Don't Waste Money On Your Website

website price guide

don’t waste money on your websiteHow much a website costs and other facts that can save you thousands of dollars and hours of frustration.

by Sugar Websites

Have you got a website that you can’t manage yourself or

doesn’t do what you need? Are you afraid of getting a site

because of what it might cost you in time and money?

Are you wondering:

•How much do I need to spend on a website?

•Can I get a website for free?

•Can I build one myself?

•Why doesn’t my website do what I need it to do?

•Am I being ripped off by my web company?

The good news is, you’re not alone...With the wide range of “website building” tools readily available to non-

professionals, almost anyone can build a website - but building a website

that really works is another matter...

At Sugar, part of our mission is to bridge the gap between the ‘online’ and

‘offline’ business worlds through education.

This eBook is written as a guide to answer your questions about website

prices and the factors affecting price. We hope it saves you both time and

money!

Warmest regards,

Introduction: Don’t Waste Money On Your Website

Sugar Websites | Don’t Waste Money On Your Website | 2011 PAGE 2

Contents

FACT #1: Different Types Of Websites Have Different Price Ranges......................... 4

FACT #2: Websites Are Rarely FREE ........................................................................................ 5

FACT #3: It Takes Many Skills To Make A Website That Really Works ...................... 7

FACT #4: Not All Web Developers Are Made Equal ........................................................... 8

FACT #5: Visitors Judge A Business By The Quality Of Its Website .......................... 11

FACT #6: To Turn Visitors To Customers, A Site Must Be Built To Sell ...................... 12

FACT #7: A Website Is Useless Without Visitors .................................................................. 13

FACT #8: Websites Require Ongoing Support ...................................................................... 14

Summary: Save Time And Money By Working With Website Professionals ........... 15

About Us: Sugar Websites, The Small Business Website Specialist .............................16


There are a number of common types of websites used for different purposes. The variations in price range are affected by many factors, particularly the complexity of design and development required.

Website Price GuideHere’s a guide to the average price range for different types of websites:

Website Type Low Range

High Range

“Free” Or Template SitesOften called “Free” because there are no set up costs, but may require hosting or other ongoing fees. Usually only temporary as they don’t allow for expansion or custom design and require the user to set up everything themselves. Commonly, the cheaper they are the fewer features and design options are available.

$0 $800

Static “Brochure-Style” SiteA website that does not have allow any user interactivity. These websites do not rank well in search engines or give a professional image to visitors. They are slow and costly for a designer to modify and keep updated.

$1,000 $3,000

Content Management System (CMS)These sites allow the owner to easily add and modify content on their website with little technical knowledge. A CMS saves time and effort in keeping it up-to-date and managing large amounts of content, which also helps with being found in search engines.

$1,500 $15,000

Fully-Featured eCommerce SiteThese sites are specifically for selling a wide variety of goods and include standard functionality that online shoppers have come to expect, such as product reviews, recently viewed items, multiple size/color options and more.

A Shopping Cart feature is different to a fully-featured eCommerce site as it can be added to any website systems, often for a lower cost. It is suitable for selling a smaller amount of products and has less functionality.

$5,000 $100,000

Custom-Developed ApplicationsThese sites are for serious businesses who require features that are very specific to their niche and need to be built by a team of developers over a period of time. They are generally large-scale projects that vary greatly depending on the project requirements.

$15,000 $300,000

FACT #1: Different Types Of Websites Have Different Price Ranges


You may have been offered a “free” website, but do you know what features or services you’re likely to be missing out on (or having to tolerate) in compensation?

What You Are Likely To Lose With A ‘FREE’ Website

Quality of Design

The success of a website relies heavily on the quality of many aspects,

especially design. A ‘free’ service relies on design templates that are used

by hundreds of others. You may lose your unique identity and not have

access to make design changes yourself or the skills required to do so.

Personal Service

Sometimes a phone call can save you hours of effort in resolving a

technical problem. The majority of ‘free’ services do not provide personal

contact, service or training. Most often, the best you can do is fill in an

online form and wait for a reply...

Your Own Time

Be prepared to invest your own time into every aspect of your website.

From learning the system you have purchased, to arranging the layout,

design, content and ongoing management, all of these tasks must be done

by you. Keep in mind, your website will only be as professional as the skills

and system used to build it.

Ability To Grow

As your website business grows, you may require more control over the

look and content of your site including features, improved design quality,

and other functionality. You are likely to have to start over again with

another provider or pay a higher price to have access to more options.

FACT #2: Websites Are Rarely FREE


Control Over Advertisements

Image or text link ads are commonly placed on ‘free’ websites. You do not

have control over the advertising content. This can significantly reduce the

professionalism of your image and take visitors away to another website

instead of yours.

Function And Features

It’s hard to create one system that has the features to suit absolutely

everyone. Do your research to find out what you need and if what is

available will work for your site, both now and in the future.

Terms And Conditions

Search for and read the fine print. Most “free” products are provided on an

‘as is basis’ without guarantees. So, if your “free” website were to go offline

or be damaged in any way, you may be stuck without any options.

