Like everything in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to web services. Think of your website like a car for a second; what kind of car do you want representing you? I bet you didn’t say that $500 71 Ford Pinto you saw for sale on that sketchy used car lot. So why would you let the website equivalent represent your company? The same standard applies for SEO, would you let your friend’s brother’s cousin who’s a shade tree mechanic rebuild your engine if it blows? I know I wouldn’t.
So what’s a quality website cost? Well, that’s largely going to be driven by what your budget allows. No matter what your budget is, make sure you get it right the first time. There can be nothing worse for a business in this day and age than a terrible website. Most potential customers will get their first impression of your business from your website. If your website looks like a kindergarten art project or is broken, chances are you will lose the sale. That’s not saying you have to pay tens of thousands to get a proper website but it’s not something you should cut corners on either. That guy who has a handwritten sign on the street for a $99 website, yeah he’s not your guy. You only get one shot at a first impression so you had better make sure it’s a good one.
What about SEO? Again, the services you can afford will be determined by your budget. However, if you cut corners here and go with a $300/month SEO service chances are they are doing more harm than good to your website and web presence. A general rule of thumb should be; if they guarantee quick results, it will probably come back to bite you in the end. This, in the long run, will cost you significantly more when you have to pay someone to fix their mistakes. If you can’t afford a quality SEO on a monthly basis then find a way to make your budget work. It doesn’t have to be monthly ongoing SEO, it could one off projects or you could get a SEO audit and do the work yourself. There are many ways to stretch a small budget you just need to find the strategy that works best for you and your goals.
So what should you pay for these services? Specific numbers will always be determined by your budget, your business, your website and so much more. I can however tell you that in this industry you always get what you pay for. If you try and cut corners and take the cheap route, it will cost more in the end.
