In today’s economy, owners of small to large businesses are constantly looking for ways to save money when it comes to processes and operations, often cutting some corners to tighten their budgets and leave them with more to spend elsewhere.

However, some areas of business may be easier for cutting corners than others – so it’s always worth being super careful to make sure that by trying to save money, you’re not actually setting your business up for spending more in the long run. Short-term savings can be great, but sometimes, looking to cut too many costs right now could mean that you end up paying out much more over time in order to correct things and reach the goals that you wanted to.

Your website is one of these areas – cutting corners on website design can be a grave mistake since your business’ website is the first thing that most people will see when they search for your brand online. Your website is one of, if not the most crucial part of your brand image and can make or break the impressions that people form of your company, the service that you provide, and even the goods that you sell.

So, whether you’re just setting up your new business or have been trading for a while and feel that a website overhaul is on the horizon, your website shouldn’t be on the list of areas where you can cut corners to save some money.

Getting A Website On A Budget:

With so many cheaper options out there for getting a business website, cutting corners and doing it on the cheap can be tempting. But the truth is, you will usually get what you pay for when it comes to your site, and in the future, you might end up paying even more to correct poor design elements or update a site that’s gotten very dated very quickly. And don’t forget that it’s not just about how the site looks – you’ll need to consider how easy it is to use, how fast it loads, whether or not it’s secure, and how easy it is for users to understand the information that you have listed on it.

Some options you might have come across for a website on a budget include:

• Cheap template-based website platforms: Template-based website building platforms like Wix and Squarespace can seem appealing because they promise you a cheap yet professional website that you can build yourself without the need to pay a web designer. But before you go down this route, ask yourself, do you have the skills that it takes to build a modern website for your brand using one of these platforms, or are you selling yourself short? And will your website stand out enough? Don’t forget that if you’re using a template provided by one of these popular website building services then hundreds and thousands of other websites will be using the same one.

• Cheap web design services: if you’ve found a web designer willing to build you a site on a cheap budget, then it’s important to make sure that their work is the kind of thing that you are looking for. Remember that not all web designers are created equal and the reason for somebody charging lower than average prices could be because they only have basic design skills. The last thing that you want is to pay any amount of money for somebody to build you a website that you’re never going to use.

Your Competition Has A Great Website:

Check out the websites of your competitors to see exactly what you are up against. If your competition is online and you’re not, then you are already losing out. Once you do get online, there’s not much point in you having a basic, slow, dated website when your competitors have a fast, modern and secure one. You simply won’t get any business because it’s likely that your target audience is going to trust your competitors’ website a lot more than yours.

You’ll Build Your Brand Image:

A custom-built modern website might well be one of the biggest initial expenses for your brand – but it’s worth it because it provides you with the best platform for building your brand image, especially if your business operates exclusively online. Your brand image is made up of a number of things – it’s much more than just your logo and brand colours. And when they use your website, your customers will be making decisions on how they feel about your brand – for example, a secure website shows that you care about their safety online, while a clean, easy-to-use navigation system lets them know that your brand cares about their convenience and making sure that they find what they need as easily as possible.

There’s More To A Website Than How It Looks:

When you think of getting your website designed, you’re probably focusing heavily on how your website is going to look and feel – and there’s nothing wrong with that because after all, this is the main job of the web designer; to create a website for you that is in line with your brand image and is visually appealing. Visual appeal is usually the first aspect of your website noticed by a visitor and plays a huge part in whether or not they decide to stay and use your site.

However, bear in mind that the visuals alone are not the only part of designing a good website. And when you’re using a DIY website platform yourself, you might not have the kind of knowledge required to make sure that your website is very SEO friendly, for example, how to add ALT tags to images or optimize your content for Google. On the other hand, an experienced web designer is likely to have the SEO knowledge and skills required to ensure that your site has everything it needs to appear highly in search rankings. So, it’s worth paying the extra because not only will you have a unique and interesting design, but also a website that performs well too.

Ways To Pay For A Business Website:

The good news is that the web design world is hugely competitive and, as a result, there are often many different options available when it comes to how you’re going to pay for the site build, management, and anything else that you need. Some payment options that may be available to you include:

• Pay upfront: This is the most common payment option and involves paying a set amount upfront to the web designer. There are not usually any recurring or regular costs involved, however, requesting any changes, edits, or redesigns later on will likely incur an additional cost. How you pay your web designer may vary – you may be asked to pay a deposit to secure the site build or pay the amount in full before or after the website is completed.

• Monthly payment service: More and more web designers are offering a monthly payment service, which can be a useful option for start-ups and business owners who would otherwise struggle to pay a large fee upfront. Your web designer may allow you to pay monthly while they design the website, or they may offer a web building and management service that includes everything you need for a fixed sum each month. This may be contract-based or rolling, and you may or may not need to pay an upfront fee for the service as well.

Affording A Professional Website:

For many small business owners – especially those just starting out – the biggest question is how they are going to afford a professionally built website. There’s no denying that it doesn’t come cheap, but the good news is that you don’t have to leave yourself out of pocket when making this investment. Don’t forget that over time, a good website is hopefully going to pay for itself.

• Monthly payment options: If you can’t afford to pay a designer upfront then look around for one that offers monthly payment plans. Many designers work using website platforms like Wix or Squarespace, which charge monthly and can take a monthly payment to cover the cost of using the platform plus the work that they do. Spreading the cost can make it easier to manage.

• Business finance: If you are applying for a business loan, factor in the cost of building a professional business website when considering the amount you’re going to need to get started. If your business borrowing is restricted, then you may want to consider supplementing with payday loans or other short-term borrowing options as long as you are sure you can make the repayment easily.

• Personal savings: If you’re starting your business with personal savings, then make paying for your website a priority. It’s worth looking to see if there are any other areas where you could save money, to free up additional cash to invest in your site.

Cutting costs isn’t uncommon for businesses – after all, the more money you save, the more profit you’ll make. But when it comes to your website, it’s best to invest!