Web hosting companies like Google Cloud offer managed services that can help you with your online presence. But if you're looking at a one-off project or want an individual who handles the day-to‐day running of your website in addition to regular updates, then there are many ways you could go about this yourself.
If you've got a static HTML page, you'll need little else but some basic knowledge of front end frameworks such as Bootstrap (and perhaps jQuery) to keep things up to date. If you use Wordpress, you may be able to find plugins that will handle most issues without needing any coding skills.
However, if you want something more robust than these options, you might consider hiring a professional web developer to take care of the whole shebang.
That said, there's no reason why anyone has to hire a full time employee to look after their own website. There are plenty of people out there offering website management services – whether they specialize in just content creation or also include design or SEO work - and we’ve rounded up all the best ones below so you can compare prices before signing anything away.
While the average price of website management is around $50/hour, there are obviously going to be outliers on both sides of the spectrum. So, let’s start by taking a closer look at what exactly goes into maintaining a website.
The first thing worth considering when deciding how much money to spend on website upkeep is simply how long you expect the site to last. A simple blog won't require ongoing attention beyond updating its content every now and again. But if you're operating a multi-page shop selling products direct to customers, then you'll definitely need more frequent checks.
As well as making sure everything looks good and functions smoothly, you'll also need to check the security settings on each page and ensure none of them pose a threat to visitors. That means checking for malware, taking screenshots of suspicious pages and removing links which lead back to malicious sites. These tasks usually fall under the remit of a dedicated IT specialist, although sometimes a freelancer will be called upon instead.
In fact, even if you don't have a large enough budget to employ a team of experts, it doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in keeping your website safe. You'll still benefit from having access to tools that allow you to scan your files regularly and catch problems early. And while you're not likely to encounter hackers trying to break into your server, you'll certainly see less traffic to your site over time if it isn't frequently updated.
So, how much would you typically pay for someone to perform those same duties? The answer depends on several factors, including experience level, location and whether you'd prefer to contract through an agency or directly with an individual. This guide breaks down the costs associated with various levels of service, allowing you to determine whether outsourcing is right for you.
It really comes down to personal preference here. Some people feel comfortable delegating certain aspects of managing their site to others while others prefer to stay involved themselves.
You can hire someone to either create new content or provide general support, depending on your needs. Depending on where you live, you might choose to pay someone to carry out other specific tasks too, such as writing articles or designing logos.
For example, a freelance writer might charge anywhere between £5 and £15 per article depending on the length of the piece, whereas a graphic designer will probably charge more based on the amount of hours spent working on a particular task. However, bear in mind that while the rates above reflect typical hourly charges, they aren't set in stone. It pays to negotiate whenever possible and always ask for references to prove previous work was completed satisfactorily.
Another common way to save money on website maintenance is to avoid paying monthlies or annual fees altogether. Instead, pay for only what you need. For instance, if you only want a few extra tweaks made to your site once a week, then you could sign up for a weekly package rather than committing to a longer term deal.
This approach works particularly well for smaller businesses who wouldn't normally be expected to cough up cash upfront for website management. Many providers will give you a free trial period during which you can try out their services and decide whether they suit your requirements.
There are two main types of website owners that exist today: agencies and individuals. Each option requires different skill sets and responsibilities.
Agency models tend to involve larger teams of specialists with expertise across multiple disciplines. They often operate within strict budgets and deliver projects according to agreed timelines. In return, clients receive comprehensive coverage and expert advice.
Individuals, meanwhile, focus primarily on providing high quality customer service and rely largely on their own resources. Their role involves handling everything from creating the initial layout of the site to performing routine backups and monitoring analytics data.
Each model offers advantages and disadvantages. An agency might be cheaper initially but the added overhead of staff and administration increases the overall cost. Conversely, an individual can build relationships with their client base and become personally invested in their success. Yet because they lack industry standard certifications, they may struggle to attract higher profile jobs.
Ultimately, the decision lies with you. Which route makes sense given your current financial situation and future plans?
We've already discussed what it takes to oversee a website yourself, but what about getting someone else to create it for you? How much should I pay someone to make a website for me?
Depending on your location, you may be able to find skilled developers willing to work for a flat rate or on an hourly basis. Prices vary widely depending on the scope of the job, ranging from $20-$100+ per hour.
Alternatively, you might consider enlisting the services of a template builder tool like Canva or Squarespace. Both platforms let users upload images and text together with custom CSS code, resulting in finished layouts that are ready to edit immediately. To save hassle, these templates come complete with built-in navigation bars, social media buttons and email contact forms.
