Does my business need a website?
Absolutely, your business needs a website! An online presence is crucial for any business, regardless of its size or industry.
- A website means your business is available around the clock, so customers can explore your products and services at their convenience, wherever they may be.
- Customers research businesses before they purchase from them. This is even true for customers who want to buy something in person. Research shows that 75% of shoppers visit a business’s website before they visit its physical location
- Your website is your direct line of communication with your customers. Use it to announce new products, special offers, or changes in your business operations.
- Your website is the cornerstone of all your marketing efforts. You can use it to describe your products or services in detail, publish customer testimonials, and share other types of content (how-to videos, for example) to attract and retain customers.
- If you add our professional content creation and SEO services to your base website, your analytics reports will give you amazing insights into customer behavior and preferences. This data can guide your decisions about enhancing your content and business over time.
- A solid online presence, especially a website, can be the difference between maintaining steady revenue and achieving growth. A website not only increases your visibility but may also open up e-commerce opportunities, potentially leading to increased sales.
How much does a WordPress website cost?
The cost of a WordPress website can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the design, the features required, and the level of customization.
WordPress is open-source software, so it costs nothing to use. Still, every website needs a domain name, hosting, design, and development, and each has associated costs. Determining how much a website will cost is like pricing a house or a car: it all depends on the features and functions you need.
Here’s a breakdown to give you an idea of the potential costs:
- Domain name: you’ll need a domain name, which typically costs around $10-$15 per year.
- Web hosting: hosting is essential, and prices can range from as low as $3-$10 per month for shared hosting to $20-$50 per month for managed WordPress hosting. High-traffic sites may need VPS or dedicated hosting, which can cost $100 or more per month.
- Themes: Many free themes are available, but premium themes can cost anywhere from $30 to hundreds of dollars. Custom themes, designed specifically for your site, can cost thousands of dollars.
- Plugins: basic plugins for added functionality often come free, but premium plugins can range from $20 to $100 each. Custom plugin development can also be quite expensive.
- Design and development: can cost anywhere from $500 for a simple site to $5,000 or more for a complex, custom site.
- Maintenance and support: ongoing maintenance and support are crucial to keeping your site secure and running smoothly. Depending on the level of service, this can cost from $50 per month to several hundred dollars per month.
- Additional costs: consider costs for SEO, marketing, content creation, and any other special requirements you might have.
In our experience, most small business websites have modest requirements, so without e-commerce or extensive custom development, we offer top-quality websites starting at just $5,000. Investing in professional design and development services ensures a successful, user-friendly, and reliable website to promote your business.
How long does it take to build a website?
The time it takes to build a website depends on three things:
- Project plan: without a thoughtful, written plan that all parties agree to, your project will almost certainly have huge time and cost overruns.
- Your site’s complexity and features: a simple website with minimal features can be set up within a few days. However, a more complex site with advanced functionalities, custom programming, and intricate features can take several weeks or months. The types and amount of content on your site (written content, images, videos, etc.) affect the timeline, too.
- Your development team’s experience and expertise: a development team’s experience and expertise matter. Seasoned professionals work more efficiently, reducing development time and costs.
What do I need to get started?
- Every website needs a domain name and hosting: you’ll need a domain name and a hosting account for your website. If you don’t already have these things, we can help. Not all domain registrars and hosting companies are created equal, but we can connect you with solid, affordable, and reliable companies that provide these services.
- Software licenses: we build all sites with Bizbudding’s outstanding Mai Theme, so you’ll need to buy a license for that. Depending on your specific site requirements, we may ask you to purchase other WordPress plugins.
- Content: your site’s written and visual content.
- Down payment: a retainer in the amount of 50% of your estimated project cost. We’ll ask for the balance just before we launch your new site.
What exactly is included in the $5K bundle?
See here: Standard Bundle