The 4 Costs of Your Website Development Budget

24 June 2021, Thursday

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT COSTS INVOLVE MORE THAN JUST DEVELOPMENT

When planning to build a website, don’t overlook the details that fall outside traditional website development costs.
There are a lot of considerations when budgeting for a website. Most small businesses and non-profits immediately look to the programming and design as the only elements that impact budget. There are additional considerations that can have a huge impact on the development process. Considering details such as choosing a domain name or selecting the right maintenance plan can give you a more realistic outlook for budgeting.

1 – GIVING YOUR WEBSITE A NAME: DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION

Registering your domain name is required to successfully displaying a website on the internet. To register your business, you will need to purchase a name from a recognized domain registrar. Domain registrars are certified businesses that sell domain names like GoDaddy.com, Register.com, NetworkSolutions.com, or Hover.com.

Coming up with a great, memorable domain name is not as easy as it once was. From limited availability of the .com and .net name to the expanding world of Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .mobi or .us, the right domain name is crucial. Don’t be afraid to venture away from your business name to a phrase or tagline.

2 – GIVING YOUR WEBSITE A HOME: WEBSITE HOSTING

If a domain is the name of your website, then website hosting is where your website is located. Hosting your website is similar to renting office space on the web; a physical location where your website files are stored and where site visitors arrive to view your website. Hosting is typically provided by a separate business or can be resold as a service through a website developer/agency.

Hosting your website in the right environment and on the right server is the difference between long term success and pending disaster. Choosing the right host can produce faster page load speeds, improved search engine performance, and even support in critical situations. In most situations, a hosting provider should be selected based on the referral or suggestion of your chosen website developer.

3 – BUILDING YOUR WEBSITE: THE ACTUAL WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

A good website is more than a static homepage. You'll want to create multiple pages dedicated to different aspects of your business, such as a detailed catalog of your products or services, or a blog section for company updates. As for your overall website, make sure each page supports the site's primary goal, has a clear purpose and includes a call to action. A contact page, as your customers' direct link to you, is one of the most important sections of a website, so include as much information as you can.

Before announcing that your site is live on the web, make sure it works on all major browsers, like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari and Chrome. Click through each page and feature on every browser to ensure images show up, links are correct and the format looks smooth.

4 – KEEP YOUR WEBSITE RUNNING RIGHT: ONGOING MAINTENANCE

Staying relevant is important, so update your website frequently with blog posts on current industry events, new products and offers, and company news to keep visitors coming back to the site. You should also check at least monthly to ensure your software and all add-ons are up to date. Pheil said that if your software is not up to date, it's in danger of being hacked, even if your website host's security is strong. If you don't have time to do this yourself, delegate the task to a trusted employee or a freelance website manager.

Starting a website for your business is a low-cost investment that will help you to both establish credibility and reach a wider customer base than you ever could through traditional marketing techniques. If you keep your website updated with fresh, current content and are quick to address technical issues, you'll never have to worry about "not existing" to your current and future clients.

© 2020 Glisten. All rights reserved.