NZ Website Design - Web Design Company

From appearance, hosting, functionality, and security, there are a few things that must come together to produce a great website. That is where a web developer and website design company comes in to provide a seamless experience. You must understand the basis of the following steps so you’re on the same page as your web design company.

It is of utmost importance that you create the blueprint for your new website in collaboration with your web developer. Your goals and expectations should be clear from the very start to ensure there are no delays and limitations. Once your vision is clear and precise, the agency is able to set a timeline and clear website design pricing. 

Next, you must secure a domain name and select your Content Management System (CMS) hosting provider. You may already own a domain or you can check if the one you want is available for purchase on platforms like GoDaddy. Regarding the CMS platform, your design and web development company should recommend one suited to your goals. Adobe Commerce and Shopify are great for ecommerce website design, while WordPress is great for an information-focused custom website.

Subsequently, you must settle on a modern website design theme that matches your branding and is visually appealing. Ultimately, it is all about the user experience. This is where you should put yourself in your customer’s shoes and ask a few questions. Does the website enhance or diminish the perception of your brand? Is it easy to use and navigate to exactly what I’m looking for? 

Lastly, functionality is essential to turn visitors into paying customers. You must ensure your website loads quickly, is mobile responsive, and things like a contact-form work as they should. You must also ensure your web developer puts top security protocols in place.

The simple answer for website design cost in NZ is, that it really depends on what you want to achieve.

The average cost of custom website design services in New Zealand is between $5000 and $30,000. The reason why there is no cookie-cutter price is due to the different requirements for different businesses. While a single web page design can cost as low as $5000, professional ecommerce website design can cost $30,000. 

It is important to understand what you’re getting for the money you spend on website design cost. Here at IM Creative, we put a huge emphasis on offering custom website packages that help boost your sales. Our intention is to offer creative web design services that ultimately start generating revenue you aren’t already capturing. Throughout the years, we’ve perfected the art of responsive web design to maximise your visitor conversion rate. Placing “Call To Actions” at the right place, the type of content, and page structure can triple your conversion rate. What we’re trying to say is that we offer more than just good website design services. We offer the know-how to turn your website from a static and vain asset, to a living money-making machine. Ultimately, your website cost should be seen as an investment and not as a simple cost of doing business.

It can definitely be overwhelming and confusing when there are so many companies quoting you vastly different website cost figures. An overseas web developer or web design company may even offer website packages for as little as $2000. 99% of the time these cookie-cutter websites offer no added value to your business other than a bland digital asset. 

For a winning edge over your competitors, count on IM Creative for more than just good website design services.

The answer to the best software or platform for good website design depends on your requirements. IM Creative is a creative website design company that will recommend the best platform suited to your specific business needs.

WordPress is a great platform for modern website design services for websites with all types of requirements. It is an open-source platform that provides great versatility for someone with coding knowledge. That is where having a web developer on your side comes in. IM Creative generally advises WordPress to be used for small business web design projects focused on services without eCommerce features. 

Shopify is a leader in eCommerce website design. It provides convenience, great reporting, and a pleasant user experience. We typically provide small business web design services with eCommerce functionality via Shopify. This keeps the modern website design cost down while significantly increasing your chances of online success. The CRM platform is also incredibly easy to use without calling upon the web design company for every required update.

Adobe Commerce is an alternative to Shopify and is particularly useful to enterprises looking for a more flexible custom website. Once again, more experienced website developers are needed which increases the website cost. However, you have the opportunity to provide unique user experience features as valuable points of difference amongst competitors. 

Squarespace and Wix provide responsive web design for people looking to do it themselves. If you have a limited budget, these platforms offer drag-and-drop features to make it as easy as possible. Although hiring an experienced web design company is about more than just creating a website, these are an option. Limitations to this option are the time spent and lack of knowledge of what makes for a high-converting website.

Choosing the right hosting provider is much more important than price. Hosting website packages can cost anywhere from $5 to $100 per month. 

International hosting providers like GoDaddy and Bluehost offer shared hosting packages from $5 to $31.99 monthly for WordPress websites. Different price points differ in value such as data storage threshold, SSL certificate, monthly visitor limits, and other features. Asking your website design company prior to making a decision can ensure you pick the right option. 

There are also local alternatives like Webhosting NZ and 1st Domains offering hosting from $4.95 and $9.5 monthly. These providers claim to have New Zealand based servers that may lead to faster website loading speeds. 

Your web design agency may also offer monthly hosting as part of the web design services package. This can typically cost between $50 to $100 per month depending on the features provided. You may ask, why would I pay the web design agency 10 times more for hosting? Well, setting up hosting can be a very complex and technical process. In addition, hosting servers can get damaged, hacked, and experience downtime. Your web design agency is there to ensure your hosting is handled in the best way to mimise risk. And, if something does go wrong, they provide quick support and backup to get things up and running again.

