Conclusion
Whether building a new website internally, with a freelancer, or through a web design agency, many professionals and companies underestimate the true amount of work that goes into a website project. Beyond the initial discovery process and building out pages, there are a good deal of hours that go into the less attractive, and behind-the-scenes tasks. Choosing an agency that has a solid methodology in place, and experience in handling the hurdles that can come into play during design and development, is crucial.
When it comes to budgeting there are a few rules that apply wholesale to any agency partnership.
- More website customization equals more budget
- More website content equals more budget
- Fixed pricing generally is a better value, and lower risk, than agreeing to an hourly rate
And, finally, if you do have to firmly limit your budget it is highly advisable to focus on having your website doing fewer things at a high level, rather than doing more things at a mediocre level. This means focusing on achieving the most important goals of your website, and leaving out the ‘nice-to-haves’ until you have more demand and/or available budget.
Your website should be a visual and interactive window into your company that serves customers and clients. To that end focus on their needs, and limit vanity add-ons or high end features you may find on the sites of your larger competitors.
A new website can make or break a business. Work within your budget and resource limitations, understand fully the design and development process, and partner with a trusted agency for a final product you can be proud to show it !