Whether you opt for a DIY approach or turn to professionals, remember that the process of building a fully functioning website can take months. Before starting off, therefore, think carefully about whether you want to commit to a lengthy commitment or whether you'd prefer to wait until you know you need another website.
One final note: If you're planning to launch a new venture, you may be better off finding a partner who specializes in launching digital marketing campaigns. While you could potentially learn the ropes yourself, this type of work tends to be highly specialized and unlikely to appeal to beginners.
If you're looking into getting your own website but aren't sure what the actual price is or if you can afford one at all, we’re here to help! We'll answer any questions about web design services so that you know exactly what's involved in setting up a website—and whether or not you can actually afford it.
We've also got some advice on choosing between different types of hosting plans as well as tips on finding affordable domain names. If you want to learn even more, check out our article on how much a new website will cost. And if you need to find ways to lower those costs, read through this list of common mistakes made by newbies who think they don't have enough money to start their own businesses.
The most expensive way to run a website is probably with an online store. This isn't surprising since there are lots of things that go along with selling products over the internet like customer support, payments processing, shipping logistics, and marketing efforts. But just because something seems complicated doesn't mean it needs to be costly. In fact, many people prefer having a simple, static website rather than trying to build one themselves (especially when they're first starting out).
So while it may seem crazy to spend $200+/month on a website, keep reading below to see why it might still be worth paying someone else to take care of everything for you. And remember, if you decide not to use a service after seeing their prices, they won't hold anything against you! You only owe them whatever amount you paid them up front.
One big difference between building your own website versus hiring someone to handle the work is payment method. When you create your own website, you'll likely end up using either Wordpress or Squarespace which both come with free templates and tools that allow users to easily add content.
But once you hire someone to host your site, you'll usually need to sign up for a subscription plan or buy a dedicated server. The latter option comes with higher upfront fees, though you can save money by signing up for longer-term contracts.
Another thing to consider is the number of pages you need on your site. A basic blog with no other features could theoretically fit onto a single page. However, if you want to sell physical items or offer a storefront where visitors can purchase goods, then you'll definitely need multiple pages. Each additional page means extra hosting fees too. So if you need 10 pages instead of 5, expect to pay around $10-$20 more each month.
And finally, the type of website matters too. For example, if you're launching a brand-new startup company, you may not necessarily need a full-blown eCommerce platform. Instead, you'd be better off focusing on a simpler landing page with links to social media accounts and maybe a newsletter signup form. It would be best suited for startups who already have a strong following before they launch their product.
However, if you're making changes to existing sites, you're going to want to look into upgrading those platforms to accommodate your growth. Otherwise, you risk losing traffic and potentially your customers. Also, depending on your industry, certain CMSs (content management systems) are better than others.
For example, if you're working within the fashion or tech industries, Shopify and Magento respectively are very popular choices. They're easy to use and provide plenty of customization options. On the flip side, Wix is great for creating basic websites without needing extensive knowledge of HTML & CSS coding.
In general, these two categories tend to range anywhere from $5 - $100/mo while the rest fall somewhere in between. Keep in mind that these figures change based on your location, country, and overall size of your audience. For instance, a smaller niche market has less competition and therefore fewer potential customers. That makes it easier to negotiate rates down.
While there are many factors affecting the cost of maintaining a website, it's important to note that you shouldn't always assume that larger companies will have cheaper website management prices simply because they're bigger. Many times, large corporations will invest heavily in their infrastructure and employ highly skilled workers. As such, they'll often end up spending more to ensure quality control and user experience.
Of course, if you run a small business, you'll want to compare quotes yourself and determine if you can afford the service. Just be aware that there are many variables that affect the final rate. Some examples include bandwidth usage, number of pages, and SEO ranking.
Additionally, some hosting providers will give discounts to students, retirees, veterans, and nonprofits. These discounts typically apply for annual subscriptions only so you'll have to contact each provider individually to request them.
Setting up a website involves adding various elements including a domain name, email address(es), and hosting account. While it sounds pretty straightforward, the process varies wildly depending on which software or tool you choose to use.
It's possible to set up your entire website entirely manually using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and cPanel. But unless you have years of programming experience under your belt, you'd probably be better served sticking with a reputable third party app or system. Here are three popular ones:
WordPress: WordPress is arguably the easiest way to set up a website regardless of skill level. Simply install the plugin and follow the instructions to finish the setup process. Once complete, you can customize your theme and layout however you please. Plus, WordPress allows anyone to edit its code, meaning if you ever wanted to switch hosts later on, you wouldn't have to worry about transferring your files back to your previous host.
