Category: Small Business

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Small Business Website Design

7 Factors That Affect The Cost Of Your Small Company Website

We live in an era where it is nearly impossible to build a brand presence without a website. It is the first step to online success and a good website doubles up as your around the clock sales person. So, we cannot overlook the importance of a good website. But all things good come with a price tag. In this article, we will show you a complete price breakdown for building a small company website.

1. Domain & Web Hosting

The domain is your website URL, for instance, ours is Netlynxinc.com, and, hosting is the platform that stores all your website files and makes them visible to your viewers. The domain and hosting are mandatory purchases.

How much you spend on both depends heavily on the platforms and names you choose. For instance, a ‘.com’ version of a website is much more expensive than a ‘.net’ or ‘.ca’ version. Also, domain names that are already sold, show a much higher price, based on the domain value and the owner’s choice to auction the name.

Domain & Web Hosting

A ‘.com’ version of a website can cost you anywhere from $9-14 a year whereas a .net or other versions will cost about $5-8 a year.

Hosting costs depend entirely on the type of hosting you choose and the size of your website. As a small business, you are most likely to opt for shared hosting which will cost around $1-15. There are pros and cons to shared hosting. The pros of course are the lower cost and simplicity of customizing the website. However, since it is a shared space, you can expect a bit of lagging, especially if your site shares space with another website that requires more resources. It is important to work with a reputable hosting agency that balances the space allotted to you with websites that have similar requirements.

2. Website Functionality & Usability

What should a customer be able to do when they enter your website? Answering this helps build your website functionality. Functionality and usability of the website go hand in hand where functionality deals with the ‘what’ and usability deals with the ‘how’.

Website Functionality & Usability

Functionality and usability depend heavily on your end goal. For instance, if you want a brochure website that provides information and value, you will provide fewer functions (like navigation tools and interconnected content). If you have an e-commerce website that allows customers to browse products and make a purchase, you need to provide a lot of functionality (like navigation tools, payment gateways, SSL certificates, and so on).

As you may imagine, the proposed website functionality and usability will directly impact its cost. Basic functionality requirements for a corporate website will cost around $3,000 and above, whereas intricate requirements for an independently owned e-commerce website can start from $5,000 and above.

3. Website Design

75% of the time, customers leave a website because of poor design. But ironically, good design is less likely to be noticed by customers. It merely acts as a stage background that brings focus to your products and services. So, if your customers make no comment on the website design and just leave after they get what they are looking for – it’s a good sign!

Website Design

A good website designer creates the face of the website, one that highlights what your brand stands for. It always starts with research, followed by a first draft, multiple edits and ultimately, the final design. Companies price website design services differently so it is hard to provide a proper price range for the service. However, when a company provides you with a quote you should consider the following:

  • The number of people working on your project (more the people higher the price)
  • The years of experience the web design agency/individual has (more the experience higher the price)
  • The city you are seeking services from (some cities are more expensive than others)
  • Packages and discounts: some companies provide special offers and seasonal discounts for small company websites
  • Niche expertise – A boutique web design agency that focuses solely on your niche, will charge less than bigger companies that have multi-channel expertise.

4. Website Development

Website Development

Once we have a design, we go on to the next step which is web development. Web design and development go hand in hand, which is why many companies develop a website while designing it so that their client gets a feel for its functionalities. Just like web design, web development pricing varies greatly on the factors mentioned above.

5. Content Management System

A content management system or a CMS allows website owners, with no prior coding knowledge to create, manage, and publish content on their website. Very few websites will not have a CMS – these are usually static websites or those that do not aim at building their content.

Content Management System

If you want to provide customers with value through your content, a CMS like WordPress will empower you to build content without your developer’s assistance. A good CMS is:

  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Scalable
  • Easy to customize
  • Secure

CMS costs vary greatly on the platform. A good way to choose a CMS is to find which ones the most successful businesses within your niche are using. This gives us an idea of the scalability of the system. If you are working with a company that provides web development and web design services, they will usually research for you.

6. Mobile Optimization

Since most of our customers are mobile visitors, mobile optimization is mandatory for online success. Good web developers and designers will optimize your website for different screen sizes. The cost for mobile optimization depends heavily on the level of design changes and functionality changes required on the mobile and tablet versions of your website. But on average mobile optimization charges start from $1,000.

