Running a successful business in Sydney in 2018 comes with a very different set of challenges compared to ten, or even five years ago. The advent of the digital marketplace has shifted customers and companies alike online, where competition is increasingly fierce, and a user-friendly and responsive website is essential for a sustainable business.
The importance of a well-designed, streamlined and optimised website in 2018 cannot be overstated: a recent survey of user experience found that 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience, such as slow page speed or site errors, while 75% of consumers admitted to making judgements about the credibility of a company based on the design of their website.
So how much does it cost to build a website in 2018? The short answer is: it depends. It depends on your business goals, your budget and whether you would prefer to create your own website, or have it designed by a professional website development agency. This month, we share some insights into the process, importance and cost of building a website for your Sydney based business:
STEP ONE: DEFINING YOUR GOALS
The first step towards building a professional website for your business is defining the goal or goals of updating your digital presence. For example, do you require a website with particular functions, such as e-commerce capability and a blog, or a simple template with contact details for your customers? Do you want to incorporate specific graphics, a logo or colour scheme into the website design? Are you interested in creating content that informs your customers, promotes your services or sells your products? Taking questions such as these into consideration will help to clarify the purpose, design and any extra features required for your business website, such as an online booking system, shopping cart, intranet or shipping calculator, before you begin the development process.
Defining the goal of your website can also help you determine an approximate budget and whether you will need the services of an agency to achieve the result that you need. A reputable Sydney web development agency will be able to offer you a range of services to create and manage your desired website, such as web hosting, content management system (CMS) or e-commerce integration, graphic design, content creation and SEO (search engine optimisation).
STEP TWO: SETTING YOUR BUDGET
Once you have clarified the purpose and essential elements of your website design, you can focus on setting a budget. It is useful to consider your professional website as an investment in the future of your business, rather than simply as another expense. Generally, the cost of building a website is approximately $5000, depending on the web design agency you choose. This price is adjusted depending on your needs, and the extent of functionality and extras required. At TWMG we offer a quick quote service, where our clients can select the services they require, request a free consultation and receive a cost estimate quickly and easily online. The more customisation your dream website needs, the more complicated the process becomes for the developers, resulting in a higher price.
The cost of building a website reflects not only the technical process of designing, hosting and developing the site, but also the creation of an effective digital strategy, such as persuasive copywriting, email campaigns, organic SEO, Google AdWords, competitor analysis, paid advertising, social media marketing and site maintenance. It is up to you whether you would prefer to take on these responsibilities yourself, or pay an ongoing fee to the agency to continue maintaining and marketing your website.
STEP THREE: CHOOSING BETWEEN A DIY OR AGENCY DESIGNED WEBSITE
After setting your budget, you will have a better idea whether you are better off creating your own website or engaging the services of a professional agency. If the service costs are too high for your current budget, there are a range of affordable website building options available, including Weebly, WIX, WordPress and Shopify. These platforms offer basic website templates and various customisation options, although there are usually extra costs involved for premium templates or extras, e-commerce integration and registration of your domain name. It is also possible to build a website on one of these platforms and hire a web developer at a later point to customise the graphics, content, layout or functionality.
The most significant difference between creating a DIY website and using a professional agency is the years of experience in everything from UX to SEM that a team of experts can bring to your business. A reputable digital agency will create a partnership with you that will last far beyond the building of your website, and is as focused on the longevity and success of your business as you are. Unlike the majority of free website building platforms, an agency will provide options on everything from aesthetics to functionality, supply comprehensive details about the services and costs involved, and offer consultation if unanticipated problems arise after project completion. A professional agency can also offer specific digital marketing, website and application development, SEO, SEM, social media marketing and digital strategy services.
With over 15 years of experience in website design and digital marketing, and an outstanding reputation in delivering tailored digital solutions for Australia’s best brands, the team at TWMG in Sydney can help you create, manage and elevate the digital presence of your business.
To put your business at the forefront of digital innovation, give us a call on 1300 008 964 or Contact Us here.