Tips to Lower the Cost of Your Website

A lot of people want to lower the cost to build a website. Over the years we have learned a few things that clients can do to lower the cost of their website development. Below are practical tips to lower the cost of your website project. Our agency employs several methods to lower overall costs of custom website design. We have learned over the years that the average client does not have all their materials ready for design and development. Or they require more consulting along the way to bring the website project to completion. For this reason, we felt it best to provide a resource people can use to better understand the process of building a website and how to lower the cost of their website project.

Like most web developers, we have had our fair share of customers requesting one thing at the time of proposal, only to change their mind as they go. This is why it is best to figure out what you want and what you like in a website so you can more easily communicate to your development team. Not only will it help you get an accurate proposal, it will help you better communicate your needs to the web developers.

Now, let’s talk about the things you can do to not only lower the cost of your website project, but lessen frustration during the building phase.

1. Get Your Content Together

The best way to lower the cost of your website is to get your content together and be clear about what you want. If you do not provide direction, there is a good chance the web developer is not going to provide what you like. This may result in several changes to your project and that is going to cost you more money than if you were direct from the beginning.

Depending on what type of website you are constructing, i.e. basic website or webstore, the materials you need will vary. Start with the Types of Content Your Web Developer Will Need and move on to Materials Needed for a WooCommerce Website if you are building an online store.

2. Organize Materials

Consider using Dropbox or Google Drive. Organize images in folders that are clearly labeled so that the web designers understand what is in each file folder.

Only place relevant images in the folder. Do not put any photos or files in folders that you do not want on the website. It’s helpful when photos and documents are clearly labeled to eliminate confusion.

Avoid sending multiple emails with change requests, documents, and photos. This introduces the possibility of materials being overlooked or your email triggering spam filters.

As you review your website project, keep a document with changes and organize them by page to eliminate steps being missed.

3. Select Aesthetically Pleasing Images

The photographs you select for your website help to set the direction of the web design. Your photos can make or break your website’s aesthetic. While web developers and graphic artists like ours do our their best to improve what clients provide, it is important to have nice photos. Time editing photos can add up… Lower time by providing nice clean images that require little to no editing by your designers.

4. Provide Design Examples

Website design examples are important for your development team. It helps us understand your aesthetic preferences and get closer to your goals the first time. If you are not sure what you want or like, take some time looking at websites! Write down what you like about the different sites.

5. Establish Clear Objectives

What do you hope to gain from your website? If you want to generate more traffic, be sure to ask your developer about search and social optimization! While it will add to the upfront expense of your project, it will substantially lower your costs if you launch into a search campaign after completing your design. It will also ensure that the right images and text appear when you share your pages on social media websites. Furthermore, it connects your social media pages to your website for better visibility across search and social networks.

Bottom line is that when you understand what you want from your website, your developers can consult with you to ensure that you are getting the best bang for your buck, consistent with your goals. A well-optimized website generates more leads.

If your website is going to be a place of information, how will it get organized? Will your design concepts work? How can information break up to maximize results. Websites require a lot of careful planning and consideration. It is important that your team have a clear understanding of what you want so you can get the site you want from the web development agency.

Get Ready

Now that you have some tips to keep the costs of your web project down, learn about what Types of Content Your Web Developer Need. If you’re building a webstore, you should read Materials Needed for Your E-Commerce Website.