Mobile Optimization

When working towards mobile optimization, you should ask the following:

  • What are my mobile users looking for when they land on my website?
  • What is the state of mind of my target audience (are they traveling, busy, tense, or relaxed?)
  • Are mobile users getting what they are looking for on the website?

Good web design agencies will charge you for the work needed based on the above parameters.

7. Ongoing Maintenance

Are there any security updates for your website? Plugin and extension updates? Ongoing maintenance and updates make sure your website is running smoothly even in the years to come. It also protects your website from potential risks and threats.

Ongoing website maintenance is absolutely essential and web development companies often provide this service as a part of their web development services.

Ongoing Maintenance

Again, like most other factors mentioned above, charges depend heavily on the amount of ongoing maintenance needed on the website. It can cost anywhere from $20 a month to $125 an hour.

Conclusion

We hope this outline gave you some idea of how much it costs to build a website for a small company. Since there are so many micro factors to consider, we provided a range instead of a fixed price. When a company provides you with a pricing detail, make sure to ask them how much assistance you will get from them and the years of experience they have. This provides a concrete justification for the price.

If you have any further questions on web design and development services, feel free to get in touch with us at Netlynx Inc.

Categories
Small Business

A complete guide to small businesses on how to scale your online presence

Business operations have altered as a result of the worldwide pandemic, and small companies have been particularly hard impacted. Small companies have had to adjust to a digital world in order to thrive as customers stayed at home and real stores closed. But with the level of competition in the internet market at an all-time high, it can be difficult for small companies to stick out. We’ll give a comprehensive overview of how tiny companies can grow their online presence to succeed in the digital world in this piece.

Determine Your Ideal Market

You must identify your target market before you can start to grow your online presence. Who are the perfect clients for you? What characteristics do they have? What do they like to do and how do they act? It is essential to comprehend your target market because it will enable you to cater your marketing messages and material to their wants and requirements.

By performing market research, examining your website traffic and social media analytics, and polling your current customers, you can pinpoint your target group. You can develop targeted marketing strategies that connect with your target group once you have a clear grasp of who they are.

Build a Website

The basis of your internet existence is a website. It serves as a resource for consumers to learn more about your company, its offerings, and its services. The way that consumers view your company can be greatly influenced by a well-designed website.

Here are some guidelines for creating a website that will expand your internet presence:

  • Select a domain name that represents the name of your company or the goods and services you provide.
  • Ensure that your website is simple to use and explore.
  • Avoid over-cluttering your website with text and pictures by using straightforward, concise language.
  • Ensure that search algorithms can easily find your website. When writing content, title tags, and meta descriptions, use pertinent terms.

 

Make use of social media

A crucial tool for small companies seeking to expand their internet footprint is social media. It enables you to interact with your clients more personally and reach a larger population.

Here are some pointers for successfully using social media:

  • Pick the social media channels that your target market will find most useful.
  • Create engaging content that reflects your brand’s personality.
  • Share news, updates, and behind-the scenes glimpses of your business.
  • You can also run promotions and contests to increase engagement.
  • Interact with your followers.
  • Respond to comments and messages promptly and address any concerns or questions they may have.

Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

In order to appear higher in search engine results sites, SEO involves improving your website and content (SERPs). Higher results can increase the inbound traffic to your website, boosting your authority and exposure online. Here are some pointers for making a successful SEO investment:

  • Perform keyword study to find pertinent terms and phrases that your target market is looking for.
  • Improve the organization and substance of your website.
  • Your content, title tags, and meta summaries should all contain pertinent terms.
  • Make sure the hierarchy and framework of your website are obvious and simple to use.
  • Create connections of a good caliber.
  • References are connections to your website that come from other websites.
  • They inform search engines that your website is reliable and knowledgeable.

Make use of email marketing

Reaching your target group and promoting your company can be done effectively with email marketing. It enables you to create a focused email list and deliver bulletins, exclusive deals, and advertising messages right to the inboxes of your clients. For successful email marketing, consider the following advice:

  • Establish a focused email group.
    Obtain email addresses from your website, social media accounts, and in-person visitors. To encourage consumers to join your email list, you can also conduct promotions and competitions.
  • Segment your email list.
    Using information about the demographics, hobbies, and behaviors of your email list, divide it into smaller categories. You will be able to do this to develop ads that are more likely to resonate with your audience because they are more focused.
  • Use a catchy subject line.
    Your subject line is the first thing your customers will see in their inbox. Use a compelling and concise subject line that will entice your customers to open your email.
  • Make your words precise and obvious.
    Stay away from excessively technical terminology and jargon in your communications. Make your communications succinct and to the point.
  • Add a call to action.
    The call-to-action (CTA) in your email should be crystal obvious and urge your readers to take an action, like making a purchase or subscribing to your newsletter.

