what kind of web site should you go for?
This article is designed to give readers an idea of what type of websites there are, how much they are likely to cost and probably more importantly whether it is right for them or their business.
the online brochure style site
This is usually the first step for small businesses, and it is just as cost effective as advertising in trade magazines or newspapers. Prices for these kinds of sites are usually around the £300 pound mark, and expect to pay more if you require things like a contact form, custom images or a logo.
the small business solution site
These are our favourite websites to build because not only do we get to build top quality web sites, but we get to watch as the results of our labour show up after the website launch. Most of our clients like the idea of updating their news, prices or products but they don't want to actually sell things on their website. One of the common myths of the web design business is that you can start selling products online pretty easily - this is simply not true as you generally need to connect to a bank, verify credit cards and everything you would expect to do yourselves when charging a client - this is why we generally recommend websites that have great content, excellent product information and an easy way to buy - this is usually via an enquiry form or a telephone number to place an order.
the dynamically updated site
This is another style of site that we like to design because it means our clients can update their website themselves, and thus save money paying someone else to update their content. The prices for these would start at around £800 and you are paying more for the behind the scenes set-up to allow you to update product information, news, post new stories etc. rather than being charged for each update. This is a particularly good choice for those how want the hands-on approach.
the micro site style web site
These are 2-3 page websites dedicated to giving out a message or attracting guests of a particular area, and as such are highly optimised to ensure the search engines find you. Such examples of these sites might be a new product launch, job listings, events listings or even a band website. These types of sites start from around £500 and you are paying more for the optimisation side of things rather than the content and design.
These are just a few examples of different styles of websites, we hope these give you a better idea of how much you should be paying and to ensure you are not over-sold something you don't really need.
At Chunky Frog, we like to give a free no-strings consultancy on the best way to go about solutions that will make their business make more money and we appreciate the need to stand apart from the competition.
Why not get in touch today for a free consultation!