What do startup businesses need in terms of website design?
- A scalable solution based upon the correct platform for the business that can be adapted and changed as the business grows and changes direction.
- Reliable web hosting. Everything counts when you’re first starting up in business so your website needs to be up and live constantly to greet your prospective customers (and repeat customers!).
- An experienced web designer or web design company who can deliver what they promise.
How much should website design cost for startup businesses?
The same as it does for other business! But I do tend to find that most new businesses do have a strict budget and an idea of how much web design should cost them. It is always best to advise a prospective client which features of a website should be prioritised. For example, they may want to rank well for various search terms in Google, Yahoo and Bing but there is no point in driving targeted traffic to a website which looks bland alongside competitors websites. Therefore, the priority here is making the website aesthetically pleasing before unleashing a full blown SEO campaign. Remember they are paying for your time and expertise which is finite and must all be charged for. Never offer to do everything for them anyway if their budget won’t allow for it or you may not be in business very long.
Incremental website design
When dealing with a customer who has an insufficient budget for what they want it is often good practice to offer them an incremental design. This is very popular in the field of software development and can also be applied to website design for startup businesses. So start off with an attractive website which represents their company. Then in a few months time commence their SEO campaign. This web design model can be integrated into their business plan in terms of sales expected. This will also encourage a more long term relationship with your clients rather than just a one off website design project with them.