Gone are the days of consumers rifling through the yellow pages in order to find the best goods and services for their needs. Skimming through yellow page listings was similar to playing Russian roulette, in that finding the right business was the luck of the draw. Typically, businesses that were listed first or had the largest ads took the cake.
Though those days are gone, it’s important to remember that the process of consumers finding a business that meets their needs is still the same, which is why creative wed design is so important. You only get once chance to make a first impression, and having a well designed website is the best way to make a good one.
Companies will invest thousands of dollars on the best content marketing strategies — which are also important — but neglect to invest time, or money for that matter, on professional web design. While implementing a strong content marketing strategy is not only important, in fact it’s essential, content marketing alone will not get your business noticed.
Web design prices can vary drastically for company to company. What are some the factors that play into web design prices? Though there are many, here are some of the big ones.
Old vs. new
When you’re starting from scratch, so is the web design firm. Having nothing to work of off, the web design agency does not have the advantage or opportunity of building off an existing site’s features or functionality, and must create a new brand and online presence from the bottom up. As such, all new company websites go through a process of discovery and documentation, during which a web design template, in addition to expectations are discussed. It’s important to have an idea of the look and feel you’re going for in order to expedite this process.
Interface and graphics
Think of interface design as the look and feel, or visual aesthetics of your website. Interface design incorporates branding, photos, images, graphics, and page layouts. The designer will discuss and show you several options, and create or modify an existing template based on your goals and feedback. Don’t skimp on the interface design. For a small business website, budget at least $1000 to $3000 to get you from concept to creation that will be sent to developers for actual programming. Users will not take a second glance at a company website that is poorly designed or not easy to use.
It’s also important to remember maintenance in terms of web design prices. Websites don’t maintain themselves, and require maintenance to keep things run smoothly. Many businesses forget to budget for routine maintenance, so it’s important to keep this in mind.
Having a visually dynamic yet intuitively designed website is an important of operating a business and reaching customers. Don’t let the price tag deter you; a good web site is priceless.