Custom web design and development is an expensive project, and it may not be an option for many small businesses. Whether you’re working with a freelancer or agency it’s not unusual for a website to start out at $5,000 or more.
Buying custom web design is like hiring a professional photographer. Like photographers, you can always find a cheaper alternative. But be careful, if you are quoted $5000 for project from one source, and $800 from another for the same project – beware. You’ll get what you pay for.
Often times however, most small businesses can get a really nice customized site for a lot less without sacrificing quality and having to settle for a template that looks like everyone else. If you are prepared and willing to do a little work you can keep your costs down and get a unique quality site.
Below are tips for outsourcing a web design project and keeping costs to a minimum. Two of the most important parts of your website will be your brand identity and your content. Good design and technical are important, as is SEO. However a well designed and optimized site is useless without good content and a brand identity.
Brand Identity
Freelance website developers cannot create a brand or content for you, and I would be wary of an individual freelancer that could code, design a brand and write your content. On the other hand, a web agency can provide all these services, however the cost for a brand, custom website and well written content will start at $10k at least. Having brand elements ready to go will save both time and money on your website.
You Should Be Able To Provide Your Web Developer With The Following:
- A professionally designed logo
- Brand colors
- Font selection
- Branded graphics
“I need a website now, can I just get a website setup and add may brand stuff later?” I don’t recommend it at all. There is no point to spending a lot of money on a design if you don’t have a brand to go with it.
Have Your Content Ready To Go
Not having content ready is one of the biggest reasons for website delays. This means a lot more work and time for the developer, expensive project delays, which means more costs for you. Content is one the most important keys to a successful website and one of the most overlooked. Content includes things like written copy, images, videos, misc media, graphics, page titles, a list of pages, names for navigation, sidebar, email signup and footer areas.
Provide A Design
Create a wireframe or mockup for your website. The design of your site and the development of your site are two different things. Designing a site layout with colors and features is different from the coding and development part. It will save a lot of time and money to have a design ready that includes page layouts, features, and other things to incorporate into the design of your site. If your budget allows, you can also hire a designer to do a home page design to go with your brand. You can also check out other sites and provide examples for layout to your developer.
Start With An Existing Theme
Starting with an existing theme or site template can save a lot of design and development time. Most WordPress themes can be easily customized or have additional features added. There are many well coded SEO friendly WordPress themes avaiable that will save a lot of time. Consider starting with a theme that is close to what you want, and then have a developer tweak and customize so it’s unique to your look and brand.
Arrange For Your Own Hosting And Support
Ongoing support and consults can add to the project price. Being able to handle this yourself will save you money. Choose managed hosting for WordPress for an affordable and high quality solution.
Know What You Want And Be Able To Explain It Clearly
Being able to provide examples of sites and features you like really help when communicating with a developer. It’s not necessary for you to know technical lingo, only that you can clearly explain what you are looking for. Find 3-4 sites that you like, and when inquiring about a quote explain what you like about them. Don’t ever ask someone to copy a site, rather explain why you like the site so they can create a unique version of it for you. Make sure you have a detailed list of what you want done. There are so many things that can go into a web site, the possibilities and features are endless. For that reason, don’t assume that anything is included that you did not specify up front.
Below Are Some Examples On Contacting A Web Developer:
Good Example:
“Hi,
I’m looking for a someone who can customize a WordPress Theme for me. I have a theme selected and would like it customized to fit my brand and would like some features added. Here is a link to the theme, and here are links for examples of websites that I really like.
1. www.siteexampleone.com – I like the layout of the blog with the large featured images.
2. www.siteexampletwo.com – I like the simplicity of the home page with the large image at the top, and four smaller images in four separate columns on the bottom of the page.
3. www.siteexamplethree.com – I like the email subscriber signup area on each page and would like something similar
4. www.siteexamplefour.com – I like the mobile friendly design and how it looks on an iphone.
5. I’m looking to have the project complete by the end of January.
6. Please let me know if you have any questions.”
Bad Examples:
How much for a new website?
or
I need something like this but “edgier” or more “modern looking”
or
Call me, I need a site.
Can you imagine calling a home builder and saying “I need a house, how much?” A web developer cannot provide an accurate quote without more detailed information about your project. Beware of any contractor that would.
Free Helpful Tools For Mockups And Instructions
Sometimes explaining visually is easier. If you can take a screenshot or video capture of a page or website it’s easier to explain what you need. Here are three free tools that are easy to use. Jing – will capture a screenshot or video screenshot. Awesome Screenshot and Capture is a Google Chrome extension that lets you easily screenshot a web page and add annotations like text and arrows. Skitch is a free app for desktop or mobile that captures screenshots of anything on your computer screen.
What If I Don’t Know What I Want Or Where To Start?
If you’re handing a design over to a developer to finish that is pretty straight forward ad a lot less work. A developer may be willing to give you a few basics tips for SEO or what you need to have on your site. However if you need a detailed analysis of your current site with recommendations for features, and a marketing and seo strategy that will completely change the scope of the project. Providing you with advice and strategy or seo recommendations specific to your website requires a lot of research and time and there for more expense. To save money, you’re going to have to do some planning and research on your own.
Red Flags TO Watch Out For
Red Flags For You The Buyer
- No contract. A contract protects both you and the designer. Make sure there is a detailed list of what’s included.
- They give you a quote before they have all the details
- Cannot provide examples of their work
- The bid is unusually low
Red Flags For Designers & Developers
- Requests for quotes without providing project details
- You cannot provide a professionally designed logo.
- You ask them to copy a site
- Not having content ready
Telling a potential designer that you’re cousin “knows web design and he/she said that I should…..” – nothing will send a developer running for the hills faster than that statement. They will wonder why you didn’t contact them in the first place. It’s like those amateur photographers brushing up against you at a wedding telling you about their uncle with a fancy camera that takes great pictures.
One last thing, once your site is complete, do not ask your spouse, child, nephew, neighbor, cousin or your dog what they think about your website. They are not experts and they are not your clients either. A little planning and preparation will go along a way, and cut down costs dramatically. Most small businesses don’t need to go through the time and expense of a custom web project. Would they benefit – of course. A unique and customized theme will perform just as well.
