Having a functional and clean website should be a priority for every business in today’s world. However, we do understand the fear behind investing in a big website build while stock and staff need to be paid for first. Developing your online presence though is easy once you spend smart, not big. Even for small businesses, WordPress development cost is the single best way to keep spending low, while delivering fantastic results within your site.
Even on a shoestring budget, you have the ability to build an amazing website. WordPress is a simple platform to develop on, and is the most used web development tool globally. According to WP Beginner, you can even get you up and running for as little as $100.
Although we love that idea, it may set you back just a little more though. Here’s exactly how much it’ll cost you to get online with WordPress. And if building a site seems like an effort, why not let us help you out?
WordPress Development Cost: Getting Your Business Online
There’s no easier way to get online than with WordPress. You can pump your own content into pre-set themes, create pages and manage everything even as a novice developer. There are some on-going costs though, so lets break everything down, in conjunction with Startups.co.uk.
The Cost of WordPress Itself
WordPress websites are available through either WordPress.org or WordPress.com. WordPress can be either downloaded for free from WordPress.org or, alternatively you can opt to use WordPress as a hosted service by using WordPress.com.
The single biggest difference between the two is in the hosting of your website. This is the first factor that affects WordPress development cost.
WordPress.org is the version where you host your own website. Generally, this is more suited to skilled developers with at least an entry-level of technical knowledge. Hosting isn’t a massive challenge though and many feel it’s a better option for those that want greater control over their site.
Downloading the software is free, but this doesn’t truly represent the cost of a WordPress.org website. You’ll need to install it on a server and take responsibility for hosting. You’ll also need to do all the grunt work in terms of finding or building your own theme, researching specific plugins you need – which all of course cost time and money.
Alternatively, WordPress.com is a hosted service where the server is fully managed by WordPress. You don’t need to download the software or manage hosting.
This option is popular with many bloggers due to the light workload. However – businesses tend to opt for WordPress.org websites due to the strict limitations associated with WordPress.com. For example, you’re restricted by the number of available themes and limited functionality and as such, customisation is finite.
As a result, we personally recommend exploring .org options. It may require a little more research and work at first, but you need total control and flexibility over your website. Build something bespoke, that truly represents you – it’ll pay off tenfold in the long run.
Domain Name
Regardless of what of what course you take, you’ll need to now secure the right domain. This is the name and address to your website, so give it some thought. We’ve discussed some things you need to consider when picking your domain, so don’t make this decision hastily. In many cases, the address of a website can make or break its success.
Domains range in cost greatly. You can pick one up for a couple of euro, or invest heavily if you’ve a long term strategy on something recognisable. The more popular the name, the bigger the price. For starters, just try and secure your business name, keep it simple and you’ll be fine.
Try and secure multiple countries and suffixes (.ie, .co.uk) and if you’re lucky, you might even get a .com!
Hosting Services
As already mentioned, building your website using WordPress.org requires hosting. For the level of traffic a small business will require, this cost will range between some pocket change to €100 per month. Although service and price will differ greatly, steer clear of discount or cheaper options.
Ensure your providers have a good reputation, with stable servers. What good is it in having a website, if it crashes once a week? That means lost leads, bad impressions and hair pulling frustration. You don’t need to opt for the most expensive, but spend what you can on hosting.
Checkout some of the best web hosting services of 2017 to give you an idea where’s good to look.
WordPress Themes
Using WordPress.org, you will be able to access thousands of different web design templates, otherwise known as themes, that you can buy online and install for as little as under €50. Themes are fantastic as they offer a customisable yet structurally sound framework to enter your own content into.
Change imagery, text and add some plugins, and you’ll make a theme your own easily. If you’re struggling with your development though, you can always find a developer to fine tune your efforts. In many cases, small business owners layout all the foundation work, and then employ the knowledge of a skilled developer for the final push.
This labour can hike up your build costs, with hourly rates ranging from €20 to €150 depending on who you contact. To be honest, if you stick at it you’ll manage just fine – but get in touch if you’re feeling lost.
Plugins
Similar to themes, plugins enable even novice users to completely change how their website can function. You can implement specific functions and tools into your site quickly and easily. Although there’s free versions of many plugins, never go for the cheap options. They’ll simply cause problems and hassle in the long run.
Overuse of plugins can also increase loading times of pages. This is a nightmare for SEO and UX so don’t over rely on them. Use only what you need, research everything and acknowledge that you’ll get what you pay for.
WordPress Development Cost: Ready to Get Started?
If you want a quick recap, this is what you need to remember:
- com manages hosting and might be more suitable for absolute novices. You’re majorly restricted in customisation and overall management of your site though.
- org is the best option for those who want to actually have a bespoke and functional website at a low cost. And it’s free!
- For .org users, you’ll need to manage your own hosting – this bears an individual but recurring cost.
- You’ll need to pick up a good domain name. Invest in the best option possible.
- Use themes to create functional sites that you adopt to make your own. Identify what structure will best suit your site and purchase it.
- Plugins are great for specific functions but overuse will slow your site. Only use what you need and buy the best version of what you need.
If you want to pursue the route of eCommerce, employing a developer might be wise. The more intricate your build, the more help you may need. Keep it simple though and just get a few pages live to get up and running. When you start to see an ROI from your online efforts, put more money into and and expand your functionality over time.
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