Web Design

Has your website been experiencing issues due to its slow, confusing, or outdated nature that you seek to fix at a suitable price? Read on to learn the most important factors to consider for a more accurate web design cost.

How Big Is the Company?

Mom and Pop-Sized Business: 1k-10k

For a “mom and pop” sized business, the budget for website design is often more restrained, and the focus typically lies in functionality and simplicity. Creating a strong online presence can start with something as straightforward as a brochure-style website, which showcases the business’s services or products. The cost for such a website design can vary, generally ranging between a thousand and a couple thousand dollars.

Small/Medium-Sized Business: 10k-50k

Moving up the ladder, small to medium-sized businesses often need more sophisticated websites to support their growth. This might mean incorporating elements like an e-commerce platform, SEO optimization, or a content management system. For a customized website design that includes these features, the pricing can span from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. The wide range in cost depends on the level of customization, the complexity of features, and the level of ongoing support needed.

Large and Established Enterprise: 50k-100k+

For large enterprises, the website is a critical part of their marketing and operation strategy, often requiring a higher level of sophistication, integration with other systems, and compliance with security standards. The website design for such organizations could involve extensive user research, testing, and a design that supports a large amount of content and high levels of traffic. The cost for designing a website for large enterprises can easily venture into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, reflecting the complexity and scale of these projects.

Publicly Traded Company: 1M+

Lastly, publicly traded companies usually require top-tier websites that match their global reach and prestige. Their website design often necessitates integration with multiple databases, highly advanced security measures, and sophisticated functionality, such as investor relations portals. Furthermore, ongoing website maintenance and updates, UX/UI enhancements, and a mobile-responsive design are often requisite. The cost for such comprehensive website design often crosses the million-dollar mark, underscoring the high stakes and substantial resources often involved.

How Big Is the Website?

Size Matters: Pages and Templates

The size of a website, often measured by the number of pages it contains, significantly impacts the cost of website design. More pages mean more templates to design, develop, and test, leading to increased costs. A simple one-page website or landing page is far less expensive compared to a multi-page website that requires a unique design for each page. The intricacy of templates, such as the inclusion of dynamic elements, multimedia integration, or interactive features, also influences the design time and thus, the overall cost.

The Role of Content Management Systems

On larger websites, particularly for businesses and organizations, a Content Management System (CMS) is often necessary to efficiently manage the numerous pages and templates. Implementing a CMS introduces another layer of complexity to the website design process, adding to the costs. Depending on the CMS chosen, prices can range from low-cost options like WordPress to high-end solutions like Adobe Experience Manager. While this initially increases the website design cost, the payoff comes with the ease of updating content and maintaining uniformity across numerous pages and templates.

Future Expansion and Scalability

When considering the size of a website, it’s also important to think about future growth and scalability. If your website design needs to cater to a growing business, the initial design must allow for expansion without necessitating a complete overhaul. Investing in a scalable website design may involve higher upfront costs but can save a significant amount in the long run. It enables the seamless addition of new pages and templates, supporting the evolving needs of your digital presence.

What Platform Is it Built On?

WordPress: The Cost-Effective Choice

WordPress, one of the most popular platforms for website design, offers a range of cost-effective options for businesses of all sizes. Its open-source nature allows for broad customization using thousands of available themes and plugins. Moreover, its user-friendly interface makes it easier for businesses to maintain and update their websites, reducing the need for ongoing technical support. However, costs can increase if a more tailored or complex design is desired, requiring custom themes or plugins. Ultimately, website design costs on WordPress can vary widely based on the level of customization needed.

Custom Code: Tailored to Perfection

When businesses seek highly specific features or a completely unique aesthetic, custom-coded websites become an attractive option. These websites are developed from scratch using languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or Python. While this option offers unparalleled flexibility and optimization, it often comes with a higher price tag. The cost is associated with the need for skilled developers and the time required to build, test, and troubleshoot the website. Furthermore, maintenance and future updates can be costlier and more complex, adding to the total cost of ownership.

Other CMS Platforms: Balancing Cost and Functionality

Several other CMS platforms, such as Joomla, Drupal, Squarespace, or Wix, offer alternatives to WordPress and custom coding. Each platform comes with its own pricing model, benefits, and limitations. For instance, Squarespace and Wix provide easy-to-use interfaces and in-built features, suitable for smaller businesses. However, their customization capabilities are more limited compared to WordPress or custom code. On the other hand, Drupal and Joomla offer greater flexibility and scalability but require more technical proficiency, leading to higher design and maintenance costs. Choosing the right platform hinges on balancing the website’s functionality requirements against the available budget.

