How Much Should You Pay For A Web Design Project
“How much does it cost to build a website?”
“What is the average cost of website design for small business?”
We believe most people, especially in Singapore, are wondering how much should they pay for their web design project. It’s logical to have that thought as everyone has finite amount of money to spend on website and we want to make sure that the money spent is being used in the smartest way possible. People are very cautious when it comes to paying for something intangible like web design – you can’t hold it in your hands. so how much can it really cost?
If you have been discussing your project with both freelance web designers and web design companies, you will realize the cost varies greatly, ranging from a few hundreds to tens of thousands. How do you decide which quotation to go for?
In this post, we will like to share with you the range of prices that you should be expecting. First, let’s look at these factors below that will affect the pricing:
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Web Design Project
Features Or Components That You Require
First of all, do not assume that the features or components you need are “simple”. It may seems easy for you because it has been well taken care of by the complicated backend system. Also, if your requirement only consists of only one page, it doesn’t necessary mean that it is cheaper than a standard informative website with 5 or even 100 over pages.
As the saying goes, “if it is that simple, you could have done it yourself.” For every feature or component, the designer or developer has to put in considerable amount of time and effort to learn. If anyone could do it, we would be out of job. Hence, adding e-commerce, opt-ins, membership, forums, and any other custom features will definitely going to cost more money and time.
Designer’s Skill Level
Yes, you might be able to get a quote from a freelancer at a ridiculously cheap price. However, do not expect your website to have the same quality and attention to detail as compared to if you engage a more expensive company. It’s like buying a bicycle and an Audi. Both can get you from Point A to Point B, but sitting in an Audi is definitely going to be more comfortable.
Professional designers who charge more will be able to provide you with insights and expertise that you won’t find at a bargain price. In most cases, these benefits outweighs the additional costs. If you blindly choose the cheapest option, you will risk having a website that sucks. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
How Demanding You Are As A Client
You might be surprised that this is also a factor for the cost of your project. If you call your designer every day and expect a million changes or disturb the designer in his or her family time, it is going to cost you a lot of money. We, as designers, have learnt how to sniff out these tough clients easily. However, once in a while, one such case will sneak through the gates. In such case, we are going to be absolutely sure that for any additional work, we are being compensated well.
So remember to be nice to your designers as they are human beings as well and have a life outside of work too.
So how much budget should I set aside for a website design project?
Bloggers:
Personal Use
If your blog is just meant to document your moments with your friends and family and not intending to make any money out of it, we would recommend you to avoid engaging a professional web design company. Actually, not even any web designers and just grab any free theme that comes with the free WordPress account. If you really want to spend a little effort to make it more fanciful, then you can consider using a website building platform like Wix (can have free account), Weebly (can have free account) or Squarespace.
How much you should spend: Free to US$25/month
Professional Use
If you are a budding professional blogger that tackles niche topics, then it is slightly different. You will need to own a domain name. However, since you are just starting out, you should not engage any web designer as well. Pay a little premium by using the above mentioned website building platforms and once you have established a good reputation, you can then consider engaging a professional web designer to build up your personal branding.
How much you should spend: US$4.08/month to US$25/month
If you are already a professional blogger, you most probably already have a decent website. Unless you require custom features or design or a makeover of your personal branding, you should stick with the current website that you have. No point revamping a website if the current one serves its purpose well, provided the design is still current.
How much you should spend: US$4.08/month to US$25/month to maintain your existing website or around S$3000 to S$5000 to engage a professional web design company for a makeover.
Business Owners:
It’s the 21st Century and almost all the businesses are going online. If your company doesn’t have a website at all, you are totally missing out so many business opportunities. That said, having an outdated and ugly website isn’t going to help much as well. It’s easy to tell yourself that any web presence is good enough, but you are definitely losing potential clients who perceive your company as “lousy” or out of touch by looking at your website.
Hence, the answer is a sounding yes to have a professional and updated website. A good website is one that is able to bring in new leads and increase your sales revenue. If it doesn’t, it is time for you to review your website again. You might need a website revamp that is geared towards increasing conversion rates like proper landing pages or engage in digital marketing campaigns like SEM (Search Engine Marketing) or SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
But surprisingly, most business owners we talked to are obsessed with things that don’t matter. They want a fanciful menu that animates every time you mouse over it or to make the logo bigger and push the content lower. They are not seeing the full picture here. The top priority for a business owner is to have a website that is able to bring in new business! You should be more concerned with the number of site visitors you are getting every month and why half of those visitors never click beyond your homepage or leave within seconds.
A truly professional web design and digital marketing company will definitely be highlighting these issues with you. And that’s one of the benefits you get from engaging a professional company as compared to a freelancer.
How much you should spend: Commercial websites are very hard to price due to many factors. You should expect to pay at least several thousands dollars to a 5 digit figure. Try seeing your website as a professional 24/7 salesman for you and you will see why you should be paying that much. Don’t forget to consider a digital marketing campaign for your website as well!
What do you think? Do you agree with us on the pricing? Or what factors do you use to come out with your budget?