Caution: building site
Creating a Web site for your business can be expensive. But you can save money by using some simple alternatives.
You can set up a limited, pre-designed Web site for a modest amount of money — like $750 — or you can spend around $3,000 and get a fully customized site, expandable to e-commerce capabilities and full content management.
The first option saves you some cash and gets you online. The second option gives you more features, but its final cost is dependent on how many bells and whistles you’re adding to the site.
If you are looking for a Web site that simply puts your business online, then finding a designer that provides site templates might be the choice for you.
TemplateMonster.com offers site templates for as low as $30. The company also offers some free ones, but they’re not as professional looking.
If you know the basics of HTML and have the software, you can take the template, add content on your own, change a few pictures – and you are done.
However, if you don’t have the knowledge or time, you might contact firms like HeyCats! Web Solutions or Design Spike in Spokane. There are others, easily found by searching “Web design Spokane WA.” Or do the same for a design firm in Coeur d’Alene or North Idaho.
For an example of a site that started basic, then altered the template, visit mygreenearthfoundation.com.
The disadvantage to a template is it can look fairly boring and generic. In some markets, this is not much of an issue. In others, standing out and making your Web site part of your branding strategy is essential to success.
If you don’t care for a template but are looking only to have a site with general information (your business address, phone number, contacts and products), a five-page static Web site can achieve this and cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on your needs.
A good example of a custom static page is www.Air-Pipe.com. That Spokane wireless company used a simple design and loaded it with a few dozen static pages that explain its focus and operations.
If you need more than a static Web page and want to manage e-commerce tasks, such as order-taking, accepting payments, shipping of merchandise and managing inventory, you’re looking at a significantly higher investment, anywhere from $4,500 to $9,500.
You’re also looking at several additional fees. If you decide to have a shopping cart on your site, you probably will need to find a third-party provider. These providers take care of all the communication and movement of funds between your account and the credit/debit card companies.
Transaction firms such as Paymerica and Shopping Cart Gurus have low set-up fees ($25 or less). The average credit card transaction fee taken by the handler is 2.39 percent (1.99 percent if the payment is by debit or check card).
In addition, those payment processors will probably charge a monthly subscription (about $25) or in some cases a yearly fee. An e-commerce site can also be expanded to a content-managed Web site. This type of site has areas that allow for the inclusion of visitor content, such as news, employee information, marketing brochures, blogs, forums, etc.
These can be very costly ($9,000-plus), but they usually get the most amount of exposure and visitors, which in turn converts to business. A great example of a custom managed site is www.VelocityMag.com.
Remember that a good design will not guarantee any visitors regardless of investment. You still have to promote your site by having a relevant domain name, getting quality inbound links, and writing relevant content. Next week we offer a short overview on how to get your new Web site noticed by customers or users.