In this article we  look at what WordPress actually is, What does Website design and build look like and lastly the associated costs.

WordPress software

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create, manage and publish a website.

WordPress is one of the most popular CMS in the world and used by approximately 43% of all websites. 

When thinking about your Web design project it is important to establish early, what other hidden costs there maybe, examples of these include Plug in purchases, Theme builder App purchases, Domain Hosting costs, SSL certification costs.

WordPress uses a series of Plug In applications to enhance functionality on websites, some of these apps come with an initial cost and annual renewal fees. 

The Business Detective uses WordPress because put simply it is the most user friendly and widely used CMS in the world.

Yes, there are other CMS providers like Wix and Joomla but we have found WordPress to be the best for the services that we offer.

Website Planning

For almost all Businesses, having a Website is a non negotiable. The cost of having one however can vary greatly dependant on a variety of factors including:-

1. Size of your business

2. Type of Website required i.e. Brochure, Portfolio, E-Commerce

3. Size of the website required (how many pages)

4. What type of features are required on the website i.e Social Media integration, Online payment, Customer database…

5. Whether you would like a bespoke design for your website or are you happy with a pre designed theme.

As a general rule of thumb, the larger the website, the more complex the build and the more creative the design, the more the project will cost.

The Business Detective recommends that you budget carefully for Website Design, Website Support and any SEO services that you require. 

As part of the project planning, We will always ask you about your budget, we cannot tell you how many times Businesses have not considered this as part of there Business plan and financing, as we set out at the start of this article, it is a non-negotiable.

Website Design

Here at The Business Detective the first stage of any Website project is the planning. As part of our planning we will ask our clients to complete a Web Design brief.  This is a series of questions focused on the following headings:-

1. What services are you interested and what are the objectives of the project.

2. Tell us about your business.

3. Design. This is an opportunity for you to set out whether you are looking for a new website design or a rebuild of your current site, key features and considerations for your website including which websites do you like online.

4. Website Support & Maintenance. This helps us to understand the level of support required post website build.

5. Search engine optimisation (SEO). A key part of any website build is ensuring that it is user friendly, Search engine friendly and responsive.

Once we  understand your exact requirements we will write a Web Design proposal from our HQ in Suffolk. This is a detailed quote and will include details of the project along with projected timescales.

Once the project is agreed, then its time to get to work!

Website Build – How Much does a WordPress Website Design Cost in the UK?

Website development can take time. In our experience providing professional WordPress website design can be separated into the following categories:-

1.Basic Websites. Usually a brochure style or portfolio web design with up to 5 pages (Home, about, contact, category, product/service) will cost around £500-£1000. These websites are usually good for new start-ups or micro businesses.

2. Small and Medium sized Enterprise Websites (SME). These Web Designs often have more than 10 pages and require additional functionality from a basic website. On average they cost from £750 to £1750.

3. Mid Range Website design. Websites requiring E-Commerce, online booking & payment systems, custom integrations and membership systems. Average prices range from £750 to £5000.

4. Websites requiring bespoke features like API support.  The Business Detective does not offer these functions.

How do we establish a price?

There are many factors to take into consideration in this regard. The Business Detective charges an hourly fee for Website design in Suffolk.

The figures provided in this article are approximate and based on previous customers.

In order to provide further focus we have set out what is required as part of a Basic WordPress Website design to showcase how long it is likely to take:-

1. Website planning (1-2 hours)

2. Website build – This is likely to include Template design for a landing page, header, footer, Contact, About us, Category and product/service. (5 – 15 hours)

3. Adding Content – Copy and pasting content from a current site or created by yourself. This can be completed efficiently at a rate of 4 to 5 pages per hour (1-2 hours)

4. On page SEO (Optional) – Helping to ensure every page has a good readability rating, headings have been added, images named properly, internal links considered. A 5 page website can be completed in approximately 6 hours.

5. Technical SEO (Optional) – Meta data, WordPress plug in updates, Responsiveness etc (1-2 hours)

Summary

If you type “Web Design Suffolk” into Google you will see hundreds of Companies offering Website design. They range from Web Design agencies with significant staffing structures through to ‘one man band’ freelance designers.

The Business Detective is a small website development company, we have a small team of two, we do not provide graphic design services but can outsource any bespoke design work required as part of any website development project.

Deciding which Web design agency to choose can be truly daunting, especially if you are a new start-up with a fixed budget and the prices and options that you see, vary so greatly. 

Sometimes working on referral can be an excellent way to go, recommendations from Friends, Family or colleagues. Here at The Business Detective we get alot of our business through Referral. 

We specialise in providing WordPress Website design to individuals linked to careers in the Public Sector and looking to start up a new business.

Whatever your journey, if you are considering a new website or the redesign of an old one, we would recommend that you contact us as well as one or two other businesses to really understand what is on offer and which company is the best fit for you and your digital project.

We hope that this article helps in understanding some of our processes and costs and offers an insight into the world of The Business Detective.