Hidden Fees

Be wary of extra monthly fees that you may be charged unknowingly,

especially for basic features such as a “search bar” or contact form, which

should be a standard inclusion for any basic website without an extra

charge.

Trial Only Restrictions

Trial periods end quickly. So, be sure to test the system during the trial

before you start getting monthly charges. Also, be cautious of the amount

of time you spend setting up your website during the trial period. If you

find the system doesn’t work for you, the effort you will have spent in

setting up your pages and design will be wasted.

Domain Name And Email Limitations

Many ‘free’ options make you use their domain name e.g. www.

mybusiness.freewebsite.com, and/or will not host email accounts denying

you a professional image.


FACT #3: It Takes Many Skills To Make A Website That Really Works

It takes a multitude of skills to make a successful website, from strategy and content to design and development, marketing and copywriting to accessibility and usability.

Unfortunately, very few developers have what it takes, or the time it takes,

to do it all alone.

Make sure you know the skill level of your web developer in each of the

key areas required in creating an effective website to ensure your site

meets your goals.

Essential Skills For Creating An Effective Website•Communication skills to thoroughly understand and interpret your

needs and keep you regularly updated.

•Marketing skills to ensure your site stands out from your competitors

and turns your visitors into customers.

•Content skills to structure and write your information to make it easily

found, understood, convincing and in a format suitable for the Web.

•Design skills to create a site that is both functional and leaves a lasting

impression.

•Development skills to ensure your site works properly across all web

browers and devices and is optimized for search engines.

•Support skills and availability to help you with content, design and

technical maintenance on an ongoing basis.


FACT #4: Not All Web Developers Are Made Equal

Whether you are working with a freelance web developer, a web design company or a friend who says they know how to build a website, find out whether they have what it takes to build and maintain your site.

Ask plenty of questions to make sure you are working with someone who

can achieve what you need, when you need it, and at a price you can

afford.

Essential Questions To AskDo I have to pay to edit my own website?

Being able to edit your own website is no longer a mystery. It’s a standard

inclusion in modern websites and there are many resources available to

simplify the development process.

Are you able to provide support and training when I need it? If yes, what

do you charge?

Websites require ongoing support. Make sure your developer will be there

when you need them to update the website technology, make changes

and help you as your site grows. Find out what they charge for ongoing

maintenance so you can budget for your website updates.

What is your hourly rate?

Some developers charge by the hour for the entire project or when extra

work is required. Ask about their hourly rate in advance. Here is a guide to

average prices in the U.S.:

Help By The Hour Low Range High Range

Student $10 $25

Freelancer $20 $150

Expert $50 $200

Project Manager $50 $200

Company $70 $250


Do you adhere to Web Standards?

Web Standards are a set of guidelines developed by the Internet’s guiding

body, W3C, to ensure that websites are accessible across all browsers and

mobile devices, and by people with different physical, geographical and

social conditions. They are a must for any professional web developer.

What browsers are your sites compatible with?

It is important to make sure your site is tested and compatible with all

popular web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google

Chrome, Safari and others.

Are your sites easily viewed and accessible on mobile devices?

People are using mobile devices more and more to access websites.

Make sure all the important information on your site is easily viewed and

accessible on all mobile devices.

Can I move my website, or have another developer work on it?

Find out where you stand in terms of ownership of your website code.

If you’re working with a freelancer, make sure you have access to your

website files and hosting account in case they are no longer available to

support you.

How do you keep up with industry changes?

Web technologies are evolving faster than books are printed. It’s essential

for developers to regularly read industry blogs to be able to keep up, and

to ensure your site is not out of date.

What size projects do you regularly work on?

If your project is small, make sure you development team is not overskilled,

and overpriced. If your project is large, make sure your team is equipped

and experienced to handle it.

Can I see some of the sites you’ve designed?

Design is subjective, so get a feel for their design capabilities before you

decide. They should be able to show you completed works, or for a newer

designer, a portfolio that demonstrates their creative skill and style.


Can you help me write my content (copy)?

How people read online is very different to how they read in print. Web

content should be carefully crafted to suit both humans and search

engines. An experienced web professional can also create your content for

you, or guide you how to do it yourself.

Can you help me with my online marketing strategy?

Building a website is only the first step to doing business online. Planning

and marketing of a site are essential to converting visitors into customers,

especially if your website is a marketing tool for your business.

Can you help me get found on Google?

From the code up, make sure that your site is being built with Google in

mind to ensure you have the best opportunity for high rankings in search

engines. It will cost you significantly more time and money to build that

into your site later on.

Can you save me time and money by automating business operations

via my website?

An experienced developer understands the available technologies to

automate business processes. Asking what they would recommend

will indicate whether they have the skills to make your site a productive

business tool now and as you grow in the future.


While we may say that a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover, the reality is that every page of your website is judged by a visitor within less than a second.

Studies have also shown that a visitor will judge a business and make

buying decisions based solely upon the look and feel of the company

website. In that split second, they decide whether they trust you and

believe you can provide them the information they are looking for.

