How Much Should Web Design Cost?
That's a great question. And the truth is, much like a lawyer, artist, or even a good restaurant - it just depends on what you want. I used to roll my eyes at the old adage "you get what you pay for." But I've come to terms with that and believe it really is true. Now, determining the value of what you get for what you paid is something different. Only you can determine that.
Asking "How much does a website cost?" is about as general as asking "How much does a car cost?" Sounds kind of funny, right? But the only way to answer either of those questions is by making a list of what you want and determining what you are willing to pay for those features (leather seats and navigation or high quality design and search engine optimization).
In our world today where you can seemingly get everything for free, one must also keep in mind that "you get what you pay for." Free is great as long as you don't care about certain things (leather seats and high quality design. Otherwise, you should expect to pay for the things that make a website great.
Here is my list of 5 key features of a great website:
1. Effective design (does the design tell your story and reach your target audience?)
2. Usability (can the site be used by a "dummy"?)
3. Scalability (can your site be expanded to meet your future website needs and goals? Can it grow as your business grows without having to rebuild it every 6 months?)
4. Mobility (is your site mobile device friendly?)
5. Findability (ok so maybe that's not a word - but you should be asking yourself "can people find me online?")
Consumer Challenge
Contrary to the commercials you see on tv and hear on the radio, websites take great skill, knowledge, and hard work to be effective. The guys that sit behind the computer all day using Photoshop or the ones who dream in code are well worth the rates they charge. I would challenge you to find someone who charges $15/hr and have them do a project for you. Then hire someone who charges $50+/hr and see who delivers a better quality product.
I bet you get what you pay for.