How much does a new website cost? It depends.
When a potential client calls me and asks how much a new website costs, I always tell them that buying a new website is a bit like buying a new car. Do you want a Subaru or a Jaguar?
Most people want a website that is functional and doesn’t cost very much money. However, if you’re in the market for a new website, there are some things you need to consider when a web designer gives you a quote.
You may think that you only need one or two pages because that’s what your competition has, but that’s not really the best way to show up on Google. Good content is king, and I would suggest paying for at least three or four pages. As you think about the information you need on your website, you should consider including at least Home or Services, About, and Contact pages. This will give your potential clients an opportunity to understand your background and your business.
Not all web designers include Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in their web design packages. Make sure you hire someone who does. If you don’t have very good SEO, then nobody will find your website on Google or any other search engine.
Good page titles are part of SEO, and it’s important to use keywords that help Google bring up your website with response to queries made on the Internet. You should be using the same keywords that people are googling.
Page Descriptions are also an SEO must. In the past few months, I’ve redesigned websites for clients whose original designer did not add page descriptions. Also known as Meta descriptions, page descriptions should be a concise summary of the content of your website page. Well-written page descriptions help potential clients understand your business and what they should expect to find on your website. When Google can read and understand the content of this description, it helps you rank better with regard to search queries.
After understanding your needs in a website, it’s important to be transparent about the cost of a new website or rebuild. If you have a specific budget, most web designers will let you know what they can do for that price.
