The Cost of Building a Website: Factors to Consider for Your Business
The wide range between the minimum and maximum prices of website building is because the cost calculates individually, considering many factors. First, the price of website building depends on the option and content management system you choose: ready-made solution or individual development.
If you have a limited budget and you are looking for an inexpensive option, a ready-made solution will suit you. The cost of work will be affected by the cost of the website template, a paid or free content management system, the urgency of providing the result to the customer, etc.
With an unlimited budget, you can order a website with a unique design and programming according to your specifications without any restrictions. By the way, it is best to use Zoom at all negotiation stages to have the best meeting experience.
Below we will consider factors that influence the cost of website building.
Domain name and hosting services
Users enter a domain name into their browser’s address bar to get to the website. Domain prices depend on the chosen domain zone and start at $5 per year. The average cost of a domain name is about $20 per year. You may want to opt for Windows 11 VPS or another affordable option for your business needs.
You need hosting services to ensure the website’s availability on the Internet. The average cost of hosting services is $50.
Content management system (CMS)
Depending on the required functionality, you can choose a paid or free CMS for your website. Various popular CMS options are available, including WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, each offering its own set of features and capabilities.
The cost of paid content management systems, such as Shopify Store, depends on the license price and varies depending on the capabilities of each CMS. For example, expanding the functionality of a HubSpot-based website is usually more expensive than similar work with an OpenCart-based website. Using tools like the Shopify ADA compliance tool can further influence the overall cost, emphasizing the importance of planning for such integrations from the outset.
Creating terms of reference
The terms of reference are a detailed document that describes who performs what types of work. The terms of reference are necessary to ensure that the ideas about the project in the minds of the customer and the developers coincide as much as possible. That’s why the terms of reference should be as detailed, unambiguous, and objective as possible.
It is important to understand that every business is unique. In this regard, future website owners want their websites to have particular functions. And the more such wishes, the longer the technical specification is drawn up. Accordingly, its development is more expensive.
Website design
The more pages of different structures you need to create, the higher the website design cost will be. The price can be calculated in several ways:
- Based on the cost per page
- Based on the number of hours spent on the work
If you choose the first way to correctly calculate the cost of website design, you should take into account the following points:
- Each menu item is 1 page
- The cost of designing the content part of any article is calculated per 1 page
If you order a multi-page website, the price for the design will be calculated based on the number of pages of different types.
You can also use AI to build websites, but just keep in mind that it will limit websites’ flexibility. You often still need to do a lot of editing to customize the website. It saves time but is not the best option for business owners looking for a more bespoke solution.
Website builders aside, you can also hire a dedicated UX agency and a development team. This approach is the most expensive out of the available options. However, this can give you ultimate control over the end product’s appearance.
Web pages you definitely need to design
You need to draw the main page, internal pages, and pages that open when you click the link buttons (for example, “Answers to Questions”).
Unique internal pages that require a separate drawing by a designer include:
- If you offer goods or services, these are 2 pages: a page of the list of goods or services and, when you click through, a page of a specific service or product.
- 1 contact page.
- If the website has a blog, you need 2 more unique pages for news announcements and articles.
- 404 page.
As a result, for a classic website, you need to create an original design of at least 7 pages of different types.
Responsive design also influences the price of website design. It is how web pages display on different mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). The cost of a responsive website calculates separately for each page with a certain structure.
Website layout
The layout stage follows the creation of a website design layout. It is one of the most important in creating a web project. By layout, we mean creating the code of each web page in HTML and CSS. Thanks to it, all browsers recognize and visualize the site properly.
As a rule, the cost of website layout is not fixed. It considers factors such as the project design’s complexity, the scope of work, the customer’s personal requirements, etc. This stage implies a lot of meetings, so it is better to use meeting scheduling tools to be always on time.
Website development
For the full-fledged operation of your project, you may need additional functionality not provided by the CMS. Therefore, in some cases, a website consisting of only 5 pages will cost more than a resource consisting of hundreds of pages. The price considers all the improvements made to the project.
The overall cost for static sites can be lower compared to dynamic sites requiring continuous updates and server-side processing. They are built using pre-rendered content and require less ongoing maintenance.
The cost of 1 hour of a programmer’s work depends on his or her qualification and experience. For example, you can hire a web development agency in China because their rates are usually more affordable than in the USA while their quality of their services in incredibly high. Apps that track time in Google Chrome can track time spent in web development both in editing the website’s code as well as debugging it in the browser. The security of your website greatly depends on the programmers’ expertise. So, it is better not to try to save money when building a website.
External linking network
Building a strong external linking network is important for SEO, increasing referral traffic, establishing authority and credibility, relationship building, brand exposure, and diversifying traffic sources. Investing time and effort into cultivating relationships and securing quality external links can strengthen your website’s online presence and reap the benefits of a robust linking network.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
External links, or backlinks, are crucial in determining a website’s authority and ranking in search engine results. When reputable websites link to your content, search engines view it as a vote of confidence and credibility. It can positively impact your search engine rankings. A strong external linking network can help improve your website’s visibility and organic traffic.
Increased referral traffic
External links can drive traffic to your website from other sources. When visitors click on links from other websites, they visit your site, potentially increasing referral traffic. By building relationships with relevant websites and securing high-quality external links, you can attract more visitors interested in your content or products.
Authority and credibility
When reputable websites link to your content, it enhances your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines. External links act as endorsements, indicating that other trusted sources find your content valuable and reliable. This can help establish your brand as an authoritative voice in your industry.
Relationship building
Building a strong external linking network involves establishing connections and relationships with other website owners, bloggers, influencers, and industry leaders. These relationships can lead to various opportunities, such as guest posting, collaborations, and partnerships. By actively engaging with other websites in your niche, you can expand your network and benefit from the collective knowledge and exposure of others.
Increased brand exposure
When your website links to other websites, it exposes your brand to a wider audience. Visitors who come across your links on external sites may click through to learn more about your brand, products, or services. This exposure can lead to brand recognition, increased brand awareness, and potential customer acquisition.
Diversification of traffic sources
Relying solely on one traffic source, such as search engines, can be risky. Algorithm changes, or penalties can significantly impact your website’s visibility. By building a strong external linking network, you diversify your traffic sources. If one source experiences a decline, you can still rely on traffic generated from other websites.
Small tip: it’s best if you can create an external linking network with sites in familiar industries to gain authority score faster and also to navigate readers to the right content. For example: If you publish a Public Speaking site, it’s best that you link to the Interactive Presentation Platform, to gain better trustworthiness.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is no single answer to the question of how much a website building costs. However, if you have special requirements for your website, this article has at least helped you a little bit to determine the price of your future website. By the way, now you know what to look for when evaluating a website’s cost.