As mentioned at the start of this answer, the right hosting solution depends on much more than just price. Security is of utmost importance. In addition, server location and loading speed are important to the success of your website. If your website takes longer than 5 seconds to load, you should look for a different alternative. Site backups and support are also crucial to ensure your website is running smoothly.

There are many aspects to consider when choosing a website design company other than the website cost itself. Other key components of a great website design company are their focus on conversions, credibility, track record, and delivery timeframe.

For small business web design it is so tempting to simply pick the cheapest provider, we understand. However, more often than not, you get what you pay for. A cookie-cutter and non-responsive website will leave your website visitors disappointed by the experience and looking elsewhere. Creative web design is about offering your target audience everything they are looking for to expedite the buyer’s journey.

You should pay attention to their attitude and stress on website conversions. At the end of the day, your website can look great and still fail to lead to any sales. Your web design agency must incorporate their knowledge and experience of conversions in their services. 

How credible is the web development company? One of the first things you should check is the company’s Google Reviews. Other people’s experiences with your potential website developers will help you understand how your experience could go. 

What work have they done in the past and to what quality? They should display their track record through case studies and other clients. You can check out their previous website design online and see whether it’s the right fit. 

Ask for a delivery timeframe before deciding on the web design and development company. Small business website design should not take longer than 1 month to complete. A website redesign shouldn’t take longer than 3 weeks when the content is already written. Single landing web page design should take even less. 

To conclude, there are other factors just as important as website development costs to consider. Focus on the value you are getting.

Visual Appearance

First impressions are everything. Branding your website to represent your business is important and sometimes website developers neglect this. A color scheme, and layout combined with the images and information on the service or products you’re offering are important. Using photos, videos, and illustrations will grab the attention of your audience. Fonts and headings are also a crucial part of website design and development. 

Visual appearance is a key component of good website design because it impacts how your audience perceives your brand. Appearance impacts our judgment and decision-making process in all walks of life. From the people selling us products or services to the best-looking fruit and vegetables in the supermarket aisle. Good-looking and creative web design and development also has just as much impact on your visitors. 

Furthermore, much like dressing appropriately for an occasion, web page design also gives insight into your effort or lack thereof. It can give your audience an insight as to how you go about business. If you invest in good and creative website design, your audience will value the effort you’ve put into helping them. On the other hand, outdated web page design gives off an impression of lacking care and aloof. 

If you disregard your site’s visual appearance, it is safe to assume that your competitors love that. When competition is high, businesses will look out for any edge they can get over one another. This is something you can test out objectively. A quick Google search of your industry will result in businesses that have invested in modern website design services. Compared to outdated and dull website design online, they are likely to attract many more leads and sales.  

Content & Information

Good website design will pique users’ interest but after that, you need great content to make them stay. Finding the perfect way to show them what they need is also an important element of responsive website design. The information needs to be specific, clear, and helpful. The combination with high-quality SEO services offers the opportunity to increase your search engine rankings.

Look for a web design company that includes copywriting in the website design cost. An experienced company like IM Creative understands that content and information are ultimately what the visitor is seeking. Therefore, the web design and development are planned and implemented to fulfill exactly what the visitor wants. 

If someone is looking for a plumber in their area, a contact form or number must be highlighted on top. On the other hand, if someone is looking to do a plumbing apprenticeship, screening information should be a priority. Custom website content like a career pathway infographic or a list of requirements needed to be an apprentice is great. This content not only is helpful to those seeking an apprenticeship but will deter those who won’t qualify from enquiring. Therefore, the best web design services will help improve your conversion rate by bringing in only highly qualified leads.

A website design company must balance the challenges of sufficient relevant content while also presenting it in a digestible manner. The issue with many websites is simply not having enough information and visits leaving right away or the opposite. Having too much content displayed messily will overwhelm visitors who will leave and look for an alternative. These are all factors that an experienced and reputable web development company will pay attention to and optimise for.

User-Friendly & Functionality

The best advice we can give is to hire a web developer who has experience. Simple navigation makes it easier for users to stay longer on a website. They should be able to scroll and click buttons effortlessly to increase engagement and sales. Website developers should create organised links and high-speed accessibility. Make it easier for users, including a menu and a search bar. 

This particular element of website packages is more broadly known as user experience (UX) design amongst the industry. The term is really self-explanatory to which it is all about ensuring the user has a pleasant experience. If visitors encounter any difficulties, errors, or simply do not like the look and feel of the website, they’ll leave. The biggest challenge for a website design company is to create an experience for visitors that your competitors aren’t. With over 200 million active websites according to Forbes, the internet has become a very competitive and congested space. Thus, not only ensuring that everything functions properly but also being unique and interesting are important aspects of website redesign. 

