Website development at a glance
Anyone who has ever asked or researched the cost of developing a website or mobile application knows that the cost can range from a few hundred dollars to several hundred thousand dollars or more. If you don't know much about web application development, this difference in price can be confusing. To explain it as simply as possible, we can compare a website to a car: We know that prices vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as the desired quality, model, options or size.
So it is logical that an off-road vehicle with GPS and voice control costs more than a classic model. The same principle applies to websites: we don't pay for the material, but for the time it takes to implement the project. A simple website can be created in 15 hours, another in 200 hours. It all depends on your specifications.
The following 9 factors influence the cost of developing a website
1. type of website
There are many solutions in web development. The solutions we use for an e-commerce website or the development of an app are not the same as those we use to create a personal blog, for example. For a blog project, you will probably need an expert in WordPress, the most popular content management system, but for an e-commerce website, a PrestaShop or Magento expert will better meet your expectations. Finally, your company may need a customized website due to its unique business model. In this case, the developer will have to program everything from scratch.
2nd draft
This is one of the steps that has the biggest impact on the cost of website development. If you already have templates, the developer will design the website according to your specifications, making sure that the user experience is optimized. Otherwise, it may be better to hire a web UI/UX designer, especially if you want a unique design. The cost of developing your website or mobile application will be higher than if you opt for a ready-made, albeit customized, website template. In fact, implementing a high-quality design can double or even triple the cost of creating a website.
3. cost of the pages of the website
A website can consist of a single page or 500 different pages. Unsurprisingly, the cost of developing a website increases with the number of pages. Consider that an e-commerce website requires one page for each product.
4. integrated payment systems
Your website must be secure to enable trustworthy payments. Most security mechanisms are set up and managed by the payment service provider, but you are still responsible for entering users' personal data. Therefore, you need to secure your website with SSL or, in other words, convert the address from HTTP to HTTPS.
5. integration of the website with another website, mobile application or management software.
Suppose you have an application and a website that offer the same service. If the two are not linked, the user can update their profile in the application, but the changes will not be displayed on the website. The developer can set up a single management panel for the website and the application to simplify management. However, this custom integration can have an impact on the development costs of a mobile application.
6. user registration
There are websites where users can register and create a profile. This enables, for example, the personalization of content according to individual preferences or facilitates sales. However, to set up such a website, it is necessary, among other things, to set up an administration panel and a database, add an SSL security certificate and find a developer who is familiar with creating dynamic websites.
7. language versions
To provide a good user experience, all your pages need to be translated into each of the languages chosen for your website. In other words, your website will have as many home pages, contact pages and product pages as there are languages. This increases the number of pages, makes the structure more complex and affects the cost of website development.
8. setting up a directory or an internal search engine
Although internal search engines are not always used or even necessary, they have the advantage of improving the user experience. A two- or three-page website is fine, but an e-commerce website should always have a search engine so that the visitor can search for the desired product.
9. natural search engine optimization (SEO)
Natural search engine optimization includes all techniques that make it possible to improve the visibility of a website in order to attract visitors via search engines. A natural search engine optimization expert optimizes some technical and editorial aspects of your website so that it is well positioned in the search results of Google and other search engines.
Finally
The cost of developing a website or mobile application depends on several factors, but you also need to budget for maintenance, especially if the website is important to your business model. The content of the website and from time to time also the design should be updated.
Without wishing to be malicious, we should also not forget that failures sometimes occur. Hackers are always finding new ways to circumvent security measures. Make sure you have a developer on your side who can help you with any problems.
We are a leading software development company specializing in the development of innovative solutions that are tailored to the needs of your business and support your growth.
Contact our team if you would like a customized quote for the development of your website or mobile application or if you would like to hire dedicated developers.
