Website development pricing -- what's the norm these days?

[Flaxbee]

"Simple" static site, maybe 5 pages.

What if it's a commerce site (say, sales of shoes) - lots of graphics, selling infrastructure, etc.?

What if you include social media, SEO, etc.

Trying to help a friend figure out pricing - prices will determine how complex the site is at the beginning - and while we can search the intertubes, I'd appreciate any metrics I can get here.

Thanks much!

[Chan790]

1. That's difficult.

It's very much a details thing, there's no way to answer the question with limited information and give you accurate quote. A piece of advice whoever you go with: don't choose primarily on price, choose on portfolio too. Choosing a website designer on price alone is like choosing a plastic surgeon to do a boob-job on price; you're going to regret it when the end-product looks funny and is on public display.) and what the back-end of the website looks like. (There are a lot of very talented website developers here on DU and I always encourage DUers supporting/hiring DUers. Post in DU Marketplace requesting PMs, discuss your needs, ask for portfolio and solicit some bids.)

For anything past a simple static site, you're going to want to talk CMS (Content Management System) as even though it costs you money upfront, it'll save you money in the long run as you'll be able to update content yourself. Both Drupal and Joomla! are open-source, free software (it doesn't mean the web-designer isn't going to charge you for set-up (because CMS are a pain to set up), only that the software is free.) and easy to use. I personally hate WordPress, I think it makes a terrible website CMS. Someone will try to talk you into WordPress because it's idiot-proof...it's also got crap functionality though because it's idiot-proof.

CMS is more important than Social Media, SEO or Web-Marketing because you can get by at-first on those with a book and self-teach. (and I say that as someone who has worked in Social Media Marketing) It won't do you well forever to self-manage but it's something people worry about way too much, way too early. Get the business up and running, establish the website and get it how you want it, make all the mistakes and iron out the kinks...then worry about view-metrics. Word of mouth and reputation matter more...if your business sucks and you have a big social-media footprint all you have is a lot of people that know you suck because it's on the Facebook walls of their friends.

[Flaxbee]

2. thanks Chan -- appreciate the input.

I know much more data is needed for an accurate estimate. Just wondering what the range is so she doesn't get hosed. I know there are *very* cheap options, around $100 or so, but those no doubt are outsourced website-farms with no real consultations about look, feel, etc.