Low Cost, Fixed Price Website Design in Bedfordshire

Not so many years ago, having a website built for your business was an extremely costly affair. Those who took the plunge, in all probability, went out on a limb to find the necessary finance to pay for the development. The development costs were not the only overhead. Specialist staff had to be recruited, or existing staff trained up at exorbitant cost, to manage the website once it had been built. In those days there was no guarantee that it would bear fruit. A high percentage of customers still relied on word of mouth or paper directories to find the goods or services they required.

Now the market place is totally different. We live in an on-demand, online world, and a website is an absolute necessity for virtually every business. But what will it cost? Yes you can still pay high prices for “build from scratch” websites, with complex graphics and bespoke interfaces. This type of site offers the purchaser the opportunity to control, in their own time, what appears on the pages of their website. This is important in organisations that need to communicate constantly both internally and externally, but only works well if the company has dedicated resource to ensure it is proactive in updating its content. In smaller organisations with fewer staff, this is not always practical.

A brochure site is sufficient for the needs of most small to medium businesses today, and is often provided with a maintenance contract which allows for minor alterations to the site. These sites are built based on templates. The template provides the engine which drives all of the functions and provides a choice of robust and unique layouts, all of which means that they can be built for a fraction of the cost of a build from scratch site. Many also incorporate a site map, and a news page, where the client controls the content. Search engines love fresh original content, and this is a cheap and easy way to keep your website fresh.

Retail outlets who wanted to trade on the internet used to pay an arm and a leg for the opportunity and could take years to recoup the cost, if ever. Now, again using a template, online shops can be built in a matter of days. The modern shop sites allow the owners great flexibility and control over their products and prices. Similarly, Customer and Order management modules are often included. It is feasible to be up and running as an Internet trader in very short time at a cost of about a thousand pounds.

So, how do you go about finding a website designer? Always ask to see the portfolio of sites already built and maybe contact the site owners for references. There are some Website Design companies out there who will try to squeeze their customers dry by charging small design fees and then extortionate maintenance costs. If the price of design seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always ensure that you are fully apprised of all costs involved, and that you know exactly what you are getting for your money. It is normal to pay ongoing maintenance and hosting charges, but it is not normal for example to pay a fee for every product added to the site. Maintenance charges can vary, but if they are higher than the build costs, then they are probably too steep.

Fixed price contracts are the best way to avoid these hidden extras. Stick to providers who offer fixed price packages and understand exactly what is and isn’t included. Be very clear about what you need and what you don’t need, and always agree the price in full before any of the work starts.

Activ Web Design from Potton in Bedfordshire has a great portfolio and is always willing to discuss requirements with potential clients without any obligation. Where possible it is best to use a local website design company. It is always easier to get your ideas across when dealing with somebody face to face. If they won’t come and visit you then they are probably not the right choice for your business.

About the Author

Activ Web Design in Bedfordshire offer affordable, fixed price websites. To find out more and see examples of our work visit our website:
Web Design in Bedford

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