You’ll always pay more for a low-cost website.
If you’re shopping for a website and are overwhelmed by all the options and the huge difference in pricing, don’t worry, it’s not you! There are so many different platforms to choose from as well as a wide range of pricing from free to $5,000 or $50,000 and beyond. So how do you know how to choose?
Okay, so I hear what you’re thinking. “If I can get a website for free, why would I pay for one?” Great question and the answer is simple, albeit, unsatisfying. Because, like anything in life, you get what you pay for.
Now before we dive too deeply here, not everybody requires a comprehensive website. It comes down to what you need to do for you. If you have a hobby, and you want a website for that and you’re keen to dabble and experiment, and whether it succeeds or not isn’t really that important. You’re fine to do whatever you choose.
However, if you’re running a business and you’re relying on this website to be something that motivates your users to buy or reach out, that requires a lot of thought, planning, psychology, and professional design. You’ll want it done right, the first time, so at a minimum, if you’re going to DIY, it’s recommended to pay for a consultation with an agency to help you get going in the right direction. It might cost you $300-$400, but it’s money well spent when you consider your time and effort, as well as the peace of mind of knowing that you’re hitting the mark and not crossing your fingers that it will succeed.
With websites, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, just like vehicles, which can range from hatchbacks to 5-ton delivery trucks. The trick is knowing what you need, and ignoring the rest, (despite the flashy claims.) This is easy when it comes to cars because if you know you want a convertible, you know you don’t need to price out minivans. With websites, it’s not always as clear.
It’s important to really take some time to make sure you get the right framework and options that are going to work for you. Unless you want to go through this process twice. Nobody does, but so many people do, so learning from their mistakes may save you some time and money. Most reputable firms will offer a free consultation that will help you makes sense of the options. I recommend speaking to a couple of firms so you get a really good idea for what will work for you. Once you know what will work for you, you’ll find that the pricing becomes more comparable.
It comes down to two things:
- Understanding how you can leverage your website to save time and generate revenue.
- Deciding what you want to get out of your site.
Why is this important? Well, let me ask you this: what would you rather have: a $2000 website that never pays itself off or a $10,000 website that pays itself off in six months? It’s a no-brainer. If your website isn’t making your money, it’s costing you money. If you invest in a marketing tool that doesn’t its job, that means you have to do its job in addition to yours. If you’re not getting leads from the site, then the site is not building the trust your visitors need to contact you and this could be working against you and damaging to your reputation. If you want to see how much money your website can make you (or conversely, how much money you stand to miss out on) check out our Revenue Calculator in the description below.
I’ll tell you a secret: Anybody can build a website. You can easily get into a low-cost website in the same way that you can buy a $100 car, however, you’ll only get so far before you find yourself stranded where you don’t want to be and in need of real help. Sure, there are some DIY sites that look decent, but it’s not just about the appearance. It’s important to understand that a website needs three important ingredients to be successful: professional design, clear and compelling copywriting, and a good user (and search engine) experience. Like the $100 car, a low-cost website will always cost you more.
It’s so tempting for businesses when money is tight—especially new businesses—to go the DIY route or hire a student or the nephew of your sister’s friend’s cousin’s yoga teacher. The reality is that cutting corners will cut into your bottom line and your valuable time. You will likely end up with a sub-par website that could cost you in more ways than there is time to list here. From lack of leads to bad first impressions, getting blackballed by search engines or worse, getting a cease and desist letter for plagiarism, stolen imagery or in court over improper privacy disclosures or website accessibility—which is beginning to happen in the United States. Ontario, Canada has created legislation around mandatory website accessibility.
Three tips for getting the right website the first time:
- Know what you want to get out of your website: Do you want 3 phone inquiries a month? 5 sign-up emails sent a month? 20 people downloading your ebook? Etc. Once you know your goals, you know your destination.
- Choose the right website platform, (and or team.) Do you want to rent or own? Chat with different developers, get quotes, peruse their portfolios, reviews. If you don’t like their work or you don’t get a good vibe from them, reach out to more.
- Choose an agency that is the best fit for you, that you’re excited to work with. Be clear about your needs and your budget and they can discuss what they can create for you.
HPX Media has been building hassle-free WordPress websites for small and medium-sized business for over twelve years and has many clients from the early days. If you’re looking for a website that meets your (and your clients’) needs, please take a look through our portfolio, see how we build sites, and reach out if you’d like a free consultation.