What Functionality Does it Require?

Blogging: Engaging and Retaining Audiences

For businesses aiming to engage audiences with regular content updates, incorporating a blogging functionality into their website is essential. This typically involves the design and development of a blog layout, commenting system, categories, tagging, and possibly, a search function. Using platforms like WordPress can lower costs since they come with built-in blogging capabilities. However, a more customized blogging experience or integration with a different platform may lead to higher website design costs. Consider factors such as user interface, SEO compatibility, and social media integration, as these can also affect the final cost.

E-Commerce: Transacting Online

If the website’s objective includes online sales, an e-commerce platform becomes a necessary component of its functionality. Costs associated with e-commerce functionality can vary greatly based on the complexity of the online store. Factors to consider include the number of products, types of payment gateways, security measures, product categories, shipping options, and customer account capabilities. Solutions range from simple PayPal button integrations, which incur minimal costs, to sophisticated systems like WooCommerce or Shopify, which offer extensive features but come with higher design and setup costs.

Additional Functionalities: Enhancing User Experience

Beyond blogging and e-commerce, additional functionalities might be needed to enhance the user experience or fulfill specific business requirements. These could include user registration and login systems, contact forms, booking systems, interactive maps, or social network integrations. Advanced features like custom animations, dynamic content, or API integrations also fall into this category. Each added functionality has an associated cost, determined by its complexity, customization, and the level of integration required with the existing website design. It’s crucial to identify and prioritize these functionalities, keeping in mind both user needs and budget constraints.

Quality of Webdesign

Low-End vs High-End Web Design

The quality of web design is a vital determinant of website design costs. On the lower end of the spectrum, businesses can opt for predesigned templates that allow for limited customization. These templates often come at a minimal cost, making them ideal for businesses on a tight budget or those requiring a simple web presence. However, the drawback is that these designs are not unique, offer less flexibility, and may not provide the optimal user experience.

The Price of Quality

High-quality web design, on the other hand, typically involves custom design elements, bespoke layouts, advanced interactivity, and a highly intuitive user interface. These designs are unique, created by professional designers who understand your brand and user needs. They often include responsive design, ensuring the website performs optimally on various devices, from desktops to mobile phones. While this premium service provides an enhanced user experience and brand image, it does come with a significantly higher price tag due to the level of skill, creativity, and time required.

Balancing Quality and Cost

Determining the quality of web design should not only depend on the budget but also on the business goals and user expectations. A high-quality website design can contribute to better user engagement, higher conversion rates, and a stronger brand image. However, a cost-benefit analysis should be done to ensure that the investment in a high-end design will generate a return. Conversely, while a low-end design might be more affordable initially, it may not support business growth in the long term or could result in lower user satisfaction. Therefore, striking the right balance between quality and cost is critical in the website design process.

Estimated Costs With Each Factor

Company Size

As mentioned before, the average cost to design a website for each company size is as follows:

Mom and Pop-Sized Business: 1k-10k

Small-Medium Sized Business: 10k-50k

Large Enterprise: 50k-100k+

Publicly Traded Company: 1M+

Website Size/Number of Pages

Next, the average cost for different website sizes/number of pages, according to Forbes, 2023.

Small Business Website with up to 16 pages: $2k-9k

Corporate Website with up to 75 pages: $10k-35k

Website Application with up to 2,000 pages: $6k-75k

Platform

The average cost to design a website on different platforms will always vary depending on the website’s needs, though WordPress or other CMS Platforms tend to be easier to design on than Custom Coding.

WordPress: $1K-30k+

Other CMS Platforms: $1K-25k+

Custom Code: $10k-35k+

Website Functionality

E-Commerce: $10k+

Blog: $1k-5k+

Weighing the Factors

In conclusion, the cost of website design is influenced by a plethora of variables, ranging from the size and functionality of the website to the quality of the design and the platform it’s built on. Whether you’re a mom-and-pop shop needing a simple online presence or a publicly-traded company requiring a complex, integrated web solution, the design decisions should align with your business objectives and budget. Remember, it’s not just about the initial design and development costs; ongoing maintenance, updates, and potential scalability should also factor into the total cost of ownership. As a result, use this information to set your budget accordingly.

A Cost Worth Bearing

While the costs associated with website design might seem daunting, it’s essential to view a well-designed website as an investment rather than an expense. A functional, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly website can enhance your brand image, engage your audience, and ultimately drive business growth. Whether you choose a cost-effective WordPress site, a custom-coded masterpiece, or a CMS tailored to your needs, the key is to find the perfect balance that provides value to your users and returns on your investment.