Take Sponsored Marketing into Account

You can rapidly grow your internet profile by using paid advertising. It enables you to target particular demographics and habits while also expanding your community. You may want to think about the following forms of sponsored advertising:

  • PPC advertising

    PPC advertising is a form of marketing in which you are charged every time someone hits on your advertisement. To make sure that your advertisement gets your intended audience, you can select particular groups and keywords.

  • Advertising on social media

    You can host advertisements on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter thanks to social media advertising. To make sure your advertisement reaches your intended audience, you can target particular groups and habits.

  • Ads on displays

    Banner advertisements are displayed on webpages and applications as a form of display advertising. To make sure your advertisement reaches your intended audience, you can target particular groups and habits.

Monitor Your Online Reputation

Your company could succeed or fail based on its internet image. Negative evaluations and comments can spread rapidly online and harm the image of your business. Here are some guidelines for keeping an eye on your internet reputation:

  • Configure Google Notifications

    You will be notified by Google Alerts whenever your business is referenced online. This enables you to rapidly reply to any unfavorable remarks or reviews.

  • Keep an eye on your social media profiles

    Keep a watch out for any unfavorable remarks or evaluations on your social media profiles. React quickly and answer any queries or worries your clients may have.

Utilize Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a popular trend that has been gaining traction in recent years. It involves partnering with social media influencers who have a large following in your niche to promote your brand.
Here are some tips on how to utilize influencer marketing effectively:

  • Identify relevant influencers.
  • Build relationships with influencers.
  • Engage with influencers on social media and build relationships with them before pitching a partnership.

Make use of influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is a well-liked movement that has become more widespread in recent years. To promote your business, it entails collaborating with social media stars who have a sizable following in your specialized market.

The following advice will help you use influencer marketing successfully:

    • Find influencers who share the ideals and market niche of your business

      Before introducing yourself as a collaborator, interact with influencers on social media and develop a rapport with them. Be equitable in your negotiations. The partnership’s conditions should be agreed upon, including the kind of material that will be produced and the influencer’s payment. Follow the partnership’s results.

    • Offer Valuable Content

      The secret to developing a powerful online profile is producing useful content. Blog entries, movies, podcasts, and infographics are just a few examples of the various content formats. To produce valuable content, consider the following advice:

    • Do some target research.
    • Recognize the demands, passions, and problems of your community.
    • Produce articles that your readers will find useful and that handle these issues.
    • Perform keyword study.

To find pertinent terms that your target market is looking for, use tools for keyword study like Google Keyword Planner. To boost your SEO, include these terms in your writing.

Develop a Mobile-Friendly Webpage

It’s critical to mobile-device-optimize your website given the rising popularity of cellphones and iPads. You can make your website more mobile-friendly by following these pointers:

    • Implement flexible design

Your website will adjust to various screen sizes and platforms if it uses responsive design.

    • Improve your photo quality

You can speed up the loading of your pictures on mobile platforms by compressing them.

    • Use a structure that is appropriate for mobile devices.

Consider using a vertical scrolling arrangement or another style that is simple to browse on a mobile device.

    • On various platforms, test your website.

To make sure your website appears and works properly, test it on various devices.

Keep an eye on your analytics

Understanding how your online presence is working requires regular monitoring of your website statistics.
The following advice will help you successfully watch your analytics:

    • Configure Google Analytics.

Google Analytics offers useful information about the traffic, interaction, and transaction numbers on your website.

  • Start monitoring conversions.

To monitor the success of your marketing efforts and pinpoint areas for development, set up conversion monitoring.

Conclusion

Small scale businesses may find it difficult to scale their online presence, but doing so is necessary if they want to thrive in the current digital landscape. You can establish a strong online presence that will benefit the success of your company by determining your target market, developing a user friendly website, utilizing social media, investing in SEO, using email marketing, thinking about paid advertising, and keeping an eye on your online reputation. To ensure that your online profile grows and changes alongside your company, remember to monitor your progress and modify your strategy as necessary.