Your Business Website Features
It’s important to compare like for like when you are buying a website. After all on the face of it they can look pretty similar, especially in this age of mobile device which causes almost all websites to adopt a modular approach to handle the responsive requirements.
We divide a website’s build features or specification if you like into two categories: Tangible & Intangible we appreciate its problematic for buyers but unfortunately not ensuring delivery of the intangible features is a major cause of poor performing websites. You want your website to be working for you 24/7 which any website will be but you also need it to be working at as near to 100% efficiency as possible or it will undermine Conversion which as you are well aware will cost your business customers and revenue over and over again.
Tangible Features:
Website Hosting – A reliable hosting partner hosting WordPress on a PHP Software platform (First year free and includes one domain renewal!) Standard Web Hosting £120 + vat annualy).
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Security included
Mailbox Hosting
Server side controls to block traffic from countries that regularly interfere with websites (Russia, China, etc)
Every Website is bespoke built in WordPress around a suitable base theme
Intangible Features:
Customer Conversion – A high quality business website must be effective at converting sales prospects when they land on it. Failing to address this will result in wasted effort and money in areas like SEO, Online Advertising and even personal Sales!
Powerful Content – Content that engages and informs customers effectively will support the Conversion and SEO of your business website.
SEO – Search Engine Optimisation will ensure that your business gets the maximum sales opportunities from being found through organic search.
Design – ~Website Design investment should be in keeping with the scale of your business and appropriate to your target audience.
Functionality – Most businesses need a WordPress website that is also optimised for mobile devices and e-commerce functionality if required.
The first thing we need to see is the website development company being competent at Marketing. Lets put it like this your Website needs to be Marketing led. So unless the company producing it has sufficient Marketing expertise it can’t be.
Everyone claims Marketing Expertise in the Website Development, Design and even Print industries so how can you tell? Well the best way is to ask.
Say “We want to be sure you have the Marketing Expertise to deliver a high quality business website can you explain what the website should be doing for our business and how you are qualified to deliver that?”
Unless they can offer a clear explanation like the one above and demonstrate actual Marketing credentials outside of website development it’s probably best to walk away.
A good clue is who is doing the Content.If they expect you to supply it, then, in all but the most technical industries they are ducking one of the most critical aspects of building the website and leaving you to do a job which requires Marketing Expertise and is critical to the success of a website build.
As to price the benchmark we use is approximately £2500 + vat for a business website for a business turning over less than £250,000 or a start up. We also offer monthly payment terms to help with cash flow so please do ask about them.
E-Commerce will add an additional variable cost depending on complexity number of products etc.
As a final note remember your biggest cost for a new website could be £000s in lost sales because you failed to adequately invest in something that will be the most critical and viewed platform for your entire service proposition for years to come.
Call and Arrange Your Free Consultation Today – 01293 406000 – Start Growing Your Business!