What does web design cost?

If you ask for bids on your internet project, you will inevitably get quotes ranging from the extreme low to the over-the-top high. Many business owners make the mistake of going with the extremes, either the lowest price or the highest. Their thought process is usually if it’s the least expensive they’ve found a good deal or if it’s a high-priced firm they’re getting the very best.

How Much Should You Pay? 

It surprises a lot of my clients to find out that both choices are usually the least effective when it comes to getting the “best bang for the buck.” At least once a week I hear about a potential client making the wrong choice at either end of the spectrum or everywhere in between.

High-priced services that fail to consider the end-user and thus are not able to convert visitors to customers. Low-priced developers who lack the experience to provide an aesthetically pleasing design so the business turns out looking unprofessional. How then do you know how much it really costs to develop a website, and provide search engine optimization or social media services?

First, understand that anyone who considers digital marketing as a true business will have overhead. Your payment for services pays for this overhead. Whether it’s a freelancer who uses the funds to pay for their home, internet connection, computers, etc. or a company that has employees, offices, and related expenses. If they quote a price that seems too low, they probably are not looking at this as a real business. Buyer beware.

There are several things to look for when considering how much to pay for internet services. Approach the process as if it were conducting a job interview. You need to know certain information so you can gauge how much you want to pay.

1) What is included in the cost?

Some firms only provide the design – it’s up to you to provide the well-written content and images. Other companies/individuals may provide everything from design and stock photos to copywriting and optimization. In the cyber industry, you will get what you pay for, and sometimes less.

2) What is the experience level?

As the web gets older, more experienced individuals begin to come to the top. It’s not unusual for someone to have 10-12 years of practical hands-on experience now that the internet has been around for a longer period of time.

3) Very similar to experience is how long they have been in business?

A newer business or someone new to the web has no track record. Unfortunately, people requesting internet services do get scammed from time to time. The lack of business savvy on the part of web developers also leads to mistakes when registering domain names, extended hosting service interruptions, and other detrimental problems. It takes years in the business to learn all the nuances of having a web-based enterprise.

4) How will you be communicating with the designer?

How quickly do they respond to emails, phone calls, and any other mediums of communication? The key to any successful endeavor is a quick and concise exchange of ideas and concerns. If communication is good during the consideration process you should expect the same while your project is being completed.

5) Look for cost/benefit analysis?

As an example, if your average customer/client spends $100 and you spend $1000 on a website, you have to sell a minimum of 10 customers to break even. A seasoned company/individual will be able to make that happen in a shorter period of time than those less experienced.

At this point, you may be wondering what the answer is – how much does it really cost to hire someone for internet marketing services (which includes just a basic website)? As someone who has been providing digital marketing services for over a decade, I can honestly say that asking for an estimated price is like asking someone how much it costs to build a house. It all really depends on the kind of house, number of rooms, quality of craftsmanship, etc.

But when you get a range of quotes to choose from, and after you have reviewed all of the above points of concern, the choice is ultimately up to you. Your instincts will point you in the right direction. If you need any help in the selection process, I’ve developed this worksheet, download it free here.