Need a website that you can edit and control yourself, without the high costs?

These are the top 5 things you must know before planning a new website.

Whether you are a start-up business, small business, larger enterprise, or anything in between, this is how to get the perfect new website that you can edit and control yourself!

Here at XDC we’ve spent many years showing our clients many exciting ways that they can use their brand and website, in tandem, to quickly and easily improve their business results.

A good website can be used by any business to increase sales, boost profits and create a surprisingly effective competitive advantage, but it needs to be done well.

Websites can be one of the greatest tools for a business, but if you go down a path that is not a good match for your purpose and budget, it can be an expensive and time consuming nightmare. Buying, migrating or upgrading a website can be tricky, simply because sometimes ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and that can make it difficult to ask the right questions. So to help you out, I have put together this guide of what you need to know...

1/ Can I update website content myself?
Yes, but I need to ensure that you will have access to edit 24/7 on the fly. This is achieved by software which is called a Content Management System or CMS. Regardless of whether you intend to edit and upload the content of your website yourself or hire someone to do it for you, it’s important that your website is built on a CMS so that it is easy for you to make changes. 

This is considered as best business practice in website development for any businesses and has become common these days. It is something very important to consider because if your website isn’t on a CMS, it can create a lot of expense later on when you’re wanting to make even a small change. You will also want to make sure that the CMS is an industry standard platform and you also want to make sure that it’s easy to use and that good training and support materials are available to you. XDC + Wordpress makes it so easy for you to control your site! 

2/ Keeping it all in one place!
It’s very helpful and convenient to be able to simply have one company handle everything that relates to your website and online presence. 

Additional services are anything that will support your business and your online presence. That could be graphic design services, copywriting, domain names, hosting, support, and online or offline marketing. You want to know that the company you’re dealing with can offer you a full range of services that relate to your website and business in general, and that they have good solid marketing skills.

At XDC, we believe your website is an investment in the future of your business and you are going to want to make it work for you. Plus it’s going to have a life cycle alongside your business. It’s a long-term project for you and as you develop your business, you will want to make the most out of it using different services like XDC offers, to help promote your business, as you grow professionally. 

3/ Keeping it Local!
It’s always great to support and buy local goods and services, however in the web design industry there are a couple of other things to consider above and beyond simply supporting a local business.

Within the web design industry there is a temptation to go straight to the ‘big boys’, however this is often at the expense of the customers experience as there can be time delays, communication issues, and in my experience, they just won’t understand you as a local or small business.

Having local support and service means that the company you are dealing with will understand you as another local business, will be working in the same business hours as you and any problems are more likely to be resolved quickly and easily.

In addition to this, your website will load faster if it is on an local server. Even some New Zealand web design businesses use overseas servers which means that your web page needs to travel further when loading which can create a frustrating time lag for your prospects. 

4/ Making you website Mobile-Friendly
Most people have a smart phones or tablets now, right?
Well in my opinion, that’s where your website has to be, delivering your content beyond the desktop. This is the new standard and your website should be compatible, plus retain your rankings. Ever pinched and zoomed in on a conventional website on your smartphone and thought how frustrating that it’s and hard to read? Avoid that bad user experience with your website and have happy customers. We recode your web content to be compliant with mobile devices. That means your site simply sells your wears and gets you found faster. If your site is easy to navigate and looks great, this guides prospects to you quicker. 

5/  What should I expect to pay?
A question we often hear is – “how much should I pay for a website?”. Prices can range a lot, you can get a website for as little as almost nothing and just pay for hosting, or the price can go all the way through to $30K and beyond. One of the interesting things about the web design industry is that you can get quoted a considerably different amount for the same job depending on the company that is quoting you. Unlike others, at XDC we ask questions like “how do you want to use your website” and price your quote as accurately as possible, specifically for your requirements.

When looking to purchase anything there can be a temptation to go with the cheapest option. You can buy websites from between $300-$700, however it is important you understand what you are purchasing as these products always have limitations. Another important thing to consider with these products is that they are often out-of-the-box solutions and you won’t get the consultation and customisation that can be important so that the website is best serving your business interests. 

These cheap options can still work for some people, but not for all. To a degree the saying “you get what you pay for” holds true in the web design industry. However there is a point where the price just keeps going up and the quality of the work or expertise doesn’t justify the cost.

Obviously price is highly dependent on the specific functionality that you require, but if you have a budget of between $1,200-$2,000, you should be able to get a professionally designed and developed website for your business. eCommerce websites are a different story...

The best way to look at a website is that it is a long term project and an investment in your business. If you are prepared to pay a little extra, choose the right specs and create the best user experience for your website, then this can be an asset and money making tool for years to come.

We design and develop it, you rock it!
We love the web, shouldn’t your customers love your website too?!
We believe a responsive new website is the best way to experience growth and we are here to support you.

Experience the future of website design today.

For more info, grab a copy of “XDC’s Unfair Website Advantage”.
This 20 page document is designed to help your business get more business from your website! If you would like a copy, fill in the form and I can email a digital copy or post a hard copy to you. You’ll learn six proven strategies to make your website a highly profitable marketing tool for your service business.  

What would you do with more business?

First impressions count – is your website up to the mark? 
Book in today for a free 60-minute web design consultation around your current website, company logo, brand image and supporting material over a coffee.

In this session we will discuss how to get your “creative business advantage” from your brand and how to make your website really perform for you.

This may include…
? An assessment of your current website or need for a new website
? Logo design and brand image.
? See how your brand image stacks up compared to others in the market.
? Look at your current marketing message and material in terms of branding: web, print and signage.
? Recommendations on how to make your company look like a winner, online and offline. 
? In general, discuss creative ideas and means on how to get you more business through various promotional graphics and activities.

Contact Clint today on 021 11 44 014 or email [email protected] now.