What’s it going to cost?
The obvious answer to this is “it depends”, on the specs and what you want to achieve with the site.
For example:
- How many ‘pages’ would you envisage the site being?
- Is the site meant to hold mainly static content (a ‘brochure site’), or do you envisage it being something you could update, via a Content Management System, or something more active still, perhaps based around a blog?
- Would you already have in mind a design feel, would you be producing your own copy and images?
- Would you like us to manage your site once it is published?
Note also that we will tend to quote including aspects such as search engine optimisation (see separate post on SEO), rather than adding it as an extra. We will try to give as comprehensive a quote as possible at the outset, with agreed specifications.
As we explain on our home page, we seek clients that want us to work with them, so we would expect to expect to enter into an agreement for hosting and a certain amount of maintenance. Do you have your own domain name? If so, it can be transferred easily; if not, we can help you choose and purchase an appropriate address (actually these aren’t particularly expensive…)
“But you haven’t answered the question!”, I hear you say. Well, quite…
So let’s consider a ‘basic case’. (Larger sites, with more functionality, would obviously cost more, and we would be glad to discuss your specific requirements.)
A relatively basic ‘brochure site’ with say five pages, would probably cost around £800 to build. This would be assuming a ‘normal’ amount of text (up to ~800-1000 words/page) and images (3 or 4/page), provided promptly by the client, in a state ready to use. For such a site, we would charge £300 a year to host, or £400 for a content management system, including an agreed amount of time every quarter for maintenance and updating.
A site built on a content management system or around a blogging platform would cost a little more, as these require database servers, which cost us money. However, their greater flexibility makes changes and updates simpler, probably saving money in the long run. Similarly, additional effects, requiring additional coding, image manipulation etc, would add something to the cost, as would enhanced mailboxes.
We know that there will always be someone offering to build websites for less, but please consider carefully the benefits of working with someone who genuinely wishes to help you develop your business. Also consider the benefits of designing a site from the outset with search engine optimisation in mind, not an afterthought.