Options for obtaining that perfect website

How To Pay For Your Website & What To Lookout For

Firstly, I should say that this is not an article about how much you should pay for your website. In todays age it is very easy to overlook the importance of a website, with many choosing the free self build option that companies like 1&1 offer. What you have to take into consideration though, is that your website will often be the first introduction that someone has to your business. Nearly all people with access to a computer or smartphone, will search for a business online before getting in touch with them. If your site doesn’t meet their expectations, doesn’t hold the right or enough content, doesn’t flow, isn’t correctly structured, isn’t indexed correctly, doesn’t have the correct SEO in place etc… they either will never find you, or if they do, will go elsewhere. If you don’t have the knowledge and a sound understanding of the internet and everything that goes with it, do what you can to avoid self building.

For those with a limited or even no budget, they are somewhere to start, however my personal recommendation would be to get a professionally built site as soon as you have any sort of budget. This is why I would never tell you what to pay for your site, a professionally built site is one that is tailored to your individual business and/or service. There are just too many factors to even give an average.

This in turn leads me to the main point of this article: When you are in a position to have a professionally built site, what payment options are currently available and what should you look for when making your decisions? There are many different options available, and I’m sure that by the time you get round to reading this there may well be one or 2 more. What I have attempted to do is list the most commonly available options, and where I feel their place is within the market. Also I’ll let you know a couple of things to look out for – always remember You get what you pay for… Don’t you?

1. Pay Monthly – Never Own.

Before anyone starts ranting at me for the heading of this one, I am completely aware that many reputable agencies offer this service – whereby after an agreed period of payments you do own the site. See the next item in the list of the description of that one.

There are companies currently offering low monthly payment solutions for start-up/cash-strapped businesses. Normally they require a set-up fee, but there are some that will set you up for free. Sounds to good to be true right? Very often, It is! You have to make sure that you read the fine print and do the calculations for the add-ons your site will need. All of these companies will offer a base price for a standard template of a site, you are then presented with add-ons and extras – which can initially seem cheap when paid on a monthly option plan. The temptation with this is to over compensate and have a whole bunch of extras, that in truth, you just may not need. This will ultimately harm your site and slow it down.

Where the real issue lies, is that these options are generally taken up by those that have little or no understanding of the internet, if they don’t understand the terminology being used then they can very easily make the wrong choices. You also need to be sure that you have read the fine print to guard yourself against price hikes etc… The biggest problem I have with this sort of option is that you never actually own the site. £200 ($320USD approx.) per month is on average what you will expect to pay for this option (dependent on the add-ons you have chosen). Over the first 12months you will have paid £2400 ($3000USD approx.)! For that same amount of money, you could more than likely have found a professional design agency that could have custom built you site. Not only that, but some would probably even match the payment option rather than wave goodbye to the business – with you owning the website at the end of the first year…. Food for thought?

2. Pay Monthly and It’s Yours!

More often than not, this is offered through professional and established design agencies. They are looking to be able to tap into the small business market without scaring people off with high initial layouts. This option differs greatly from the previous one as once you have completed your payment schedule (normally 12 months), you own the site. Not only this, but you will get a much more consultative service – one that is tailored to your business/service needs and also your target audience. You will have direct input into the website with a team on hand to help guide you into your internet journey. This option will normally always incur a set-up fee, which in my opinion, is just and often fair – remember that a lot of work goes into constructing a bespoke website, from site maps to SEO… it all takes time. You will get advice on things like Hosting, Marketing, Visual Layout, Site Structure etc… Should your budget compensate for a start-up fee this by far and away is the best choice out of the first 2.

3. 50/50.

One thing to remember that as with most options where you can extend your payment over a few months, they do generally cost more that paying outright. The last 2 items on this list generally override that.

50/50 means: 50% Upfront and 50% on completion. This option gives both you and the agency that you are working with the peace of mind that both parties are committed to the project. You will often get priority with this option, due to the financial commitment you have made. The agency is also financially tied and will appreciate that you will want to see results, have input and will become a member of their team in this process. As this can be quite a financial commitment upfront, make sure that you do the right research – speak to colleagues and get recommendations. Some agencies will class the initial upfront payment as non-refundable, make sure you are working with the right agency for your business, so you don’t lose out.

4. One Lump Sum.

All paid up in one go. This will always get the best site and attention for your business. By paying this way, you are signalling to the agency that you have chosen, that you have complete trust in their abilities and that you are confident they will achieve the end result you are looking for. You will be their top priority, with many agencies giving you your very own dedicated team – some will go as far as ensuring that yours is the only project being worked on. This option will not be for everyone as it will mean deep pockets and an even deeper sense of trust and confidence within your chosen agency.

Whilst this article could have been an awful lot longer, what I have tried to do here is summarise the most common options available and provide a few tips on what could work best for you. We provide many different options for designing a clients website, suited to their budget and what requirements need to be met. It would be great to hear your experiences with any of these options and if you also have any advice I may have missed, please let it be known in the comments below.

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