One simple question, how much is your time worth?

In October 1969, Charley Kline sent the first message over the ARPANET. Twelve years later, there were still only 213 computers on the network. Fast forward 14 years and there were 16 million people online and email was beginning to change the world. In 1993 the first really usable web browser launched and by 1995 we had Amazon, by 1998 Google, and by 2001, Wikipedia. By this point, there were 513 million people online and today there are around 4.66 billion internet users worldwide. To summarise, having a website for your business, is a must... Whether you are just starting your small business venture or you are a large established business - you should have a website. But how much does it cost to build a website? The truth is, the costs vary greatly. You can build your own website for free on some DIY website builders or you can pay a designer to build one for you - the cost of this can reach well into the thousands of pounds. But there are some questions that you should take into consideration before making a decision;

• How much time spare time do you have?
• What is your budget?
• What do you want to achieve with your website?
• Will you be able to create the website you need on a DIY site?

It may seem like a cost-effective idea, but the truth is, it will cost you more of your time. So you should answer this simple question. How much is your time worth? Factor in how much of your time is going to be spent building your website and work out the cost using your hourly rate. Then compare that to the price The Web Guys will charge you for building you a professional website. We think you will be pleasantly surprised. With many businesses increasing their prices as a result of the rising cost of living, now might not seem like the right time to be thinking about paying out for a website. But fear not, we are not putting our prices up! The cost of our websites will remain £29.99 + vat per month. For less than a monthly phone contact, we will;

• Build you a high quality, professional website
• Offer you full training and 1-2-1 support with our main tech guy Jon
• Include secure hosting
• Include a FREE .co.uk, .com, .net or .biz domain name
• Help with back up and updates
• Include a free ToolBox account

If you are still not convinced, why not talk to us today and let us show you how we can help you with your website. If you need help and assistance with a brand new website, then why not schedule a 1-2-1 chat with our Web Guy Jon? He can talk you through all the ways you can make your website work. We hope that you got value from our blog post to help with your business. If you are looking to create a new website or your current site need updating then contact our director of business development Gary on sales@thewebguys.co.uk to take your online presence to the next level. We can help you to create a top-quality website that you can use to sell your products or services – we will help you to get your website up and running and advise you on how to really make the most of your website >>> Get started today.  

How to Calculate the Real Cost of Building Your Own Website

To understand if a DIY website is truly cost-effective, you must first calculate what your time is worth. This isn't just for freelancers; every business owner's time has a value. Follow this simple process:

1. Determine Your Hourly Value: If you bill clients by the hour, this is your rate. If not, take your desired annual salary and divide it by 2,000 (roughly the number of working hours in a year). This gives you a baseline hourly value for your core business activities.
2. Estimate the Time Commitment: Researching, learning, designing, and launching a simple business website on a DIY platform can take anywhere from 40 to 100 hours for a beginner.
3. Calculate the Opportunity Cost: Multiply your estimated hours by your hourly value. For example, if your time is worth £50 per hour and you spend 60 hours on the website, the true cost to your business is £3,000. This is time you could have spent on sales, marketing, or serving clients.

This calculation reveals the hidden financial cost of a 'free' DIY website and provides a clear figure to compare against the price of a professional service.

Common DIY Website Builders and Their Time Demands

The term 'DIY website builder' covers a range of platforms, each with a different learning curve. Understanding these differences is key to estimating your time investment.

• Wix: Known for its drag-and-drop interface, Wix offers high flexibility. However, achieving a truly professional and unique look can be time-consuming, and its vast options can be overwhelming for new users.
• Squarespace: This platform is famous for its clean, modern templates. The trade-off is less design freedom. You will spend less time on the basic structure but more time adapting your content and brand to fit a pre-defined layout.
• Shopify: If your primary goal is e-commerce, Shopify is a powerful tool. However, setting up products, payment gateways, and shipping options requires a significant time investment and a steep learning curve compared to a simple brochure website.

Each platform requires you to learn its specific system, manage your own security, and handle troubleshooting, all of which adds to the total time cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About Website Costs

What are the hidden time costs of a DIY website?

Beyond the initial build, you must account for ongoing time commitments. These include performing software updates, troubleshooting technical glitches, managing security, creating regular backups, and optimising your content for search engines. These tasks can easily consume several hours each month.

How long does it take to learn a DIY website builder?

For a user with average technical skills, expect to spend 10-20 hours just learning the basics of a platform. Mastering it to create a polished, professional site that functions well on all devices can take considerably longer, often 50 hours or more.

Is a monthly website fee better than a large one-off payment?

A monthly fee often includes services that save you time, such as hosting, security, support, and maintenance. A large one-off payment to a designer might cover the build, but you may face additional costs or time commitments for ongoing support. The best option depends on whether you prefer to trade a predictable monthly cost for your own time.

What's Included in a Professional Website Build?

When an agency or freelancer quotes a price in the thousands, it covers far more than just a visual design. Understanding the breakdown helps explain the value compared to spending your own time. A professional build typically includes:

• Strategy and Planning: Defining goals, target audience, and user journey before any design work begins.
• Custom Design: Creating a unique design that reflects your brand, rather than customising a generic template.
• Technical SEO Setup: Implementing foundational search engine optimisation, including title tags, meta descriptions, and site speed optimisation.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Ensuring the website works perfectly across all devices, from desktops to smartphones.
• Training and Handover: Providing guidance on how to manage and update your new website yourself.

These elements contribute to a more effective online presence and save you the significant time required to learn and implement them correctly.