a month, then you are 100% not getting a very good value. People sometimes make decisions to get the cheaper of something to try it out and see how it goes. If this is your business, you have to do things right from the beginning, or you’re really setting yourself up to fail.
How much should an eCommerce site cost?
If your business is selling a direct product to a consumer or a business, then you will have an eCommerce functional site. Now this gets a bit more tricky, I speak to many people who I ask what their budget might be, they say they have no clue. Then we start to discuss pricing and it becomes clear they may say something like “oh I already got quotes for $500, how come your price is so much more?”. The important thing to remember is, when is the last time someone gave you something of true value for free or very very cheap. Always remember you get what you pay for. A truly functional eCommerce site can have many different types of functionality allowing for higher conversion rates, cross selling, promotional tools and advanced selling techniques. The discounted template sites, are not designed with these thoughts in mind, they typically are not SEO friendly, and no one will find your site. The end result, you’ll go out of business before you even start because you didn’t set it up right in the first place. We have different types of eCommerce options for people dependent on how many items they are selling and their budget. But this much I will tell you, a truly functional eCommerce site even at it’s most basic customized form starts at about $5,000. There is a lot of labor and customization involved, and many times the person getting the site, has no marketing background, and they aren’t aware that they are set up for failure. It’s a sad truth in the Internet Marketing world, so it’s very important that you get what you pay for.
The moral of the story here folks is this. People in most businesses will be sold things, that aren’t really what they should be buying, because they may or may not know any better. If you are looking to find out how much does a website cost correctly – it’s important that you deal with a reputable Internet Marketing agency that will spend some time analyzing your goals, objectives and also marketing and make recommendations accordingly. Remember, if you go into payless and buy a $5 pair of shoes, it won’t last long – but if you buy a pair of Bruno Magli shoes, it’s warranted for Life.