Squarespace: This drag-and-drop builder offers tons of customizations and themes for the lowest monthly fee ($4.95/mo)! It's especially useful for beginners who want a minimalistic approach to website creation. The downside? There are limited template options compared to WordPress and competitors like Wix.
Wix: Another competitor to WordPress and Squarespace, Wix lets you pick from hundreds of beautiful prebuilt designs. Though it requires some technical skills to get started, the interface is intuitive and beginner friendly. Plus, it includes a mobile version for smartphones and tablets. One drawback? Most of the layouts require a premium package upgrade to access advanced editing capabilities.
Sure! Even though designing a professional website takes time, it's completely manageable if you're willing to put forth the effort. But there are a few key differences between doing it yourself vs. outsourcing the task. First, if you're planning on developing your own website, you'll want to understand how HTML works before jumping right in. Second, you'll need to factor in the cost of learning the necessary skillset. Third, you'll definitely need to budget for ongoing project updates.
On top of that, you must take into consideration how long it'll take to develop your idea. For example, if you're expecting thousands of visitors every day, it may be impossible to meet demand without investing significantly into growing your team. Or perhaps you're launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds and you need to focus solely on writing copy until the deadline arrives. Whatever the case may be, it's smart to estimate how long it will take to reach your goal. Then, subtract one week for unforeseen delays. Finally, divide the remaining time by 365 days to figure out how many hours you'll need to dedicate weekly.
Now, let's say you hired someone to handle your website development tasks while you took on the role of managing the whole operation. The next step is to calculate how much you should pay them. To begin, multiply the estimated total hours needed by the hourly wage you feel comfortable offering. Next, add another 20% to cover unexpected expenses and/or unanticipated setbacks. Now, round the total to the nearest dollar and voila! Your weekly salary is officially determined.
Remember, it's totally fine to ask for a discount if you worked hard to convince your client that you're the perfect fit for the job. After all, you did earn it! And if you didn't receive a satisfactory response, you can always try again. Ultimately, you don't have to settle for less than fair value.
WebFX is a premier independent source for valuable technology solutions, expert consulting, and relevant resources directly to consumers. Our mission is to empower everyday people with the practical skills to improve their lives and realize their fullest potential. No matter what problem you have, we've got an answer.
Managing your own website can be very rewarding if you're confident with the technology involved. There are times when hiring an expert is necessary but not always the best option. If you want to save money or outsource some of the work, here's everything you need to know about managing your website yourself.
You've probably heard that it's cheaper to use managed hosting services like HostGator or Bluehost than to host your website yourself. While this may be true in many cases, there are other factors that will determine whether using a service provider is right for you. And while we'll address these concerns later in this article, let's start by looking at what exactly goes into running a website.
It depends where your website is hosted. If you choose to go with a DIY (do-it-yourself) approach and create your own website, then you'll likely end up paying somewhere between $10 - 15 / month to host it. This includes bandwidth usage as well as basic server resources such as CPU time and memory allocation. You can also purchase additional features including email accounts, databases, SSL certificates, security plugins, etc., which all add onto the price tag.
If you decide to use one of the many web hosts available today, most offer free plans starting at around $5/month or less. The only exception would be companies who sell their products through affiliate programs, because they often require higher limits due to the nature of their marketing campaigns. For example, Amazon affiliates typically require 10GB of space and 100Mb of transfer each month. However, even though these prices aren't cheap, they still make sense for medium-sized businesses that don't mind spending extra cash every year to keep growing their online presence.
However, if you plan to launch a new product line or increase traffic significantly, you might consider outsourcing the job instead. As mentioned above, there are plenty of affordable options available ranging anywhere from $25-$100 / month depending on the level of expertise needed.
For instance, Shopify offers unlimited storage and bandwidth for its hosting package, making it perfect for those just getting started with an eCommerce store. It also has built-in analytics tools so you can monitor sales and performance without having to spend any money on third party solutions. In addition to this, you can customize colors and fonts within the platform itself, allowing you to easily change things like images or text to match your branding needs.
Of course, there's no shortage of similar platforms offering comparable services. BigCommerce, Woo Commerce, Marketplaces, Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Netlify, SiteGround, and others all offer customizable eCommerce stores that include SEO capabilities, custom domains, advanced reporting, easy content editing, and much more. Some even provide integrated payment processing options so you won't have to worry about dealing with credit card fees.