A study by the Human-Oriented Technology Lab, Carleton University,

Canada found that “Websites have 50 milliseconds to make a good first

impression”.

First Impression Checklist•Clear website purpose… Is it clear what the website is for?

•Clear business purpose… Is it clear what you are offering?

•Reflects uniqueness of brand… Do you stand out from the crowd?

•Professional image… Do you show the attention to detail in the

presentation on your site that you provide in your service?

•Key information ‘above the fold’… Is the most important information

in the top half of your homepage?

• Indicates depth of site content… If you have useful content inside your

site, is it obvious (i.e. linked) from your homepage?

•Credible company details… Are your contact details trustworthy?

•Demonstrates expertise… Does the content show you are an expert?

•Third-party verification… Do you have any testimonials, awards or

certifications on display to build trust?

•Speed of locating key information… Can visitors find what they need

easily in as few clicks as possible?

FACT #5: Visitors Judge A Business By The Quality Of Its Website


FACT #6: To Turn Visitors To Customers, A Site Must Be Built To Sell

Whether you need a website to sell products, provide information or build credibility, make sure it sells for you.

There are four steps to selling from a website, and at every step you either

win or lose your customer. Make sure your site is built to sell.

Step 1. TRUSTYour design must sell them on the first impression. If they don’t trust you

because it looks unprofessional or confusing, you’ve lost them at step one.

Step 2. OFFERYour content must answer the questions that brought them to your

website and offer a solution. If you don’t offer, they won’t buy. Make your

primary offer loud and clear, so they will buy it and take the next step.

Step 3. ACTIONYour visitors came to your website for a reason. You have to help them

take action. If you don’t, they’ll leave and you’ll lose. The action could be

anything from buying a product to requesting information.

Step 4. ENGAGEThey took action, great! But a few minutes after the action they are already

on another website. Use email or social networks to communicate regularly

so they remember you when they need your service, not your competitors.


FACT #7: A Website Is Useless Without Visitors

Regardless of how stunning your site may look or how much you spend on development, you have to get visitors to your website. Without them, you have wasted precious time and money.

Without a regular flow of traffic through it, a website is lifeless and of

benefit to no one.

There are many strategies for driving traffic to a website. Talk with a

marketing consultant to identify the most successful techniques for your

niche. Here are a few essentials strategies for any website:

Web Traffic Strategies

•Advertise your website on all your business and marketing materials

(don’t forget your business card too!).

• Include your website in your email signature.

•Optimize your site to be found in search engines.

•Build and market to an email list of your customers with links to

information on your site.

•Add new content on your website regularly.

•List your website in numerous online directories.

•Engage with customers in social networks, forums and other platforms

to drive them to your site.

•Reformat and post content from your website on social networks,

article directories, press services and other online platforms with links

back to your website.

•Visit blogs related to your industry and comment on articles with a link

back to your website.


FACT #8: Websites Require Ongoing Support

Every website is a part of the every-changing Web and requires ongoing support to keep it working for you.

Whether you make content changes yourself or hire someone to maintain

your website technology, make sure you budget time and money to have

your site updated and fully functioning at all times.

Technlogy Updates

The Internet is a growing world of Web technologies that continue to

evolve at a tremendous pace. Your website is a part of this digital world

and requires maintenance to ensure that it is accessible and functions

correctly across all browsers at all times.

Content Updates

As things change in your business you need to make updates on your

website. Whether it’s a change of office address, new products, new staff,

company news or events, regular content updates will keep your site fresh.

Maintain Control

If you need to change developers for any reason, you should always have

access to your site. Keep your login details for your website, domain,

server and emails safely on file at all times so you can maintain access at all

times.


Summary: Save Time And Money By Working With Website Professionals

Working with website professionals allows you to focus on directing the building and marketing of your website to ensure it achieves what you need it to.

Web professionals have a high requirement to keep up with the every-

changing technologies on the Internet. As technologies evolve, it is their

responsibility to keep your website up-to-date.

As a website owner, you have the high requirement of knowing what you

need to achieve from your website as part of your online marketing efforts.

Being clear on your goals, you will have the clarity to work hand-in-hand

with your web professionals to achieve your goals within the fastest time

and smallest budget possible.

Good luck on Internet journey ahead!


Sugar Websites is the small business websites specialist. Whether in person or via phone or video conferencing, we come to you and take the time to understand your business and train you to use and market your website.

Our team of marketers, copywriters, designers and developers ensure that

your site not only looks great, but is affordable and meets the needs of you

and your customers.

Contact Us Contact us to book your free, no-obligation Website Strategy Session with

your Sugar Website Consultant to determine the most effective website

solution for your business.

website www.sugarwebsites.com

phone 1.855.SUGARWEB(784.2973) toll free

fax 1.855.784.2973

email [email protected]

address 384 S Centerville Rd

Middletown NY 10940

About Us: Sugar Websites, The Small Business Website Specialist


www.sugarwebsites.com