How to Save Money on a Web Design for Your Small Business

Most clients come to a “discovery” session with a web designer without first knowing what they want. They have neither a clarity about their brand nor a visual concept of what their brand should look like. However, some savvy clients know their brand right from the onset, they know their ideal clients before they decide to consult with a web designer. By doing some homework they are ready to ask questions and give suggestions on what they want and how they can keep the project cost down. 

For if you like to prepare ahead of meeting with a web designer, here are few things you should know before you hire someone to create a website for your business:

Know your brand before 

You should always think about your brand first before you create a website for your business. What makes your brand unique is understanding what makes your product or service different than others in its category. This will ensure that the image and values of your business are reflected on your site. Having a good clarity of your brand will help design that reflects your brand and attract the right visitors to your site. So, before you meet with a web designer, be prepare to clearly discuss the type of identity that will work best for your audience. This could shave off a few thousands of dollars from your web design project.

Set a budget and be prepared to stick to it!

Creating a budget is important, but it’s also important to be realistic and stay within your means. You do not need to overspend just because you want those expensive “bells and whistles” features that are not important to your website. So, when working with a web designer or a branding consultant, it is important to be set a budget and be prepared to stick to it. This will help to ensure that you get the most for your money and that the designer is able to create a website that meets your brand and needs. At the same time, you should not expect to a top-of-the-line branding and web design for a cheap price. Most web designers will charge a fair price for their services but having clarity of your brand plus a reasonably set budget can help you from overspending.

Determine goals and objectives

To create a brand that will stand out in the marketplace, you need to understand your audience and what they’re looking for. Your questions should be: What are you trying to achieve with your website? What are your main goals? Once you know what you’re trying to accomplish, you can determine what you need and what you can do without. By hiring a web designer who understands your branding and business goals, they should be able to tell you what type of features on the site will help you achieve those goals. It can also help you skip some costly steps in a quest for a website for your business.

Research the cost of hosting a website

Website hosting costs can vary significantly from provider to provider. There are different hosting levels offered by the top-notch web hosting providers like SiteGround, BlueHost, and WP Engine. You should compare the hosting fees with these and/or other providers. Although WP Engine is the most expensive provider in this comparison, it should be noted that WP Engine offers a number of great and unique features that the other two providers do not offer. At the same time, you should not expect to a top-of-the-line hosting services for a cheap price which could become costly if you run into security issues on your server.

Estimate your website’s monthly expenses.

Your website’s monthly overhead costs include things like your web domain registration, software licenses, web hosting, domain name, email services, and more. You can determine these costs by adding up the amount you spend each month on these services and then compare them with the costs of other businesses. This will give you a rough estimate of what you expect to spend after your website is up and running. 

Finally, choose the right web designer

If you are looking to save on your web design project, it is important to ask for a breakdown of the costs so that you know what you are getting for your money. Your website should appeal to your target market and be easy for them to understand.

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