How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?
Starting a website need is not as expensive as it used to be during the advent of the internet.
I remember that domain names used to cost $35.00 a year without all the add-ons that are being offered these days. Sitebuilders were sold for hundreds of dollars, while hosts with in-house site builders charged $25.00 per month for each site.
Nowadays, websites are being given away for free, free templates and themes abound, blog platforms are many and hosting is cheap, the search engines crawlers perform differently and content is king. Site monetization is possible even when no product except information is being ’sold’ and the smallest of websites have a chance of making it big in what I sometimes refer to as the Wild World Web.
There has never been a better time to start a website than now.
So instead of breaking down the options and costs available today, I have lumped them into packages of sort, much as the webhosts or domain resellers are offering all-in-one solutions. The hosting companies I have used as examples are those whose services I have had the chance to use or peruse, which is why I am able to talk about the different features of their service.
1. FREE TEMPLATE, FREE SITE BUILDER, FREE SUBDOMAIN.
There are many who offer free sites on the web, but there’s usually a catch — and that usually means, they monetize your free site by earning from the advertising. Of course you can still sell your product directly to your site visitors, but the contextual advertising your free host will slap onto your pages will show your competitors, too.
The reason for this so many are giving away free websites is something you may not be conscious of — on the web, UNIQUE CONTENT IS KING. Site design takes a back seat to all the words, photos and information that a person contributes to a website.
If there is only one thing you could learn from this site, it is that UNIQUE CONTENT IS KING. In fact, sometimes it is priceless, or at the very least, the revenue you generate from your site is commensurate to the effort you put into it. And this is why Chuvatech is not a technical how-to-build-a-website-via-programming guide. We are here to turn your content into dollars.
Thus, I strongly advise against this first option.
2. BUY A DOMAIN, SIGN UP FOR BLOGGER. ABOUT US$10/YEAR
Bogger is a free blogging platform where you can earn advertising dollars (or cents). Why can blogger afford to give you a free site? Because Google owns Blogger and Google also owns Adsense. So what they’re doing, in fact is creating an opportunity to get more publishers and advertisers into their program.
Blogger is a really good for way to start, but you should use your own domain name always. Hence the US$10/yr. This way, if you decide to move your blog from Blogger, or if they cancel your account for any reason, you can move to another platform or get hosting later and use the same domain so that you do not lose your readership.
Who could you buy your domain from? I buy my domains from GoDaddy primarily because I have tried and am happy with their service.
You can even check if your desired domain name is still available using this cool tool. Just type it in the box and click GO!:
3. SIGN UP FOR HOSTING. WHICH USUALLY INCLUDES FREE DOMAIN, BLOG, EMAIL, SITEBUILDER WITH TEMPLATES AND A LOT OF EXTRAS.
Personally, I use Anhosting and can recommend their service to one and all. Their support system is superb! And this is most important if you are just staring out. I signed up with them last November 2006, and moved some of my sites and even built new ones using their service. I got my blogs up, running and earning in no time!
Godaddy has great packages, too, with an easy-to-use sitebuilder and all the extras. I use Godaddy for one of my websites and am satisfied with their service. Check out GoDaddy.com Hosting Plans
The cost of hosting depends on storage (how many files you will store in your system), bandwidth (how much data is exchanged between your site to your visitors), number of domains hosted in the site, and the other add-on features being offered, like personal email addresses. For beginners, I suggest you try their support service before signing up by asking a lot of questions first, to see how helpful they can be.
I spend about $400 a year on all my hosting and domains, but then again, I do own about 20 domains so far and multiple websites and blogs. From what I earn from the web, the $400 is not such a large amount. And I’m saying this not to boast, but to allay any fears you may have about this small investment that can net you a pretty sum, if you do it right.
4. SIGN UP FOR THE WORKS! THIS IS MORE
THAN JUST HOSTING. THIS CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING!
Site Build It is simply the best all-in-one package for those who want to start their internet careers right, especially those with zero knowledge and big dreams. They make a difference by providing step-by-step coaching all the way. Site Build It web sites enjoy a high rate of success! Take a free 30-second tour right now.
Site Build It offers way more than hosting and sitebuilding. Signing up will make you privy to their blueprint for success, that includes services that others do not offer — effective site marketing and multiple monetization models that give both the site visitors and owners a grand time. I recommend only those whose service support I have actually experienced, and let me tell you, with Site Build It, you will be taken good care of every step of the way.
5. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER.
THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THEM ALL.
This option is usually either the first option of a person or company with a product to sell, or the last resort of those so frustrated with the design phase of site building that they just simply give up. When I was learning how to blog, I was so tired of editing stylesheets and php functions I actually cried out, “But all I want to do is post!”
Please read this post by designer Chris Pearson: How Much Should a Design Cost?
While your site will surely have a professional, unique look, the designer you hired will only concentrate on the look and feel. You will still have to provide the ‘meat.’ Your hosting will have to support the design platform he will be using.
And your work will not stop here. There will be the inevitable updates. You will want your site to be found in the search engines without having to resort to a lot of advertising. You will not want to be at the mercy of your designer.
You see, the successful website is not the most beautiful website. The successful website is one that has raving, repeat customers. ‘Raving’ because they will recommend your site to others on and off the web. All site visitors are considered ‘customers’ because there are many different ways of monetizing their interest in your site. The ‘repeat’ or returning customer is valuable because, as in offline businesses, it’s more expensive to attract new ones. It’s easier to ’sell’ your new products to customers who already trust you.
But with so much free stuff available these days, building your own site and having total control over it has never been easier. It is thus important to assess your personal or product requirements: will you be writing articles and reviews, will you need an e-commerce site, will you need a content management system, will you be setting up a forum? All these considerations will help you choose the best solution for building your website.
To learn more about building your site, proceed to the Chuvatech Tutorial
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4 Responses to “How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?”
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great post , learnt quiet a lot .
actually i am new to this blogging thing .
and i need a real website, on which i
can host scripts that do all the stuff them selves
and make me some money .
it would be great if u could tell me where
i can get web host with site building tools and
shopping cart .
thanks anyways .
Hi Jammy,
The web hosting companies recommended in this site have site building tools, and shopping carts and word press installations. Here is the link to recommended web hosts, and with great customer support, too..
Well laid out post. My only issue is with the godaddy reccomendation. They are more expensive and offer less than most other hosts.
But they do have fun commercials!
Hi Wedding Joe,
Call me a creature of habit probably. I have sooo many domains I bought from GoDaddy (at discounted prices, too), and I find their control panel easy to use, plus I like that they have so many freebies to go with each domain.
More importantly, I am satisfied with their customer support service so that I avoid making costly mistakes.