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Businesses that are interested in building a new website or redesigning their existing website often request quotes from multiple vendors before deciding who to hire. But, it can be surprising to see how the prices vary so drastically from one vendor to the other. Why are web design prices so different? There are a number of factors that can affect the price from one vendor to another. Here’s what you need to know before choosing who to work with on your website:
Custom vs. Themes vs. Drag & Drop Website Builders
The cost of web design will also vary depending on how each vendor plans on building the website. A custom website is one that is built from scratch without any special web design tools. This is by far the most expensive and time-consuming way to build a website, but it’s preferred by businesses with very specific needs that want to have complete control over the finished product.
The second way to build a website is by using a tool like WordPress that allows you to choose from different themes so you don’t have to start from scratch. WordPress is fairly easy to use, but that doesn’t mean you should try to build a website without a professional’s help. WordPress will give you everything that you need to build a website, but the pages will still need to be assembled by someone who knows what they’re doing. Fortunately, once the website is built, it’s easy for someone with little or no web design experience to maintain the site since WordPress is so user-friendly.
The final option is to use drag and drop website builders such as Weebly, Wix, or Squarespace. Anyone can design a website with a drag and drop website builder, which means you typically do not need to hire a professional if you plan on using one of these tools. However, it’s important to note that your options are limited when building a site with Weebly, Wix, or Squarespace. There is only so much you can do with a website’s design and functionality when you use one of these tools, so they’re not recommended for most businesses.
Content Creation
One the basic structure of the website has been created, who will write the content for each of its pages? Some web design vendors offer content creation services, while others do not. If you are requesting quotes from a vendor that will create content in addition to building the website, the price will be noticeably higher.
Creating content is a time-consuming process that requires a very unique skill set. The content must be informative, persuasive, engaging, and relevant to the reader. If you’re paying for SEO services, it also must contain keywords that will improve your website’s ranking in search results. Each page on a website must have some copy, so don’t underestimate the time or effort that it takes to get the job done. However, if you have a SEO expert or copywriter, then there’s no need to hire a vendor for content creation.
Design Complexity
Obviously, the complexity of the design will affect the final price. For example, incorporating animation or background videos into the design will raise the price since it will require additional resources to bring your idea to life. However, a website with a simplistic design should not be as expensive since it won’t require much effort on the designer’s end. Basically, the more high-end and professional you want a website to look, the more expensive it will be to create it.
Websites with advanced functionality are also more expensive to design. An e-commerce website, for example, must be carefully designed so the site can securely process payments. Websites that collect customer information using a lead generation form often must connect with the business’s CRM system, which is another factor that can increase the price of the design.
Vendor Experience
Experienced web designers are in high demand, which means they are able to charge more for their services. Therefore, if a vendor has a team of experienced web designers, their prices may be somewhat higher.
Price is an important factor to consider when deciding who to work with, but you shouldn’t eliminate a vendor with a team of experienced designers simply because their prices are higher than others. Experienced web designers are typically able to tackle more complex web designs than inexperienced designers. They also know the importance of keeping the user’s experience in mind when designing the website, which is something that is learned over time. So although you may end up paying more, you won’t regret going with a vendor that has a strong background in web design.
Revision Requests
Some vendors charge their clients for revision requests, while others don’t, so this is another factor that could affect the final price of your website’s design. It’s inevitable that you will make at least one revision during the design process, so this is an important factor to consider. Be sure to find out how many revisions you are allowed to make for free before deciding which vendor to choose. If you end up choosing a vendor that charges for each revision, make sure that you do not ask the designer to begin the project until you are confident that you know what you want. If you change your mind halfway through the process, the web designer will have to start from square one, which can significantly affect the price.
Are you interested in building a new website or redesigning an existing website? We create custom websites that are tailored to meet each of our client’s needs. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.