Are you looking to build a website for your business but not sure about the costs? Like most things, the cost of website design is contingent on your design specifications and needs. You could be a small business owner fishing for a small presence locally or the CEO of a large-scale enterprise chasing larger fish. To cut it short, there’s no universal or one-size-fits-all solution in the web design industry.
In all honesty, anyone can build a website but that’s just the first step. Sure, you need a relevant online presence but what you want are customers and revenue. The problem is that most business owners go all in without knowing what they want or what works.
To the untrained eye, telling the difference between a website that makes sales all day long and one that never makes any sales is close to impossible. You need to experience it to know – and no, using pretty fonts, pictures, or slides isn’t the answer.
High-performing websites come with critical elements, such as search optimization for your website, analytics, and persuasive copy, all working together to make your website profitable. The problem is that people chase low prices and only focus on the front-end web design while ignoring the elements mentioned above.
And in that chase, business owners lose thousands of dollars in website re-design and lost sales. The realization hits only when it’s too late. While website design costs are important, it’s best to think of web design as an investment rather than an expense. What you put in is what you get in return.
Your Website Is an Investment
Effective website strategy can have a big impact on your business. Imagine a website that can double, triple, or even increase website conversions by 10x? Wouldn’t you change your stance after seeing such results? Whether you put a little or a lot into it, a website that never converts will always be an expense. But one that reaps results is an investment.
However, bear in mind that there’s only so much that web design can do for you. If you’re seeking a high return on investments, you need to find experienced people to work with and an effective ongoing strategy. You’ll also have to pool some marketing funds for SEO, PPC, and other digital marketing activities. Otherwise, you’re leaving a ton of money on the table.
The Cost of Web Design
We know this is the part most of you were waiting for – and it’s only natural. Of course, you’ll need to know how much a website typically costs before deciding the next step. In reality, websites can cost anywhere from some hours of your time (DIY) to thousands of dollars.
As stated before, it all boils down to your needs and requirements. If you’re running a small business in Australia, depending on the size and complexity of your website, you should expect to pay anywhere from $2000-$12000+ for it. It’s also important that you understand why you have to spend such an amount.
The Risk of Cheap Websites
If someone is offering to build a cheap website for you, you ought to know that said developer is an amateur. In all truth, even a neighborhood kid could offer to build you a website for $500 or less. Maybe an agency might even offer you prices that low (yes, such agencies do exist).
But, while you will eventually get a website this way, it won’t contain any of the elements it takes for a website to convert. This means no professional web copy to reel in your target customers, no SEO, and no strategy for sales. It’ll just fall into a corner of the web, completely wasted and useless.
Now, this isn’t to say that you can’t improve your website design later on. Of course, you can. But, it’ll end up costing you more than it originally would have to just get the features.
Here’s a little comparison to put things into perspective: “adding” conversion is like asking your builder to move a wall in your home after it’s been completely built. To avoid wasting money on a re-do and get the right results sooner, it’s best to enlist the help of an experienced web design company.
If Not Price, Then What?
Creating an effective website is anything but a walk through the park. Much is at stake since your entire online presence revolves around it. So, if you’re confused and don’t know how to pick the right web designers or company for you, here are a couple of questions you can ask before forming a decision:
How Do You Design Your Websites?
You’re looking for designers who can distinguish your business from its competitors and provide a custom look to your webpage. If the designers start discussing immediate development and cookie-cutter themes, it’s time to get up and leave. Your money is useless here.
You can also seek professional help from web design and development firms, such as Azuro Digital and any other trusted companies. By doing so, you’ll have a professionally-designed website with optimum quality and performance.
Below are some tips when designing a business website:
- Add A Sitemap: A sitemap is your website’s directory, in which all pages are found. Sitemaps help search engines easily scan your website to determine content and relevance to search queries. In this way, search engines can rank your web pages accordingly, benefiting your sales and marketing.
- Ensure Excellent User Experience: Make your website easy to navigate. Ensure that all important elements you want to highlight are easy to read and find, such as your product catalogue and the shopping cart. Your website should also be accurate, engaging, and fast loading.
- Promote Proper Layout And Balance: Your website shouldn’t be too crowded. Try to achieve a good balance of texts, images, videos, and infographics so as not to affect its loading speed and compromise user experience.
- Keep SEO In Mind: Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential consideration when designing a business website. It involves using the right keywords, links, and content to ensure readers are kept engaged to boost your traffic, lead generation, and sales.
What Kind of Results Should I Expect?
What’s the point of having a great-looking website if no one ever sees it? Make sure to discuss the results you should be expecting once the website is complete. Also, inquire about the marketing elements that can be incorporated later on and how those elements are baked into the design.
How Can We Improve the Conversion Rate?
You’ll know if a company is worth your while when they offer suggestions like a call to action, professional photos, trust indicators, and other aspects of your site that offer the prospects of conversion.
Final Thoughts
Your entire online presence depends on your website, its design, and its ability to convert. Giving a definitive quote for web design in Australia is difficult without knowing a client’s requirements and design specifications first.
A website needed just for the sake of the ‘www’ on your business card won’t cost you so much as $500. But, if you’re looking for a high-quality, professional website, you might want to look into the best web design companies near you.
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