How To Set A Web Design Budget

How much should you spend for web design? That is one of the most perplexing questions for small businesses. And for good reason! There is no standard pricing guide for web design. You can find web designers at just about any price you want to pay. And, anyone can claim the title "web designer." That "designer" can be a 16-year-old selling his limited skills for some spare cash, or it can be an experienced professional with solid marketing expertise.

Truthfully, as in most products and services, better quality comes at a price. You cannot afford a poorly designed online presentation. The Web is often the first channel used to find business services by new customers. What you need is the best value for the dollar spent. Simply seeking the lowest price can often lead to a very unsatisfactory solution to your web design needs.

Here are some basic guidelines to help you in establishing a reasonable web design budget:

A basic web site design with fewer than ten page is where you can find pricing that runs from a low of $500 up to $5000 or more. To make a sound decision, take a good look at the web designer's portfolio. Would you do business with the web sites seen in their portfolio? If not, why not? The web designer's marketing and communication skills will be evidenced by your response to the web site they create. A business web site is not just about pretty pictures and colors, it must instill confidence in the business it represents. Your overall reaction will most likely be similar to the reaction your customer will have to a similar web site.

Generally, small business owners with basic needs will find good value with pricing starting in the mid-range category of $2500.00 for a basic web site. At NEWARK1 WEB DESIGN we have extensive experience working with small businesses with tight budgets.

More complex, customized web development and design requires more time and a wider range of skill sets. These specialized features can easily quadruple the base cost of your web site. The number of pages can also add to development costs.

Before contacting anyone, be clear with yourself about your expectations for the web site and its intended purpose. Will it serve as an online brochure? Do you intend to have special forms or other interactive / special features? How many pages are required? Of course, you may not have all the answers. Here is where a skillful web designer can help you to assess your real needs by explaining the process and offering solutions in clear, understandable terms.

A web designer with good communication skills is worth their weight in gold! Too often, web designers use jargon that is largely incomprehensible to clients who are not 'techies.' As you interview a potential web designer, ask yourself: Does your web designer explain matters in a way you can understand? Are they patient with you? These traits will give you a good sense of what your experience will be like during the web development process!

When it comes to contracts, a good web designer will clearly itemize all features of the web site in the contract. A fixed-price contract will help you to control the budget. If there are any additional features that are requested, the price for these can be negotiated and added to the contract.

I hope this guide helps you to select a capable web designer. A carefully selected professional will make the web design process a pleasant experience, and produce an effective online presence for your business!

Donald Peterson