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Web Design Fees and the Bottom Line: What to Know Before You Choose
By David West | February 13, 2010
Let’s say you have three colleagues, each of whom hired a creative firm to design a new website for their company. The first paid $2000, the second paid $5000, and the third paid $15,000. Who got the best deal?
It’s a trick question, because it’s not the initial expense of the site that mattered, but the profits that were generated in the weeks and months that followed. Most business owners already understand this, but that doesn’t stop them from making big mistakes when it comes to choosing designs and layouts.
Now, many of you reading this might be tempted to roll your eyes and conclude that I’m about to tell you, once again, about the dangers of missing the forest for the trees and trying to spend too little on a new web design. And it’s true: more companies have wasted thousands of dollars – not to mention many months and untold numbers of lost sales – than they’d care to remember by choosing a low-quality design firm over a more professional team just to save a few nickels.
But it’s important to realize that the door swings both ways. As easy as it is to skimp on your website and miss out on what you really need, it’s just as easy to overspend on features that won’t really help your business make any more money. Some things, as cool as they might look, just don’t make sense for every client. Few restaurants have need for a big e-commerce package, for example, just as most dry cleaners wouldn’t see a very big return on an extensive flash video production.
These are pretty basic examples, but I think they do a good job of illustrating the point. The best way to find a web designer or creative team to work with isn’t by starting with a set budget, but by going into the process with a firm idea of what your new website should do , and how those functionalities are going to translate onto the bottom line. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have some figures in mind – I don’t know of too many businesses that can walk into any investment with a blank checkbook – but that they shouldn’t be the first or final consideration.
A well conceived and designed website is, hands down, one of the most profitable investments you can make into your business. Because of its ability to generate new orders, inform customers and prospects, and make several of your every day chores routine, it can show an almost immediate return on investment. That’s not something you could say of any new hire or piece of equipment.
So, as you begin the process of collecting bids for your next website, remember that there’s more to the eye than the figures you see at the bottom of a bid or proposal. These numbers might matter, but they hardly stack up to what you’ll get back if you start finding more profits online.
Working with a Ulistic Internet Consultant can ensure that your website is designed & developed with purpose. After just one meeting with your Ulistic Advisor and you will be in a better position to buy your next website.
Don’t just have a website, own it.
Topics: Website Design | 1 Comment »
February 21st, 2010 at 10:13
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