Building a website is a lot like building a house. Whether you’re building a brand new website, planning a refresh or wanting to get some updates done – we’ve got the analogies to make it easier for you to understand the process.
Custom VS Template Websites
We get a lot of people asking us why it costs thousands of dollars to get a website when some other companies or freelancers online are charging only hundreds. Well, building custom houses usually cost more than off-the-plan houses.
Similarly, building a website that specifically meets your business’s needs and requirements will cost more than building a website that is based off a template. It requires more labour time and planning as well as in-depth research to create a custom website.
Website Refresh
Sometimes you want to change the look and feel of your website. This could be for aesthetic or functional reasons.
Like remodelling your house, you may just be after a new look and get your furniture replaced with new ones. Or maybe you may want to get rid of that extra living room and turn it into a library. Depending on your what you’re after, the cost of a website refresh may vary.
Wireframing
It’s essential to get the structure and layout of the house right before it starts being built. You would usually have an architect or planner with a prepared blueprint document. Same goes with websites. We need to get the elements and user interface right, ensuring that the way elements are set out makes sense for yourself and the user.
Domain & Hosting
Just like a house needs a plot of land to build on, websites need an address (domain) and an area (hosting server) to build on. There are many domains and hosting providers on the internet.
Add-Ons/Changes
We would aim to include everything that the client requires in the concept designs and planning sessions before we head into development. Changes to a website after the development phase has started usually incurs additional fees.
Often, customers would ask, “Why the additional fee? Don’t you just click a few buttons? Adjust a few lines of codes?”. During a house build if you want to add additional features the cost of labour will increase as it usually requires additional resources and structural changes.
This works the same for website builds. Each project has certain hours allocated in the budget. Additional elements or effects may require adjustments in the code structure as well as the designs.
Content Development
Content is crucial for a website. You want it to look appealing and be relevant to the viewer. Similar to getting furniture and decorations for your house, you can either do it yourself or source someone to do it for you. It all depends on what you’re after and whether you have the resources to do it well.
Quality Assessment
Before you move into your new home, you’d usually have a walk-through inspection to do final checks and ensure that everything is up to standard. We also do a final check on our websites and encourage our customers to do the same. If something isn’t right – we will adjust it before we launch the website.
Security & Maintenance
One of the things that a lot of people forget is the cost associated after a website is built. Most people think that once a website is built that’s it. That the website should always work and if something goes wrong, they shouldn’t need to pay additional fees. After a house is built and you move in, you’d have friends and family over. You’ll have to do house cleaning regularly. Otherwise, the house will be filthy.
Sometimes bugs and rodents start gathering, and you’d have to call a pest control guy. Nobody knows where they come from. On the internet, after some time, bugs and glitches may occur, and we will need one of our developers to go through the site and do some updates and cleaning.
Your house may also get broken into if security isn’t tight. There are various things you could add to your home: screen doors, secure locks, security cameras, etc. The more secure your house is, the more things you require to purchase and add. Same goes with a website. We don’t intend for your website to be easily hacked, but higher security means more services are required.
Advertising & Marketing
You now have a beautiful website that you can invite your friends and family to view. Let them know it’s there.
…But did you build a home or a shop? Is it enough that your friends and family know about it or do you want actual customers visiting the place you’ve just built? There are many different ways you can advertise your website from Google Ads to social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook.
Do some research into who you want to visit your website and decide on which marketing platform you should use.
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If you have additional questions, please send them through to us. We hope our analogies have been helpful and good luck with your website build.
