1. Domain registration – this is the address that your website will be found at by web browsers e.g. www.bigpies.co.nz. You can register your domain name with a company who is verified to register names. Average Cost: $35
2. The website – your website is a collection of graphic and technical computer files that will be given to you by the company you choose to do your website. Cost: $1000 - $10,000+ (anything less than $1000 and you need to be sure the quality is not compromising your business)
3. The web host – your website files need to be kept somewhere that makes them available to the public to view every minute of every day. Cost: $10 - $60/mth.
If you’re familiar with the technical details of getting the 3 components together, then you can shop around to get the best price. However if you’re not familiar it’s much more efficient to get a web company who can take care of all three.
1. Functionality – do you want your site to be informative or do you require additional functionality e.g. enable online shopping. There are 3 main website types:
One - Informative Site – if your sites main purpose is to inform your customers of what you do, where you are etc, then an informative site can achieve this and is an affordable option to get your business name on the internet. Budget: $1000+ / Top End: $10,000+
Two - Ecommerce site – if you want to buy or sell online you will most likely need an ecommerce site that allows you to showcase your products/services easily and facilitates secure online purchasing. Budget:$2000 / Top End: $20,000+
Three - CMS (Content Management System) – Content management sites allow the website owner to be able to easily update and manage their own sites information. If you have regularly changing content, want to allow browsers to contribute and share information, or want to control browser access to your information then a CMS offers all these functions. Budget: $1200 / Top End $7000
2. Quality – prices for a basic website with simple functionality and design start at around $1000, prices for a ‘good’ site really begin at around $3000.
Other general factors such as size (how many pages), customized functionality and/or the provision of written or graphical content will also affect the cost.
Focus on the bottom line: To increase $$
To achieve this, your site must;
- 1. Have great content – informative, useful, well written, and timely, captures attention and prompts action.
- 2. Be search engine and user friendly – your customers will be looking for you online; there are important technical and non technical requirements to ensure that your site is easily found and browsed.
To achieve these choose a company that;
- 1. Uses a collaborative approach to produce your website i.e.
- - Employs a strategic business professional to plan your website’s ‘message’ to achieve business goals.
- - Employs a graphic designer to convey that message in a great looking site.
- - Employs a web developer to implement the design in user and search engine friendly manner.
- 2. Is able to advise and support on ways to get your website to continue to increase your potential market and revenue.
Hosting is an ongoing monthly cost - Maintenance – If you need to update your site with new information you will be charged based on how long it takes to make those changes. Cost: $70-$140 per hour.
- Website marketing – If you would like to spend some of your money on marketing online there are options starting from $1 a day.
- Site upgrade – at some time in the future you may wish to overhaul or upgrade. The cost would depend on whether the site could be modified or a completely new site is required e.g. ecommerce site
- Choose a company that understands your bottom line – Your website is a marketing tool to increase profits $.
- Check that you own the final website files – they are an ongoing asset of your business and you don’t want to forgo ownership to anyone.
- Look at any potential web design companies portfolio of previous work – is the quality up to your standard?
- Pay a little more for maintenance support - if the difference in price is a few bucks then its well worth it. Your business changes and so should your website – but you don’t want to pay $120 hr to make changes.
- Do not compromise on quality. Your website is a direct reflection of your business and its product/service offer.
- Choose a web design company that can manage all the essentials; domain registration, web design, hosting and after sales support and advice.
- Experts do a better job than amateurs. If you're running a business, you want to focus on your business not peripheral issues like styles of buttons on the website. Choose a design company that will understand your business then get their experts to work their magic.
- Find out what you like. Browse websites, visit competitor’s sites and note those that you like or specifically don’t like. Note what it is that you like/dislike and communicate this to your design company.
- Shop around. Your dollars are precious and you want to be sure you’re getting the best value.
- Promote your website!