Websites: what are the costs?
So, you are going to get a website? It’s a big step and you want to know what the costs are, what is involved with getting a website and what are the issues that you must understand. For business owners who are not so computer or Internet savvy, terms like “domain names”, “web hosting” and “email hosting” can be quite confusing and even intimidating. Furthermore what are the features that you need in your website: newsletters, search facilities, blogs, forums and more. How much do they cost to add on?
So lets have a look at whats involved. First: think of and buy, a domain name. You could go for a domain name that uses your business name such as www.petersmith.co.nz, or one that reflects your product or services offering, such as www.webstarters.co.nz. This depends on you, but a domain name that reflects your key services or products can have many benefits including assiting with your success on Google, and making it intuitively easier for people to find your website. Do you use a dot com name or a dot local domain name? This depends on your target market, and the impression you want to convey. For an international flavour and if your target market is International, then a dot com can be suitable. But for a more local look, feel and audience then stay local. The costs of a domain name depend on where you purchase it from. Costs can range from $9.99 upwards.
What about the website development or build itself - what does that cost? Websites can cost anything from nothing upwards, and your options here are huge. You could use an online provider of “do it yourself” websites for practicallly nothing, but you then you have the hassle of making the website yourself, and are constrained to their system. Or you can contact a web development company to build a website for you. Informational (brochureware) websites are generally cheaper then dynamic, or database-driven ones.
So, what are the other costs that you need to consider when getting a website? You must factor in costs for the following: Website hosting Email hosting Marketing and search engine optimisation Bets of luck.
