WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF A WEBSITE?

The cost of a website is bound to be a sensitive subject. It's pretty easy to get tricked when web development isn't your job. There are many facets to take into account when costing your web project. Short guide to get an idea of ​​the real cost of a website.

Phase 1: analysis

You have a great project in mind: very good. Now we will have to work upstream of Website Development Company in Dubai to understand exactly what you want: do you want a static site? Manageable pages in the back office? Do you want to be present on social networks? Do you rely on search engine traffic? Can users register? Is there online payment? Do you want to manage invoices? Automatic reminders when due? The management of unpaid bills?

In short, you will have understood it, the questions are numerous and a website or a Website Development Company in Dubai it is designed according to the needs, whether it is yours or those of your users.

This step is called analysis and allows:

Identify needs,

Define the scope of your project,

To design your solution: functionalities, architecture.

In terms of costs, this essential phase mainly requires time if you have a technical profile, or can be expensive in euros if you decide to outsource this process. It depends entirely on your project and your maturity in its implementation. Know that nothing prevents you from working simultaneously on your business model, your digital strategy and this analysis / design phase. They are in fact very complementary.

Phase 2: development

Development is the tip of the iceberg: it is what makes it possible to produce your Web solution. We usually only think about this phase when we encrypt our project and it's a big mistake, we'll see it later. To cost the development, there are tools, for example web-costing, but you will have to rely mainly on your common sense because no tool will accurately describe what you really want.

Indeed, the encryption varies according to the technologies used (open-source, owner, compiled, interpreted), the team employed (ssii, freelancers, web agency), the level of security, the stability of the application, the quality of the code Source etc. Once the development has been estimated, have you really fully costed your project? Unfortunately for you, I'm afraid not.

First, you will need to add the testing phase after development. Allow 15 to 20% of the total development time to make a recipe covering your entire perimeter. Next, plan for the release and management costs of the environments. We often forget that a developed site must be put online at one time or another ... Finally, don't forget that a website is just an empty shell! Your project deserves a budget that matches your ambitions, and this budget must be invested in the communication and animation of your Web platform.

Phase 3: dissemination and communication

Who will come to see your awesome website if you don't take the time and money to promote it? You will have to devote a significant part of your budget to digital or conventional communication. Your communication involves writing press releases, articles in the digital press, blog posts, advertising broadcasts, presence on social networks, in short, important work awaits you to make your project known.

On the animation side, two facets must be taken into account. On the one hand, you will have to animate your community: news, competition, news on your platform, related articles, so much content that will allow you to keep in touch with users; on the other hand, don't forget that your customers are Internet users who will complain on social networks and on forums if they are not satisfied. You must therefore plan a budget for Internet monitoring.

Phase 4: maintenance and upgrades

That's it, you are known! Visitors flock and your project take off. But you are not immune to disillusionment ... Indeed a website that does not evolve is a dead website. You will therefore have to devote your budget to the animation of your project as well as to the realization of the evolutions which will guarantee you:

Better service,

Satisfied users,

Wider distribution

The evolutions can be technical: change of architecture, new technologies, performance optimization; or functional: design improvement, user experience ergonomics, etc. Maintenance operations are necessary to keep your project up to date and to develop your concept.

As for the animation of your project, it takes several forms:

Rich editorial content: blog posts, videos, slideshows, etc.

Community management: relationship with your community, taking into account user feedback, buzz management.

These costs are often forgotten which is a serious mistake because they will allow you to develop your project and guarantee its sustainability.

Conclusion

We took a quick look at the different costs associated with a Web project and its lifespan. A website is not only development costs, but also costs of design, maintenance, upgrades, communication and distribution. Think about it as you embark on your new web project!