For those new to web development who are looking to create their own business website, you may be wondering how much building a website costs in the UK. With a fear of exorbitant hosting fees, complex coding languages, ongoing website maintenance costs, it is no surprise that many inexperienced website owners may feel overwhelmed by all the elements of the website build process.
Fortunately, though, creating a website or ecommerce store in the UK need not be costly or complicated. By taking some time up-front to consider how much you’re willing or able to spend on your site, as well as planning ahead for its development, you will be well on your way to getting an online presence, or online store, without overly large costs.
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What Will My Website Need?
Building a website is a complex process, and each step requires careful thought and planning. Firstly, you will need to think about the key elements of your business website and how to ensure it runs smoothly. Some of these key elements include:
- Acquiring a domain name
- Selecting a reliable web hosting provider
- Determining the best website builder (especially when you need an ecommerce website)
- Creating quality content
- Ensuring website security
- Optimising your site with good web design
- Search engine optimisation (SEO) and marketing strategies
You can find varying costs for each of these necessities depending on the complexity of your small business website and the provider you choose. Taking the time to research different providers will help you make sure you are getting the best value for money, as well as ensure successful and high quality outcomes.
What Is A Domain Name?
A domain name is an online web address for your website or online business. It is essentially the identity of your online business and a key aspect of your brand, so it is important to choose the right one. When selecting a custom domain name, make sure it is relevant to your business and that it’s easy to remember – something catchy, meaningful and succinct. You may need a web designer to help you create branding and a logo based on the domain you choose
You can get a domain name from a reliable hosting company or registrar such as GoDaddy, The UK Domain or Names. You should check if your preferred domain name is available in various extensions such as .com or .uk. You must also check to see if the domain name, or variations of it, are available or if they have already been taken.
How Much Does A Domain Name Cost?
To purchase a domain name, costs depend on a variety of factors, including how prestige or in demand the domain name is, the registrar company you use, the package you choose, the length of time the domain is registered for and any other options, such as email addresses, that may also be required. On average, the cost of your domain name could work out at around £10 to £30 per year, though some may offer a free domain within the first year.
What Is A Web Hosting Provider?
Every website is stored and accessed through a server provided by a web host. These physical servers operate from the web hosting provider’s premises and are managed from there. The web host server allows for anyone to be able to search for your website and view it online.
There are several different types of web hosting and some of them include:
- Shared hosting: multiple websites using the same server and therefore sharing resources.
- Virtual private server (VPS) hosting: a server with multiple websites that is been split into virtual servers so that you do not have to share resources.
- Dedicated hosting: one dedicated server for your website allowing you complete control of the server settings.
- Cloud hosting: access to several remote servers which means your website performance will not be compromised.
The type of web host you use will depend on your company website’s individual needs. For example, large websites with a lot of traffic would benefit from a dedicated hosting server so that the performance is not interrupted by other sites on the server.
Small websites and start ups, however, would benefit from a shared hosting server as you will not have as much traffic and can therefore take advantage of a simple, more cost-effective set up. If your small business starts to grow, you may then think about upgrading to a VPS hosting server and increasing your ongoing website costs.
How Much Does A Web Hosting Provider Cost?
Again, the cost of a web hosting provider will depend on the provider and the type of host you choose. Naturally, with shared hosting being the most basic option, this is also the cheapest with plans ranging from £2 to £12 per month.
VPS and cloud hosting servers, on the other hand, range from £8 to £50 a month, and dedicated hosts are the most expensive, starting at £60 and going up to £400 per month.
The vast differences between each type of website host and their correlating prices means that it is important to think about your own business needs and budget before deciding on an action plan.
What Is A Website Builder?
Using a website builder is an increasingly popular way to create and manage a website. Popular examples of website builders include WordPress, Wix and Squarespace. These web building platforms allow almost anyone, with even basic computer skills, to customise their own websites.
Website builders work by providing a user friendly interface where you can select the desired format, layout and customisation options for the site from pre-existing templates. This allows users to easily add content like text, images, video or audio files rapidly and with minimal coding skills.
Most website builders are quite intuitive and easy to use and offer an efficient way for everyone, from novice to professional web designer, to build high quality website pages quickly and easily.
How Much Does A Website Builder Cost?
Depending on the plan you opt for and the platform you choose, website builder prices will vary. WordPress has plans starting from £20 per month for a small website/blog, Wix has premium plans from £9 per month, and Squarespace will cost you from £12 per month for a basic website or £23 for a site with ecommerce capabilities.
If you need your site to be a bespoke website and tailored to your branding or ecommerce needs then you’ll probably need to hire a freelance web designer/developer to customise elements within your website builder.
Creating Website Content
Having a well-designed website is not enough if you want to succeed in the online world – the content must also be engaging and interesting to attract potential customers and keep your audience coming back for more. You will want to ensure each page conveys a clear message and tone of voice that relates to your brand and products.
