If you are thinking of developing a website for your business or organisation cost is always likely to be an important consideration. You need to give careful consideration to what you want from your website, how much you can afford to spend and how hands on you want to be with the management and hosting of the site.
We are going to take a look at what you need to think about when it comes to working out how much you are likely to pay for a simple website. Hopefully, you will understand why it’s not possible to give a concrete answer to the question, how much should it cost for basic website design in 2017; it depends on individual requirements.
Deciding what you want from your website
It is possible to use a free content management system (CMS) such as WordPress to create a simple website for your business or organisation. Of course, this option is limited in scope and your hosting options are also limited unless you pay for enhanced hosting opportunities which can cost anything from around $AUS 40 to hundreds of dollars. Add to this, costs such as personalised themes and you could potentially end up spending upwards of $750 per year for the initial design of the site and on-going hosting and management.
If you decide to create your own website using a CMS you also have to be prepared to invest time and effort. You can hire a web designer to complete the work for you of course. If you decide to do this you should be prepared to pay upwards of $AUS 140 per hour for the work to be completed.
You also have the option of investing in professional ecommerce website design. This means that you work with an expert designer and they create the website that you want without you having to do any of the work. If you decide on this option to should be prepared to spend anything AUS $1,400 to upwards of $10,000. If you are looking to develop a website with a higher level of functionality this may be your best option.
How professional website design can pay off
One of the most important considerations when it comes to developing a web presence is ensuring its accessibility from any device. More people now access the Internet using a smartphone than using a desktop. You do not want to miss out on a large number of potential website visitors because your website is not optimised for mobile.
Many designers now use responsive web design solutions to help make this optimisation happen. If you hire a professional to design your website they have the experience and expertise to help you maximise the viewership of your site. Obviously, you have to be realistic with your budget so that you can have an informed conversation with the designer about what functionality you can afford, but you can make sure you get an expertly designed website that effectively represents your brand or organisation.
If you are wondering how much it will cost to create a simple website for your business or organisation there is no one answer to your question. The eventual cost depends on the choices you make when it comes to design, functionality and ongoing management.
