Creating a website is an important step for any business – no matter how big or small. It allows for a company to reach out to a much wider audience and increase its online presence, while simultaneously consolidating all the company’s products and services in a singular location for easy reference. It is also worth noting that a website has many components, and when it comes to website budgeting it is extremely pivotal to factor in all the relevant costs of each component, from hosting to design and even prospective maintenance.
Whether you are looking for a cheap web designer and affordable website design services, or are willing to go all out on your new website, there is bound to be a budget range which is suitable for you. This article shall hence give an overall breakdown of the various costs which should be accounted for when budgeting for the creation and maintenance of your website.
1. Domain Naming
A domain name is a pivotal feature of any website, since it serves as the website’s address and identity on the internet, by allowing users to easily find and access a given website. A domain also helps in establishing credibility and professionalism for a website, since it can be conveniently associated with a specific brand or organisation, and its associated products.
Domain names can come in a variety of forms, and perhaps the two most common options are an URL ending with “.com”, and a Top-level Domain (TLD) which allows for additional customisation of the website link, with the latter generally being more expensive as a result. In general, owning domain names would require some form of registration from a domain registrar, and the annual cost of domain ownership can range from $10 to $60, with some more sought-after domains having a substantially higher price tag.
2. Web Hosting
Web hosting is an equally important component of any website, since it provides the storage space, bandwidth and support necessary to make the website accessible to users on the Internet – without which, the website cannot be accessed by any users at all. There are a wide variety of web hosting services available, each with their own different plans pertaining to bandwidth and storage. The table below shows just some of the web hosting services which are available, and the cost of their corresponding plans:
| Web Hosting Service | Starting Costs |
|---|---|
| A2 Hosting | $2.99 per month |
| Bluehost | $2.95 per month |
| Dreamhost | $2.59 |
| Godaddy | $3.68 per month |
| Ionos | $4 per month for the first year, $6 per month thereafter |
As shown in the table, the costs of web hosting can vary rather significantly, for various reasons – for instance, The starting costs of Ionos’ web hosting service may be noticeably higher than that of the other web hosting services shown here, but do have other additional perks such as responsive customer service.
3. Website Design and Style
If you are looking for an affordable website design and do not require sophisticated designs or conceptualisations, it may be a good option in some cases to design the website yourself according to your business’ requirements.
Certain websites such as Wix have free plans with a reasonable amount of customisability, which may be a plausible option if affordability is your main priority. However, websites created using such platforms will typically be very different from those which are made using paid platforms, such as Wix’s own paid plan or other platforms such as GoDaddy and Squarespace.
Alternatively, it is also advisable to consult a professional regarding website design – looking for a cheap web designer in Singapore is rather straightforward, and there are many choices to choose from – there is definitely bound to be someone who is qualified enough to satisfy your business’ requirements well.
4. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certification
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are an often overlooked component of a website, but the reality is that they are absolutely indispensable. SSL certificates provide security for websites by encrypting communications between the website and the user’s web browser. This protects sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data from being intercepted by third parties. SSL certificates also authenticate the identity of the website, ensuring that users are connecting to the correct website and not a phishing site designed to steal their information. This in turn helps to build trust with visitors and can increase the credibility of a website, which can be beneficial for e-commerce sites and other sites which handle sensitive information.
Here are some notable SSL Services, which generally tend to have prices ranging from $8 to $268.
- Comodo SSL
- Digicert
- Geotrust
- RapidSSL
- SSL.com
5. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is yet another important aspect of website creation which helps increase the visibility and ranking of a website on search engines. By optimising various elements of a website, including its content and structure, this increases the website’s appeal on such search engines, which can help improve its ranking and increase the amount of organic traffic to the site.
SEO is thus essential for businesses and organisations that want to reach a wider audience and achieve organic growth online. SEO specialists are well-trained in this aspect, and hiring one can range from $250 to $6000 per month, depending on the scale and complexity of the website.
6. Plugins and additional Widgets
Once again, customisation via plugins and other widgets specific to your company and business would undoubtedly come at a premium. The costs of such additional plugins tend to vary greatly, so it is worth factoring these costs into your overall budget while budgeting for a website.
In conclusion, the amount of money spent on the development and maintenance of a website can differ a lot based on the aforementioned factors, and it is important to consider the needs of your business before committing to a budget for your website. To save the hassle of having to fret over all these separate components, it is worth engaging a cheap web designer for affordable website design services, to ensure that all these different aspects are well-accounted for. Looking for a Singapore cheap website designer is now easier than ever too, with a great number of well-qualified professionals who will certainly give your prospective website the attention and effort it deserves.