Free websites: Let's dispel some myths

Published by Incomedia in Web design · Thursday 19 Jan 2023

If there's one thing I hate when I ask a specific question - for example: "How much does it cost to create a website?" - expecting an equally clear answer, is to hear, in spite of all my desire to simplify, a vague "It depends".

Yet, to be completely honest, sometimes it's the only answer that makes sense because, effectively, the cases can be numerous and varied to the point that they can't be lumped into just one category.

So if you're really asking me how much it costs to create a website, you might as well resign yourself. My answer can only be "It depends," and now I'll explain why.

The main types of websites

It's easy to say "website", but what's really behind this simple word? A diverse world, comprised of many types of sites, each with its own characteristics and objectives. It goes without saying that, differing in complexity and size, websites also entail different construction and maintenance costs.

We've already discussed how many types of sites exist. Let's recall the main ones and try to define what types of costs they might entail:

Blogs

Since they first appeared on the internet, blogs have experienced ups and downs, and today (despite those who predicted their disappearance) they're extremely popular because people like them - especially Google.

In itself, starting a blog is quite simple and not very expensive. A few static pages and a good template are usually more than enough to get started.

Difficulties and costs are actually hidden in the creation of content and maintenance over time. The success of a blog, in fact, lies in the quality of the content it offers as well as in the frequency and consistency it manages to maintain.

One-page websites

A website isn't always a group of pages. Sometimes it all boils down to a single page divided into sections: one piece of content per section, one after another, with anchor links in the navigation menu.

A one-page website doesn't suit every situation, but it's perfect for when you have a small amount of content to communicate, and you want to create a site that's relatively simple yet impactful.

In the end, a one-page website means you only need to create one page rather than many. The costs are more affordable, and the site will be online even faster.

Institutional sites

This is the classic showcase site in which companies or institutions present themselves. The goal is clear: to provide all the information and contact details necessary to make yourself known to users and allow them to get in touch.

These types of sites, which don't have dynamic parts (such as blogs, private areas or stores), are still relatively simple.

Here, the costs can begin to rise, mostly due to the research related to the image you're looking to convey (the layout must be carefully defined in addition to the text copy) and the number of pages that need to be created.

Sites with product and/or service catalogs

A company's website should not be just a business card but a true working instrument. For this reason, it's often augmented by a presentation of the catalog of products and/or services offered.

It's important that everything is presented in the best possible way, and obviously as the catalog grows, so does the cost of production and site maintenance.

Online stores

It all begins with a simple online presence, progresses to presenting one's products and/or services and naturally arrives at selling online. An e-commerce site must be a "machine" designed and optimized for sales: a mechanism designed to present, convince and reassure the customer.

Among all websites, an e-commerce site is the most complex and the most expensive to create, although it varies greatly based on the specifics of the project.

Cost elements

Given that costs vary according to the type of site you're looking to create and, more generally, to the complexity of the project, which elements contribute to increasing the budget?

Domain and hosting

This is the first expense for any type of website. No matter how simple or complex it is, in order to go online, a website needs a domain and a webspace.

The domain is the URL, the address that users will enter into the browser bar to find your site.

The server space (hosting), on the other hand, is where all the files and any databases that make up your site will be hosted.

The baseline costs for domains and hosting are not that high. You can find plans that offer good value for money for just a few euros a month. Obviously, the plans then increase to meet more specific needs.

Graphics and design

On the internet, looks matter, and how! A website must be attractive, captivating and functional. You can achieve great results even if you're not a graphics expert by relying on a template. There are many, and they exist for a wide range of sectors. They can be free or paid but, generally speaking, their costs are quite low.

The alternative is to rely on a professional. In this case, you'll have a website with a more unique appearance that's perfectly in line with your wishes, but in order to get it, you'll need to be willing to pay more.

Content

Once the template has been taken care of, the fact remains that you'll need to fill it in, and to do so, you'll need content. Content can consist of images, text, galleries, videos and animations, etc. The important thing is that it's always high quality.

Just to give an example, you can use completely free stock images, purchase them or opt for a photo shoot. The investment changes, but so does the result. Evaluate according to your budget and your goals.

Development

We're now at a critical point. With clear ideas and the template and contents ready to go, the site can be "assembled". But how? Here, too, the paths are different: from the least expensive, done by oneself, to the more complicated, which is entrusted to a programmer or a web agency.

Here again, there's no right solution, but simply the most appropriate solution for you. Consider your level of preparation, the time and budget you have and, above all, the goals you're looking to achieve.

Maintenance

We tend to forget, but even after the website is published online, the work continues.

The website, in fact, must be kept up to date at various levels:

Technical - Things change on the internet, and only constant updating guarantees adequate levels of compatibility and security.
Graphics - Those who visit a website may think the company is also "old" or "outdated" if they believe the website that represents is such.
Content - Whether for contacts, timetables, products, prices or events, people should find only updated and correct information on the site.

This maintenance work also entails a cost which, obviously, is lower if it's not delegated to third parties.

Beware of free websites

So, is the promise of creating a website for free nothing but a lie?

No. There are online services that allow you to do this, but are we sure this is really the best way to go?

After all, a website is like a suit. You can decide to spend €5 for a t-shirt at the local market, €50 for a shirt in a shop or €250 for a tailor-made shirt. All three alternatives can work. It all depends on what you're looking to achieve.

At this point, it should be clear that, in principle, the more important your website, the more you should be willing to spend and invest.

Do this exercise with me. Try answering these three questions:

Why do you need a website?
Is it just a project in your spare time or is it related to your professional activity? Is it for fun or are there interests at stake?
What kind of website do you want to build?
Do you need a showcase site, a blog, an event site or an e-commerce site? Do you need just a few relatively simple pages or are you aiming for something more complex that'll need to be kept up-to-date over time?
What are your goals?
In your strategy, do you need this website to make yourself known, to grow the brand, to acquire leads or to sell?

It will also be clear to you that the more the website grows (in complexity and also in terms of importance within your strategy) the more it deserves to enjoy the appropriate investment in order to get off on the right foot.

Our solution: WebSite X5

Once you decide that your website deserves an investment, you can begin looking for the solution that allows you to achieve the best results for the least investment in terms of time and money.

The answer to your search is WebSite X5. With this software, you don't need to be an expert or know how to program. It's easy and intuitive and allows you to instantly create websites complete with blogs and e-commerce carts that are perfect for mobile devices and optimized for Search Engines.

WebSite X5 has no fees or subscriptions. You simply purchase a license and the software is yours forever. Plus, you can use it to create as many sites as you'd like: for yourself, your friends or your clients.

In addition, WebSite X5 gives you 12 months of free web space and automatic domain registration.

Consider the benefits:

You won't need to depend on anyone.
You can create, customize and update your site as you see fit.
Using the predefined templates and wizards, you'll end up with professional pages.
You'll save time.
You'll save money. Do the math. The WebSite X5 license is cheaper than the monthly fees of the best-known CMSs.

Try WebSite X5 now! Learn about everything you can do, and create your first website right away.