Your business website is often the main contact point between you and your customers. Thus, it’s vital that this site looks visually appealing while being user-friendly. Unfortunately, as web development costs a lot of money, many businesses decide to opt for a rather simple and less appealing website look.
According to MonsterInsights, even a simple website can cost you up to $500 to develop. However, the more features you add to the site, the more the total cost will go up.
Forbes reports that business websites (up to 16 pages) can cost you around $2,000 to $9,000 to develop. Thus, it’s easy to see that building a business website is not going to be cheap. Even then, there are a few ways to avoid this cost problem.
In this article, we’ll look at a few ways you can get a visually appealing business website on a budget.
Choose a User-Friendly Website Builder
One of the most budget-friendly ways to create a visually appealing website is by using a user-friendly website builder. WordPress and Wix are popular options here. You can also give Squarespace a shot. All of them offer pre-designed templates as well, making it easier for you to customize them according to your brand’s aesthetics by yourself.
Of course, website builders have pre-developed themes and templates, meaning that they are very common. Thus, in case you want something a bit unique, consider hiring dedicated web designers for small business ventures.
These web designers or firms won’t cost you a lot of money. You can work with them on a budget to develop a site that’s unique, appealing, and has all the functions you want. There will be a few compromises, but at the end of it, if you plan things right, you’ll get the exact product you wanted.
Besides, according to Operation Technology, these web designers offer web design packages for businesses working on a budget. These packages will make it easier for you to decide what exactly you want them to build from scratch. The rest you can either do it yourself or import from an existing template.
High-Quality Imagery and Graphics
Visual content plays a pivotal role in making your website appealing to visitors. While professional photography and graphic design can be expensive, there are budget-friendly alternatives. You can use stock photos and graphics from reputable sources like Unsplash, Pixabay, or Canva. Many of these platforms offer high-quality visuals that are free or available at a low cost.
When selecting images and graphics, make sure they are relevant to your business and align with your brand’s message. Avoid using generic or clichéd visuals that might make your website appear unoriginal. If possible, invest in a good camera or smartphone to take high-quality photos of your products and services, giving your website a personalized touch.
Optimize for Speed and Mobile
A visually appealing website should not sacrifice speed and mobile-friendliness. A slow website might even be the death of your business’s online presence.
According to EarthWeb, the average loading speed of a website is around 3.21 seconds. Websites that load slowly can impact 82 percent of a consumer’s purchasing decision. Thus, the slower your website, the more customers you’re likely to lose.
To ensure a fast website, optimize your images and avoid using large files. There are many online tools you can use to optimize the size and format of your files and images and make them website-friendly.
Make sure the website is optimized for device responsiveness as well. People should be easily able to access the website from mobile and other handheld devices. Therefore, the site should be optimized such that the visuals and functionalities don’t get distorted on those devices.
Implement Visual Storytelling
Visual storytelling is a powerful way to engage visitors and make your website more visually appealing. Instead of relying solely on text, use images, videos, and infographics to tell your brand’s story and convey your message.
With visual storytelling, you can create an emotional connection with your audience. For that, have videos on your site that showcase your products or services. Those videos should include customer testimonials as well. That way, you’re not just selling something to your customers but are telling them exactly why they should buy it.
Visual storytelling helps you make your ads or branding efforts more human. That way, as customers can relate to those stories, they will be interested in purchasing from your business.
Conclusion
Web development need not be very costly, as you can tell from our discussion above. Therefore, if you’re building one on a budget, stick to the tips above. Not only can you save money then, but you’ll also have a visually appealing website for your business.
