Weblinx, Incorporated

How Should You Think About Web Design Budgets?

Recently, we have had a handful of potential clients come to us with questions – or outright confusion – when it comes to setting a good web design budget. We understand. Everywhere you look, it seems like there is another design agency, or template company, telling you that you need to spend a lot to get a website… or conversely, that you can get a professional web presence without spending anything at all.

The answer, as with most things in life, falls somewhere squarely in the middle. To be sure, you certainly can launch a business website for next to nothing. And if you have a startup and are working on shoestring resources, that might be the most reasonable course of action.

As you might expect, though, that’s not likely to get you the kind of website you need to compete with other serious businesses. At the other end of the spectrum, there are a number of international ad agencies who will be glad to build you a website for the price of a nice suburban home. But, that rate, and the accompanying features, would be overkill for most small and medium-sized companies.

So, what do you need to spend to get the kind of custom design and Internet marketing functionality you are looking for? Here are a few pieces of advice to get you thinking in the right direction…

Know what a professional web design budget looks like

Our fee for a business website is going to start in the $5,000 range. That’s normally going to be the floor if you’re working with a team of trained and experienced professionals. Rates can climb from there depending on the number of pages you need, the complexity of the website, and any custom programming that’s required. Of course, the bigger your web design agency is, the more overhead costs there are to consider. At some firms, a complex web design or development project can cost $100,000 or more.

Pay attention to what you’re getting for the money

A website can be a good deal or a bad one at any price; to make the right decision, you have to learn how to differentiate between price and value. In other words, you have to know what you’re actually getting for the money spent. Spending more for the sake of it isn’t necessarily going to improve results, but if you can get a better layout, a smoother customer experience, and a comprehensive Internet marketing plan, those are features that will pay for themselves again and again over time.

Remember that it all comes down to ROI

Your website isn’t being built to sit on the screen and be admired; it’s going to be drawn, created, and programmed to help your business grow. Ultimately, you want to work with the team that’s going to help you meet your bottom-line goals. Evaluating costs is going to be a part of the process, and any reputable web design company is going to explain exactly what you’re getting for the money you spend. In the end, though, the driving force behind your decision should be the return you’re getting from your new web presence.

You don’t have to blow through your entire marketing budget to get a professional, high-quality web design. But, if you cut too many corners, or shop at the bottom of the market, you’re very likely to end up with something that won’t help your company grow. That’s a way to save money, but it’s never a good trade-off.

Need a New Website Design?

At Weblinx we believe that every business is unique. As digital marketing professionals we collaborate to create custom industry leading websites while maximizing visibility in the search engines and on social media. Your business should have the opportunity to be recognized as an industry leader. If you wish to pursue a partnership with our collaborative team, call the professionals at Weblinx Inc. for a free website audit and quotation (630-551-0334 or sales@weblinxinc.com).

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