A website is an important part of any business. Having an online presence to represent your brand, display your products, and offer your services is critical for growth.
With the expanding growth of businesses going online, there is also a rise in web developers competing for the work. With that being said, you should be aware that not all websites are created equal.
Here we will dive into the difference between budget sites and those that are built with strategic planning, in order to help you achieve your goals.
Budget/Starter Sites
There are many web designers who focus on making very affordable websites with fast turnaround times. This might sound great, but there is a lot to consider when choosing the importance of a website for your business.
Most commonly, you get a website based on a pre-made template. This approach allows for the content and images to easily be replaced with your own, as well as branding elements like logos and colors.
You can have a fully functional live website within a week or two at a very low cost. Going in this direction can be hit or miss, depending on the skills of the developer. Just like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Also, you can expect minimal thought and effort involved. The goal for these developers is to turn over many websites a month – Think quantity over quality.
Our Starter Package
Although I highly recommend a custom-tailored website, we do offer a starter service. If having a website is important to you but you aren’t ready for a bigger investment, this can be a good option.
Similar to other budget options, we will start with a template design. The difference is, that you benefit from our knowledge and understanding of proper web builds with a thought-out content structure, basic on-page SEO, and other best practices.
We will deliver a quality site to get you up and running with good groundwork for future growth.
Custom Websites With Strategy
If doing things right the first time is a motto you live by, then investing in a properly crafted website (structured around the needs of your business and identity) is the clear choice.
When you use our agency, you get professional assistance. We’re here to understand your needs and guide you to a successful plan of action. We started this agency to help others reach their full business potential and thrive in a rapidly expanding digital world.
While you focus on being the expert in your industry, we will use our expertise to fill in the gaps to build your brand awareness and reach higher conversion rates.
What Goes Into A Custom Build?
There is much more to a web build than what most people realize. We start with a strategy session to dig deeper into your needs, problems, and goals. We pinpoint your target audience and build solutions that will help guide the user through the website, ultimately converting them into loyal customers and clients.
Once a clear strategy is developed, we work on the information architecture and wireframes. From there, the visuals are put into place. This is where brand consistency is important, and to make sure it aligns with your target audience.
In the development stage, we make sure your site is accessible according to the WCAG guidelines by using correct color contrast ratios between text and backgrounds, alternate text for images, and other criteria.
We also ensure the website is built with best practices in mind for clean code, responsive on all devices, optimized for search engines, and lightweight for efficient load times.
A custom website with these considerations built-in will perform better, resonate with your audience and brand, and be a valuable investment that is unmatched compared to budget options.
Conclusion
Now that you know the differences in what to expect when choosing a web designer/developer, you can decide on what direction will be the best fit for your business.
If one of our services sounds right for you, we would be happy to set up a call to discuss your goals and visions. We can help you strategize an action plan that will promote growth and resonate with your audience.
