The Myth of the $200 Web Site

Almost daily, I review design requests from companies that offer a great product or service, and want to incrase their market share via a web site. Are you with me so far?

No problemo. A well-developed site can increase sales, promote cross-selling, and make your Lexus payment. That is, after all, what a web site is supposed to do. Of course, it takes a certain level of expertise to develop a site that actually meets that criteria.

Yet somewhere down the line, our clients-to-be inevitably find an advertisement for a $49.95 web site package. Or a custom-designed site for $200.00. Or, my favorite, FREE web design - yours with any $60.00 monthly hosting package! It's as if suddenly all those years of being scammed just go right out the window. And before you can say fraud, it's wham, bam, click the submit once to proceed.

Your web site, like any other effective marketing tool, is an investment. And for many people, a web site represents your company in much the same way a storefront would. Before visitors even review your products or services, they're analyzing your web presence. Layout, design, colors, load time, word choice -- the overall first impression of your web site is determining their purchase decisions.

Have you ever bought a $200.00 car? Sure, it's a car, for all intents and purposes, but as any hard-working American knows, you can end up spending more on repairs and tune-ups than you would a monthly payment on a BMW. Conversely, you don't need to sell your t-shirts out of the back of a Bentley. In web terms, you don't need a $10,000 site to do what a $2,000 site can do. But don't be disappointed when your $200.00 site doesn't rake in new sales hand over fist.

Speaking of affordable small business web design, can I offer you a free quote?