For smaller, simple websites, it is possible to keep your costs down by writing all of the content yourself. However, for more complex websites, it is a good idea to hire someone who can help, especially if you want to create images, videos or other engaging content.
The cost of website content, therefore, really does vary depending on the word count, the amount of pages, image or video requirements and who you hire. You can find lots of freelance content creators on websites like Upwork and Fiverr and most will charge on an hourly basis or per project.
What Is Website Security?
Website security is an important aspect of any business, as it ensures that sensitive data and information is protected, and customers feel safe doing business with the website. Without appropriate security measures, a website can be vulnerable to malicious activity, including attacks from hackers and scammers.
To ensure your website is safe, you should invest in a high-quality web hosting solution with reliable, secure servers. Additional security steps such as using an SSL certificate to encrypt communication between the server and client are recommended to create an even safer environment for your users. For added security protection you should also run regular vulnerability scans to detect any weak spots in your system’s code, continually update software and plugins associated with your site, and restrict user access to sensitive areas of the website.
By implementing proactive steps in your website security, you will go a long way towards making your website safe and protecting customer information.
How Much Does It Cost To Ensure Your Website Is Secure?
The cost of an SSL certificate depends on the length of validity – generally you can pay for an SSL certificate monthly or buy a yearly plan for a discounted price.
You will also have to consider your individual needs and do your research beforehand. Small websites and blogs may only need to pay as little as £15 per year for an SSL certificate, whereas large e-commerce websites that take require input of personal and confidential information like credit card details could pay up to £170 per year. Depending on the provider, you may also need to pay a small fee for installation.
What Is SEO?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a practice used to make websites more visible on search engine result pages. Websites use SEO in order to attract more traffic and conversions, allowing it to reach its maximum potential. By optimising keywords, particular phrases and backlinks to relevant content, SEO enables businesses to reach the appropriate audience and provide them with valuable information.
With SEO, businesses can establish their online presence while getting detailed insights on their target market, leading to an improved user experience. SEO is an essential element of any digital marketing strategy given its significant relevance for increasing website ranking, visibility, credibility and sales.
For these reasons, businesses needing to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape must invest in SEO to compete effectively and gain an edge over their competitors. Without this, you have a poor chance of becoming visible on search engine result pages.
How Much Does SEO Cost?
While SEO costs may seem like a huge chunk out of your wallet, it does pay off in the long-run. You may choose to hire professional SEO services and they will work with you to agree upfront costs and a pricing schedule that is based on your unique needs.
Alternatively you can search for a freelancer with SEO specified in their skillset. Depending on their level, you may expect to pay £50 to £75 per hour.
It is possible to outsource this work to countries like India, the Philippines or Bangladesh. This way you can save a lot of money and still work with a knowledgeable and skilled individual, however, do bear in mind that English will be their second language.
Whether you decide to go with a targeted SEO company or a freelancer, it is vital that you look closely at their portfolio and client reviews to ensure you are engaging the services of a trusted individual or company with a proven track record.
Things To Consider For Small Businesses
When creating a website, small businesses need to take into consideration the target audience and purpose. You should spend time researching the content that best meets your needs, as well as the best tools and content management system to build, design, and populate the website. At the same time, consider carefully where costs can be saved – are you able to write some of the content yourself? Can you learn to operate a simple website builder and easily use the CMS yourself?
On top of that, you will need to think about the user experience that visitors will have when navigating your website. An intuitive website with fast loading speed is essential for any small business aiming for success. However, you don’t need to splurge on costly dedicated hosting – usually shared hosting works well for websites that are just starting out.
Additionally, investing in a catchy and memorable domain name is important so customers can easily find the website, and building an effective SEO strategy will help to drive more targeted traffic and can go a long way in boosting your business’ value. To do this you’ll have to consider a content strategy, which can add to your costs if the content is not going to be created in-house.
Ultimately, creating a meaningful and customer-centred professional website with excellent user experience requires careful planning combined with creative solutions.
Final Thoughts on Website Costs
So, how much does a website cost in the UK? All in all, the costs of a small business website can vary significantly depending on the company providing the service and the bespoke website requirements that a business has. It is important to shop around and assess several providers to get an accurate sense of the cost breakdown, as well as overall value for money.
Being informed to some extent on all aspects of a website build is essential, particularly when it comes to costs, so that you can create an effective and professional looking website or shopping platform. Researching all available options thoroughly and considering both the pricing structures and features provided, you are bound to be able to find a suitable solution within your budget.
Also remember to take into account any annual maintenance costs or additional fees that may be relevant as these will need to be added to your initial upfront website costs when it comes estimating the overall cost of creating and running a business website.
