Why you should have a website
If you’re like a lot of startups, you are probably trying to run your business on a lean budget, keeping costs as low as possible. It is totally understandable, we’ve been there too.
The cost of getting a website may be a factor in putting off the decision to get one, but there are some compelling reasons why any business should have a website. The most important being the use of a website for marketing purposes. You can read more about the other reasons here. A website can help to bring your customers closer because you’re just a click away, any time of the day, 365 days a year.
Have you ever tried to look up a business online, only to find out that they don’t have a website? I was looking for the website of a highly recommended florist in South Carolina, because I wanted to order a bouquet locally. The results that popped up were mostly from review sites, but nothing from the florist. I felt a bit frustrated, because it would have been nice to see an image of the bouquet before placing my order. Although I realize that not everyone needs a website, it was still a surprise that this business did not have one.
Different costs for different sites
In case you do not belong to that group but are still hesitant to invest in a website, let’s look at the actual costs. We’ll talk about different options, except the free, hosted website services. Besides many restrictions, it just makes your online image less professional.
You can get a minimal website for about $100-200, with little after care support or spend a little bit more for a better-looking site with more of what you need. Of course you can go all out and spend thousands if you need something fancy and have the money to spend. Websites are comparable to cars, you can get a Ford Escort or a BMW, it’s up to you.
Brochures or static websites without a blog may range from $300-500.
For an eCommerce site to sell products, you’re looking at $1000-3000.
Why our sites are affordable
At Grit Webstudio we build websites with WordPress(.org), because the flexibility allows to make a site into anything you want or need. WordPress is free software and there are many free themes (templates) and plugins (tools), making this option very affordable and attractive for business owners on a tight budget. However, there are some essential elements you still have to spend money on, in exchange for more control and professional image of your site. These elements are:
- Webhosting to rent space on the internet for your website. Your information should be stored somewhere online and that’s what your WordPress webhost will do at a monthly or annual fee. At Bluehost, which we use, webhosting starts at $2.95/month.
- Domain name or address where your business can be found on the internet, like a street address. You get your 1st domain free with Bluehost when you buy their webhosting.
- Themes and plugins. While there are plenty of free themes and plugins available, you could also spend more on premium versions if you need more functionality, ranging from $10 to $150 or more.
- Designing may cost few or zero dollars if you don’t mind learning and investing some time to do it yourself. If you don’t have time or interest in the DIY approach, you can let us do it for you. We have website packages for every budget.
What about Maintenance?
Maintenance to keep your site up to date and safe from hackers or malware (bad software), can be free if you do it yourself. You may have to spend some time to research and learn how to, spend some money on a course to save time, or save even more time by hiring a webmaster which can be expensive. Another option are our affordable maintenance plans which will save you time and money that you can spend on other aspects of your business.
Now you know the costs of a website. What is it gonna be? A Ford Escort or a BMW? It’s up to you 😉 .