In short, there are numerous reasons why someone could benefit from outsourcing their website management duties instead of doing them themselves. But before you jump head first into this decision, take note of two important facts. First, it takes very little effort to build your own website. Second, it requires patience and persistence to grow an audience over time. So if you lack the latter skill set, you'd better look elsewhere.
The amount you'll ultimately pay for website management depends on several factors. These include your budget, current experience level, desired results, and the type of skillset required.
Let's say you plan to invest $300 to buy a domain name, install WordPress, and connect it to your existing social media profiles. After that, you'll need to find a reliable person capable of maintaining the site day in and day out. To help put together a realistic estimate, think about how long you expect to continue working on it. Will you be able to dedicate 20 hours a week to keeping it updated? Or will you need to hire someone else to cover certain tasks when you're busy with other projects?
Once you answer these questions, you can figure out the total number of hours it will take to complete all of the tasks listed earlier. Next, multiply that number by the hourly rate you're willing to pay. For our example scenario, we'll assume you can afford to pay $50 / hr. Finally, divide the result by 12 since you'll be working six days a week. That gives us an estimated annual salary of $4200.
As you can see, this method relies heavily on assumptions, especially regarding how much time it takes to complete various tasks. If you feel uncomfortable estimating based off your past experiences, you can always ask potential clients directly. They'll give you honest feedback about the quality of their previous interactions with different people.
To learn more about how to calculate website management rates, check out this post detailing how to value freelance work. Also, read our guide to finding and interviewing professional freelancers to ensure you're maximizing your investment dollar.
There are multiple ways to measure the overall cost of managing a website. One way is to simply add up all of the expenses related to running your account. Another is to break down the process into smaller components and assign individual values to each step.
Here's an overview of what you'll typically encounter once you sign up for a hosting solution:
Domain registration fee ($12 - $35): Typically paid upfront when purchasing a.com domain.
Website builder subscription fee ($20 - $40): Usually charged annually, this covers access to templates, themes, plug ins, and other design elements.
Hosting (shared and dedicated servers): Depending on the size and complexity of your website, shared hosting usually starts at around $7 / mo. Dedicated servers start at approximately $15 / mo.
Email setup & configuration: Email accounts generally range from $3 - $6 / mo, although larger providers sometimes charge upwards of $40 / mo.
Security plugin subscriptions: Security plugins come in varying levels of functionality. Basic ones allow users to password protect pages and restrict visitors' ability to edit files. Advanced versions allow administrators to limit IP addresses, track user activity, block bots, and more. Generally speaking, premium plugins tend to cost more per month than their entry-level counterparts.
Content management system (CMS): CMSs enable you to upload and organize content via drag-and-drop menus. Popular examples include Wordpress, Joomla!, Drupal, Magento, Prestashop, and OpenCart. Most of these systems come with preinstalled templates and theme packs that you can download and apply immediately after installation. Many also offer additional extensions that enhance the platform further. Premium packages generally begin at around $30 / mo.
Automation software: Automated scripts written in PHP, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Perl, C#, Java, Objective-C, and various other languages can automate repetitive processes across multiple sites. Examples include Google Analytics integration, automatic backups, automated site updates, RSS feeds, page caching, image optimization, and more. Prices vary widely depending on the extent of automation requested.
Analytics tool: Once installed, these applications collect data about traffic sources, visitor behavior, and conversion rates among other metrics. This helps you identify areas of improvement and gain valuable insights into customer preferences. Pricing varies greatly depending on the vendor, but some packages start under $100 / yr.
Reporting tools: Reports generated by these tools show trends in visitor behavior, conversions, engagement stats, and more. They can also be used to optimize landing pages and improve search engine rankings. Companies like Kinsta, FullStory, and StatCounter all offer various reports and dashboards designed specifically for optimizing digital assets.
Social media integrations: Connecting your website to popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Reddit, Snapchat, Periscope, Vimeo, and more enables visitors to share posts and engage with you more actively. Each network comes with a separate pricing structure. For example, Facebook charges advertisers $1 / 1000 impressions, whereas Instagram allows publishers to reach users for free.
SEO optimizations: Search engines like Google and Bing constantly evaluate your website's visibility on the internet. By implementing changes to keywords, meta descriptions, titles, alt tags, URL structures, etc., experts aim to boost organic ranking positions. These improvements can drastically affect revenue growth by attracting targeted traffic.
When considering the list above, remember that not everyone requires all of these services. Your goal shouldn't be to acquire every single feature possible, but rather focus on acquiring what you believe will generate positive ROI.
While hiring someone to handle your website may seem appealing, it isn't always the right choice. Here are three major points to consider before deciding.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.