Setting a Buget for your Website

Whether you are starting a new business or have an existing business, you should always include website design and development or website maintenance in your marketing budgets.

1. Domain name(s): These on average are about $10/year. If you are buying them in bulk, you can usually find a discount through godaddy.

2. Website Design: Make sure you are using a designer who has the creativity to capture a customer who has landed on your site but also has the knowledge to build a website with Search Engine Optimization in mind. An optimized website is how a new customer will come to YOU via Google, Yahoo and such! This is usually where you "get what you pay for."

For a small to medium sized business, a well designed and developed website can range anywhere from $3000 - $18,500 depending on your needs; eCommerce functionality will also increase your budget. A client consultation to determine your exact requirement would be necessary to determine the true price of your website.

Beware of the eager designer that offers a low price BEFORE hearing your requirements. You do not want to start a website with a company and half way through discover they aren't going to give you what you need, AND you want a company that will be around to offer you guidance, support and future upgrades down the road, as needed.

3. Website Development: Now that you have that fancy website design, who is going to turn that design into a functioning website? You can go a couple routes here, either have a third party developer turn your new design into a working website OR you can find a company that will do both design AND development at a pre-packaged price -this way you're working with an all-in-one shop.

4. Website Hosting: Depending on how much information you are storing on your website, or if you are selling products, hosting can range anywhere from $50/mo. up to $500/mo. Make sure you find a company that offers support and backups, your website is your business storefront 24/7/365! Once again, some companies will included this if you are searching for an all in one solution.

5. Website Maintenance: Who is going to update your website content when you need information changed. Find a company that attaches your website to a content management system. This is software that makes it easy for YOU to update your website when needed instead of spending $150/hr to have your designer do it on his timeline. This is usually included in your monthly hosting prices.

A great CMS (content management system) should include features such as the ability to manage page content, create and edit photo galleries, update news articles, display traffic and analytic statistics, display staff profiles, and of course the ability to add new pages easily. You can also find a system that has the option to handle ecommerce (or eCatalogs), with fully-functioning CRM capability! Efelle Media offers these services in all-in-one packages, and can help get you going in the right direction.

Depending on what you are looking to showcase with your website, Efelle Media can work with almost any budget to get you started.

Most importantly: Do your homework and check references!

Added on 06/23/2009