Do I really need a website?
And how much will it cost?
If you’re just starting a business, or deciding on a website refresh, then you’re probably asking yourself, do I reeeeaaaaalllly need a website?
And the answer is…(drum roll), YES! In fact there are very few instances when you WOULDN’T need a website.
I know, I know. It seems like a big deal. And if you’re a little afraid of all the technical stuff or don’t consider yourself an online whizz, where do you even begin?
Here! Begin here!
In today’s newsletter I’m going to talk about:
Why you need a website in 2024
The benefits of having a website
Why relying solely on a social media platform is a bad idea
How much a website actually costs
What you should be aware of when getting a website
So let’s crack on.
Do I need a website in 2024?
Yes, the answer is still yes. Even with all the many ‘alternatives’. Because there is no real alternative to having your own website. There are other options, sure. But if you want a presence online, that you control, lock, stock and barrel, a website is it.
The benefits of having a website
There are lots of benefits of having a website that go beyond having an online presence. So let’s look at a few.
A hub of information.
Opening hours, location, products, what’s out of stock or in stock, prices, promotional videos, product descriptions, guides, social media accounts, reviews, feedback, FAQs…the list goes on. Anything you want to share about your business can be done first and foremost and in entirety on your website. There are no character or word limits. You can share all the necessary information to help showcase your business and provide good service.
Open 24/7.
Unlike a physical store, your website is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People can access it and buy from it, search for information on it and read it at any time. It’s the height of convenience.
It’s cost-effective.
Much cheaper than opening a physical store! And for most businesses, recouping the initial investment happens quickly.
You get to know your audience better.
A website can gather analytics. Information about who your customers are, how often they visit your site, what they buy, when they buy etc. This information can indicate how well your website is working, as well as giving you invaluable data on who your audience is and what they want. The more you can cater to that, the more satisfied customers you’ll have.
Credibility.
We live in in a world where there is lowering trust and an expectation for any reputable company to have some kind of online presence. Google is often the first place that people go to when researching a business.
Why relying solely on a social media platform is a bad idea
Yes, there are people who don’t have websites. Most often it’s sole traders and they rely on a social media platform or something like Stan Store instead. It’s absolutely possible to be successful without a website. BUT, it’s risky. Social media is “shared content”. That means, you don’t own it. You create content, you run your account, but you don’t own it. If you get hacked or the site goes down or you get banned, you’re at risk of losing it all. It happens all the time.
Social media means bending yourself to fit their rules and algorithms and jumping through their hoops. I’m not a fan of that.
How much a website actually costs
So now to the nitty gritty! How much does a website actually cost? Well, it depends! (That old chestnut.) But it’s rarely, if ever, one lump sum.
What you should be aware of when getting a website
There are several areas of a website build that you need to be aware of. And it’s likely that you’ll be whipping out your credit card a few times.
For starters…
Your website domain name.
The website address that your business has on the internet. You need to buy that from a domain name website such as GoDaddy or 123-Reg. This is usually an annual fee.
The website builder.
This is the platform on which you create and manage your website. Such as Showit, Squarespace or Wordpress. This can be a one-off fee or a monthly/annual one, depending on which builder you choose.
The website hosting.
This is where your website is hosted and where the content is stored. WP engine, bluehost or often also available through website builders too. Usually an annual fee.
Beyond these, shall we say, technical aspects of a website, you’ll probably need to pay for one or more of the following services too. Unless you’re a website wizard and can do all this with your own fair hands!
Website maintenance: Adding new content, pages and general upkeep.
Branding: Logo’s, colours, themes, imagery, graphics and the general look and feel of your brand online.
Design: What your website looks like. If you can’t afford a designer, there are lots of templates available but they’ll have their restrictions.
Development: How your website will function.
Copy: The words on your website.
Marketing: How you tell people about your website (including SEO).
AND THEN…
There’s more.
The size and scope of your website can affect the price. How much content you need. Is it 4 pages or 40 or 400?
Expertise and quality is a factor too. You may be able to find someone cheaper with less experience but you might also sacrifice quality. If it’s a one page website, that might be ok, but if you need more, and better quality content, design and functionality, then you’ll need to be prepared to pay more for people who have spent years learning their craft.
Functionality. Do you need all the bells and whistles? A shop? Payment gateways? Or just basic text and images?
Where are you starting from? Do you already have a website that needs migrating to a new platform or are you starting from scratch?
Ongoing support. Will you need help to keep your website updated and running after it is launched or will you be able to handle it yourself?
Let’s recap
I’m sure if you look, you’ll be able to find prices anywhere from free upwards, but I’d say for a good quality website with at least 5 or 6 pages, be prepared to hear quotes of around £3,000+
Remember, you’ll be paying for…
Domain name
Builder
Hosting
Maintenance
Branding and Design
Development
Copy
Marketing
The domain name, builder, hosting, development and maintenance are likely to be paid for initially and possibly together.
Content, branding, design and marketing may be things you need to seek out quotes for separately.
My best bit of advice when it comes to getting a website
Get quotes and make sure you fully understand what you’re getting. Speak to a website builder or developer if you can - someone who specialises in this.
Some websites make it sound like you’ll be getting a fancy website with bells and whistles for a few hundred pounds, when all you’ll be getting is a template. To get that template up and running, there’ll be add-ons. And suddenly, you’re in the few thousand pound area.
Free social media is looking a lot more appealing isn’t it?
So do you still need a website?
Yes, I’d still advocate for a website over just social media. It’s worth the investment to own your own little patch of the internet.