Useful to know about web design services – FAQs

Here are a variety of common questions and answers we get asked related to working with us to create a new website. There is a separate similar FAQ on eCommerce, a Hosting FAQ and a WordPress FAQ you may also be interested in.

How long does it take to build a new website?

We generally find the average small site project takes about 2 months. This does depend largely on your availability to provide us with the information we need at the start of the project and provide feedback as we move through it. We have completed a project in 2 weeks when asked to while others have taken many months but it is not usually dependent on us.

Who writes the content for my website?

Generally you. You know your business better than we do. But we do not expect you to do it all yourself and we will provide guidance if you need it.

As SEO is very much dependent on content then it is important that your content is focused on keywords and we have quite a lot of guidance on this in our copywriting and SEO articles.

If you are unable to write much of the content yourself we may be able to write some for you or provide you with a contact who can write good marketing copy for you.

How much does a website cost?

This depends very much on the size of the website and its features. However, as a guide, most of the straightforward brochure websites we build for small businesses cost between £1000 and £2000. Very simple ones can be cheaper.

High-end sites can cost significantly more depending on the level of design required, the number of pages, how much help you require with content, additional functionality needed and the level of initial SEO effort required. Typically a ball-park cost of £5000 to £10000 may be appropriate.

Why are you so cheap/expensive?

We have been told we are both of these. It really depends on what you are comparing to.

I know you can get a very cheap website but it will probably be based on a simple template and you probably will not get the support and guidance you need. How much time and effort do you think can go into a website that costs only £250 or £500? We want you to have a great website that works for you, is focussed on your clients, is search engine optimised and a mobile optimised.

We also do not sub-contract the work to cheap offshore companies – you get us.

I also know there are plently of agencies that charge significantly more for a similar job. They operate with significant overheads and big salaries to pay regardless of the available work – I have been there myself.

When do you expect payment?

For website design projects we ask for 50% of the expected cost up front and the balance on completion. For expense items such as domains, hosting, software we charge on purchase and they often need annual renewal.

Do you accept credit cards?

No. Sorry.

Do you do finance?

No, but if you really need to spread the cost I am sure we can come to some mutually acceptable arrangement.

Will I be able to update the site content myself?

Yes if it is a WordPress site we provide (most are as it is our preferred solution).

Will you update the content for me?

Yes. If you have an ongoing support and care package, small changes are included. If not, still yes but there is likely to be an hourly charge.

Will you provide ongoing support?

Yes. We will provide free unlimited support for the first 30 days after the site goes live.

After this we are happy to provide ongoing support and care packages for £50 per month for small sites and £100 per month for larger or more complex sites. This will include looking after the software and keeping it updated, managing backups, fixing any problems that arise, providing support and guidance as you need it and making small site changes you request.

If you do not want this level of support we will provide free telephone or email support (during our normal office hours) to answer your queries and provide guidance.