Your Website, Your Choice

In the digital age, your website often serves as the first point of contact for your customers, making it a crucial aspect of your business. With numerous factors influencing website design costs, understanding these variables empowers you to make informed decisions tailored to your needs. Remember, it’s not just about choosing the cheapest option but selecting a solution that aligns with your business goals, caters to your audience, and provides a platform for growth.

Video Transcript:

Hey, this is Al Carmona with Useractiv websites. And today, I want to talk about web standards. Now web standards are just a certain way that makes it easier for most users to take a look at a website and navigate it and use it. Specifically, we’re going to talk about headers and footers today, and what the standards are for a header and footer as far as where you position certain elements and make it easier for the user that’s coming in, and having to figure out what it is that is on the website and how to use the website.

Because if you look at the majority of B2B websites, you’re going to see that they have basically the same thing in the header and in the footer, and that’s just as I said, for usability purposes, just to make things easier. So taking a look at a couple of websites. We’ve got Slack here, and Slack is a product that a lot of companies use, and this is the home page of their website. You’ve got this element right here, which is the logo, and then you’ve got a drop-down navigation here, and then the rest of the main navigation here in the header, a search button, and a call to action here to talk to sales or create a new workspace.

So this is a standard, a web standard header. If you take a look at Microsoft, they’re basically doing the same thing. You’ve got the logo here on the left corner, which links to the home page, you’ve got a menu here, and then you’ve got another menu, which is a full menu, along with a call-to-action, which is to sign in.

Now, if we take a look at the footer here at Slack, you could see that it’s got more links, so you could go ahead and explore and they’re categorized, you’ve got “Why Slack” and then all the links that go to explaining why you should choose a product, pricing resources, and company.

And this is kind of like a sub-footer here, along with the social media icons. Another standard of websites having the social media icons in the footer. Most people will look for those when scrolling through a website by going all the way to the bottom… To the footer.

Let’s see if Microsoft is doing that as well. It looks like they are not… They don’t really have that here. They do have it in the footer though, but a little bit higher up, if you see right here, that’s where they have the social media icons. So this is a little bit out of place in regards to web standards, usually you’ll find it here at the bottom, the way Slack has done it.

So that’s just a quick overview of web standards for what you should have in your B2B website as far as items in your header and in your footer. It’s all to make it easier for a user to be able to find navigation, find your logo, find important links and find social media links as well. And the call to action, it’s a great idea to put it up in the header.

I hope you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and please subscribe for more helpful videos about how to make your website and improve it and get more leads and more sales.

If you need a new website or you need website work, be sure to contact Useractiv, we’re happy to help. That’s all we do is website marketing and website design and development. Thanks!

Hey, this is Al Carmona with Useractiv. And in today’s video, I want to talk about how to choose the right web designer for your business.

Check out their portfolio

So the first thing that people look at when they’re looking around for web designer is they’re probably looking at portfolios. They’re looking at the designs that people have done, whether it’s the mockup or whether it’s a live site, and seeing what kind of work an agency has done and the quality of their work.

Once they kind of see the quality of the work of several agencies, then it’s good to go ahead and drill down a little bit further.

These are more of the things that you should be looking for when choosing the right web designer for your business beyond the portfolio…

Do they ask the right questions?

When you have that first meeting with your prospective web design company, you want to listen and see if they’re asking the right questions, the right questions about your business, about your customers, about the way you work, about your goals, about what it is that you want to accomplish with your website, and what’s wrong with your website. Now, what can you do to fix it? What are your key performance indicators that you’d like to increase or better?

And the types of questions that they ask are going to be very indicative of the type of company they are and what their approach is leading on to that aspect of a web company asking the right questions.

Are they focused on your users’ experience?

And the next question that they should be asking or that you should be asking of them is… what about the users? What about your users, your customers, because in reality, your website design company, or your website design agency’s customer is not you, it’s your customers. They’re trying to appeal to them. They’re trying to have a better user face interface for your customers, so they could find what they’re looking for. And they’re able to accomplish tasks, be it, find out more information, schedule a consultation, or making a purchase easier.

So a web design company that thinks about the user first that asks questions about your user and what your user can do, or how they can benefit from your website and how that I, that can be improved by some of the things that you’re going to be going ahead and working on when you’re redesigning the website.

What’s their process?

The next thing that you probably want to ask or that you want to inquire about of your new web design company is what their process is. How do they manage the web design process and how do they communicate every step of that process, make sure that they’re very clear in their process.

How long it takes to research, how long it takes to do this design, what the back and forth is on the revisions of the design and the wireframing and the architecture of the website. Communication is going to be very important. And you’re going to need that in order to get all the right information that you’re going to go ahead and put on the website.

