Cheap website design - what is it?

Cheap. It can be a dirty word, but it's also a price level us kiwis all hunt around for daily. When it comes to a service, does cheap mean any worse quality? It's a question that is definitely worth asking - in any product you purchase.

In our mind, the answer to that question lies behind the product or service. If you are purchasing clothing for example, and it is made by the same people, in the same design, just without a fancy label - you'd certainly jump on board and know the lower price was a great deal. When it comes to website design, the same thought process should take place. Why is this company able to offer cheap website design? In our industry, you're largely paying for one of a number of things:

• The software behind the end result
• Expertise and skill level
• Location & overheads
• Man power and hours put in
• Whatever value the company has arbitrarily put onto the service/product

The difference between a $1,200 website and $12,000 website will largely fall into one of those categories. If you've got a highly complex development that needs lots of smart software developer hours, then that will bump the price up. But if you're just looking at a reasonably standard informational website, then you really shouldn't be paying an absolute arm and a leg. Just as an example, let's have a look at how 543 gets to our 'cheap' website design prices:

• Software: we've chosen a content management system that makes it much quicker for us to build a site. As a happy bonus, it's also really easy for you to edit - and it doesn't compromise on function and looks.
• Expertise: websites are what we do everyday - so we don't skimp on that. However, it's a horses for courses scenario, and we obviously don't put a hugely advanced and expensive developer/coder on a simple website. We are smart where we put our resources.
• Location: if you outsource overseas you'll get a great deal, but sometimes the results can be dubious. By being based out of Napier we don't pay big city rent and rates, so you get the best of both worlds. A kiwi on the other end of the line, but lower overheads for the business.
• Hours put in: we definitely design smart. We don't compromise on quality, but by using a CMS that the average Joe can edit in, we keep our design hours low. We really listen to what our clients want, so don't spend hours doing the wrong design. We also have absolute faith in our ability to produce a great result, so don't charge by the hour.
• The price we chose: this is where most of our lower price comes in. We made a conscious decision to make websites truly affordable for small New Zealand companies. We aim to produce high end results at a third the price of our competition - and that's always been our motto. A clear, set fee, no surprises, and a brilliant result.

Personally, we always try to steer clear of that phrase 'cheap web design'. Why? Because the quality of our websites isn't cheap, the result doesn't look cheap, and our clients certainly aren't cheap. Rather, we'd like to think we are the smarter choice. Affordable, friendly, New Zealand web design that gives your company the internet presence it deserves.