Is a cheap website actually good value?

While cheap web or print design may look like a bargain, it is not always such good value. Your company image is at risk, and the ongoing costs are higher. Read on to find out what separates the amateurs from the professionals and why it isn’t worth cutting corners.

Websites vary in price, as with any goods and services. There are a number of fundamental differences between the bargain basement and top end designers and a number of factors which will affect the price:

Size of the design company
Even before any quality factors are taken into account, a small company will not be VAT registered so will charge less than a company with a bigger turnover. A simple distinction, but using a smaller company can immediately save you a significant chunk of your budget.

Whether the web designer runs a business or a hobby
A designer who is “moonlighting” outside of their day job will probably not be paying taxes on the profits of their work. This will make them around 25% cheaper than a reputable business. However, you may not get an invoice for your work, and then you are unable to claim the expense as tax deductible. While it initially looks cheaper, you will lose out when you come to pay your tax bill. Also, where will your designer be when you need them in six months time? Will they still be designing and able to work with you?

What overheads the design business has
A company with offices in the trendy part of Nottingham will have to charge more to cover their overheads than a company that has more modest premises. Advertising costs a fortune, which you pay for with increased prices. FCS run a virtual office and all our jobs arise from recommendations.

The experience and talent of the web and graphic designers
A trainee or amateur designer will charge less for their work, because it will not be up to professional standards. The graphics will not demonstrate such a grasp of layout, colour theory and well-resolved design. The artwork may be supplied in low resolution that is unsuitable for professional print runs. A professional design will be appealing and balanced. Artwork will be provided in whatever format your printing company need and will look great in print.

Amateur website code may be inefficient and full of workarounds, making your website load more slowly and not display properly on all Mac and PC browsers. Professional code will be standards compliant and CSS based, meaning it will display properly on all devices. CSS styling means that your whole site design can be changed quickly in the future, saving you money.

Price vs Value
These are just some of the variables that affect the price of web and graphic design work. Make sure you are getting value from your design company. This is not always about the price of the work, but in the professionalism and long-term viability of the work carried out. If you have to have designs redone, it ends up more expensive in the long run.

Your website, letterhead or quotation is your first point of contact with the public. First impressions last, so make sure it is a good one! Get a professional web or graphic design company and be prepared to invest in your image – The difference in price is often not worth the small saving to have amateurs work on your company image.

Conclusion
The benefits of good design are that your company image will be professional and the ongoing costs will be lower. These benefits are well worth the investment of working with professional designers.