Website design prices can vary greatly. One quote may be just a few hundred bucks, while the next is thousands of dollars! Unfortunately, the quoted price is never a clear indication of what you’re getting for your money. Many organizations are unfamiliar with the technical aspects of website design and may be unsure of what questions to ask as these project proposals start coming in.
Want to start building a home for your digital content? Contact us today.
Experience Is More Expensive — In the Beginning
A general rule of thumb in any industry is that experience costs money. A novice designer may initially lower their prices in order to build up a clientele. However, as they gain experience; invest time and money into perfecting their craft; and fill up their calendar, prices inevitably go up.
Although initial pricing may be higher, there is much to be gained from working with a seasoned website designer. These professionals are familiar with common website complications and can typically avoid them from the get-go. For example, a knowledgeable designer will take specific measures in the beginning to deter hackers from damaging your site. In addition, an experienced designer will be able to work with multiple website platforms so they can design your website more closely to your specifications.
How Much Work Is Left Up to You?
In consulting with firms about your website design, it’s vital to understand just how much work will be left up to you. Does the pricing include structural design only? Or will it also include keyword research and content creation? Just these additional elements can make a big difference in pricing, but they can also be the key factor in getting your website in front of the right audience in an expedited amount of time.
Content creation involves an in-depth knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization) for the website to perform well on search engines. This process includes keyword research, industry research, and strategic placing of the appropriate material on the website. While this may include a designer on the higher end of your quoted prices, it also has the potential to produce a measurable ROI in the area of website traffic.
Does Your Design Include Website Accessibility?
Accessibility is an important factor that you do not want to overlook. An accessible website includes specific features that enable it to be utilized by users with disabilities. No matter how much you spend on your website, it is no good to a potential client who is unable to access its content. Some commonly used website accessibility features include:
- Alt Text
- Keyboard Compatibility
- Contrasting Colors
An excellent website design will use the most recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines as a standard for website accessibility, ensuring that your website doesn’t exclude users with special accommodation requirements. Feel free to download our free guide for website accessibility to see if your site meets the mark.
Differences in Website Platforms
Your choice of website platform may also have an impact on website design pricing. These platforms differ in their available features and pricing. Some of the most commonly used website design platforms are WordPress, Squarespace, and Drupal.
WordPress is a free content management system, but users must find their own hosting and purchase their own domain name. It is also fairly user-friendly, if a developer set is up well for you, so keeping your website updated is an easy-to-learn task.
Squarespace is an all-inclusive, monthly fee service for website building. This website builder does not require the use of coding, making it very easy for novice designers to use. And hosting is part of the platform.
Drupal is an entirely free platform known for its excellent security features but you’ll definitely need a developer to set it up. It’s great for larger organizations that need to utilize a lot of data. However, its design interface is not quite as user-friendly as those of some other platforms.
In considering your project proposals for website design, don’t fall into the trap of looking at just the numbers. Make sure you consider important elements, including your level of involvement; the specific platform and its limitations; and the level of experience of your designer. We believe in not only designing a top-notch website that caters to your demographic, but also in teaching you how to maintain the website to stay relevant.
Further reading and resources:
- Part 2: What Goes Into the Cost of a Website Redesign — Content, Content, Content
- Part 3: What Goes Into the Cost of a Website Redesign — Let’s Get Technical
- Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Branding Agency
- 5 Ways to Measure the ROI of Your Website Redesign
- If You Still Haven’t Made Your Website More Accessible, You Need to Read This
- Accessibility & Usability Best Practices
- Website Redesign, Always Be Doing It — A True Story