Recap

To recap, those are some of the most important things to consider:

Check out their portfolio

When you’re interviewing the companies, make sure that they’re asking the right questions and listening to your goals.

That their user-centric

Make sure they’re focused on the user experience, your user, and your customer.

Their process

How long do things take, what are the phases of web design and how do they communicate along the way?

Making sure that everybody’s on board, that they’re on the same page, and that you’re moving towards that end goal of launching that new website. That new and improved website that’s going to make your business a whole lot better, and that’s going to be better for your customers.

So I hope that helps please subscribe to more tips on how to improve your website, better your website marketing, generate more, leads, more traffic, and get more sales. Thanks.

Video Transcript:

Hey, it’s Al from Useractiv. And today I kind of want to go over the differences between web design and web development. So in a nutshell, web design is more or less the graphics that are designed usually by somebody who is a specialist in creating mockups and designs. But not necessarily somebody who is a coder and then web development is when you actually do the coding of the website. So just to give you an example, and I’m going to break the web design part of it up into two different types of sections, because probably the best process of creating a website involves, you know, the research phase the wireframing phase, the web design phase, and the web development phase.

So we’ll probably get into the research phase and maybe the coding aspect in other videos. But I wanted to give you an overview of what the design and web development, what are the main differences between the two. So after you’re done with the research phase where you’ve looked into what your target market is who your users are, what they’re looking for, how that relates to your product, and so forth you start to create something called a wireframe, and a wireframe is when you start to get elements that you want to have on the webpage, and you start to lay them out in a very simple way, using boxes and text.

So as you can see on this page by the way, this is Figma, which is what I use for pretty much all my wireframing and my web design mockups. So, it’s a great program. I recommend it highly. I think everybody should use it. It’s free to use you know, there are different tiers for Figma, but it allows you to quickly create these wireframes. So as you can see, this is very simple. This is just to illustrate to a client and to work out between the client and yourself on my end, at least, as a web developer, what goes where, so here, we’re looking at a blog wireframe. So the client requested, you know, the redesign of the blog and they had some ideas. So rather than designing everything and then saying, okay, I wanna move this here and move this. There you start off with a wire frame. So as you can see, you got the logo here, you’ve got some links, you’ve got a call to action at the top. And this is the hero section with you know, the headline, a static image here. And since this is the home of the blog, it’s going to have a listing of a bunch of different blogs based on a category. So here, you’ve got a dropdown for categories you could search, and then you start to see all the blog posts here, or at least snippets of them with, you know, a featured image and category title excerpt, and then call to action to read more. And this goes on and on. They could go ahead and load more. And then the simple footer is here. So this is kind of what we ended up with with the blog homepage. We moved a few things around, and this is where we ended up. So as you can see, this is much easier to grab and move around. Then if we were to fully skinned this lets you get an idea of the space and the content and how that gets laid out on the page. And it makes it much easier. Once you have this part of the design process approved to go in and design this fully into a mock-up.

And now if I move over here, you could see that this is the wireframe for the single page or a single post. As you could see here, we have a featured image. So obviously if somebody clicks on here, they go to this template here for the featured post or for an individual post, you could see a featured image, the title, the author, the text, and how this will be laid out. So this was also approved. So it, the wireframe just makes it easier for you to go ahead and start creating a design. It lets the client know that you want to position things in a certain place. All the content that they want to have is going to be in there and it’s going to be easily accessible for users that go onto the website. So once you have that, you kind of move on to the design part of it. So just to separate it out to give you an idea, this is what a full-fledged design look like, looks like. So this is for a homepage on a different site, and you could see all the graphics are already in here. All the text, everything has been kind of designed here.

And this is what we call a full mock-up of a webpage. And this is what the web is, and this is also in Figma. So this is what the webpage looks like live. Once this has been launched on the web. Now, if we take a look at the code for this if I right-click anywhere on here and have view source, you could do this for any webpage. If you go ahead and do that, it’ll show you the code. And this is really what the web development part is. The coding of the website is what goes, where you could see it’s got all this code is needed for the webpage to be able to be viewed this way for you to be able to scroll for there, to be interactivity for there to be links. This is what the web browsers view, what they see. They see this code and they translate this code into this, the markup or the full website page that all your users view. So again, I mean, I’ll get into how to create the code for this based on the design here. And this is what they call custom development, taking a graphic, and then turning it into code strictly from that graphic.

So I hope you enjoyed this video, please let me know if you have any questions and put those in the comments, please subscribe. And like this video, if you want me to continue to create quality content that helps you with your website design and marketing your website. Thanks.