There are many benefits to focusing on user experience when you’re choosing between website design pricing. A web design agency that specialises in UX can positively impact your conversion rate, customer satisfaction, and loyalty. These come as a result of features such as call-to-action buttons, legitimate review sections, and overall web design navigation. Moreover, any upfront UX website development costs can significantly reduce costs later. This is because ensuring functionality and navigational flow from the start will help prevent possible usability issues in the future. As is often the case, finding and fixing glitches can be complex and increase your website cost. 

Mobile-Friendly – Responsive Web Design

You know how frustrating it is when a website doesn’t work properly on your mobile. Responsive web design means your website works on every type of device; computer, tablet, or phone. Your web development agency must design assets that enable seamless mobile use. For example, font sizes that are easy to read on a particular device are an aspect of responsive website design.

Through responsive web design, the odds of visitors spending more time on it will also increase. That in turn improves your search engine rankings as it indicates that you are providing value to your visitors. People are also likely to visit your site from multiple devices, whether that is their mobile, tablet, or computer. That is especially true when they are purchasing online and in the product research and comparison phase. In this case, ecommerce website design that is fully optimised for all devices ensures a pleasant experience for all visitors.  

Our mobile phones have become an integral part of our digital footprint and thus responsive web design is a priority. Today there are no excuses for a poorly designed site and your web developer must take this into account. The latest data suggests that mobile makes up 58.21% of total internet traffic. Therefore, highlighting the necessity for mobile-friendly websites whether that be via ecommerce website development or service-based small business website design. 

These details can often be overlooked when you’re searching for a web development agency. However, they have a huge impact on the effectiveness of your website to reach and convert prospective customers. Focusing on hiring the right web design company instead of the cheapest can directly improve your bottom line. 

Website Security

A web development company must not neglect security. When selling online, customers need to know their personal information is safe. This includes their names, mobile phones, or credit card details. Sure, good content adds credibility. However, website security includes encryption through an SSL certificate, PCI compliance if you’re going to accept credit cards, and additional anti-fraud measures.

Cyberattacks continue to grow out of control as bad actors try and profit through malpractice and theft. Some cyber security estimates put the number of sites being hacked between 30,000 to 50,000 each day. It is crucial to work with an experienced website development company that applies stringent security measures. The alternative can be devastating and costly for you and your customers. 

Another factor to consider is your reputation and the potential impact on your sales. If you get hacked, customer trust will diminish and they’ll likely stop buying. That is why it is crucial to hire website developers who have security within their scope of service and expertise. While even large corporations and government agencies get hacked, the response is just as important. Website developers who are swift to react and repel cyber attacks once they have infiltrated are key. 

Even small business website design can be set up to be protected through monitoring and regular system updates. Cleanup after a hack is not impossible but is much more expensive than taking a proactive approach through security measures. This is something that we include already in our small business web design services for peace of mind. 

A piece of advice is to ensure your website and its plugins are kept up to date at all times. This is particularly relevant if you’ve hired a WordPress website development company to build your website. You’d be amazed at how often this doesn’t happen.

Living in this digitalised era, having a website is a must for every business. IM Creative is a design and web development agency to help you do just that.

Even if you’re promoting your business on social media, you don’t want to lose out to competitors with a website. From large to small business website design, a website pulls potential customers away from busy social media feeds.

A website will also become a reference point for people searching for your product or service. We all come across a lot of products and services online. Before making a purchase we check their website to make sure they are legit. People may question your legitimacy if you don’t have a website and a web development agency can help fix that.

Creative web design gives you the space to represent your brand in the best way possible. You can list your products/services properly illustrated with images, videos, and prices. It’s like an online magazine of what you are offering as a business. And it’s the easiest way for your customers to digest information from the comfort of their homes.

With solid web design and development optimised for Google, you are able to bring organic traffic and generate sales. Your business can appear on searches from ready-to-buy users.

Websites save a lot of time for your staff and for customers. People don’t need to call customer service to ask for details on products. Also, through ecommerce website development, they can browse online for your entire catalogue before buying. It benefits both ways.

You can also keep your customers informed in real-time. Through updates, people will see the latest discounts, new product/service, and everything that you are doing. Website redesign can help by keeping things fresh and current.

Is it worth marking a website for a small business? 

The short answer is absolutely. Investing in a good website design in the early stages of a business will broaden your growth prospects. Investing in small business web design has multiple ways to benefit your company and here are a few.

According to a GE Shopper Research Study, 81% of shoppers conduct research online before making big purchases. Whether the majority of your sales come in-store or online, creative web design will contribute to converting browsers into buyers. Working with an experienced web design company means displaying a strong value proposition that positively impacts your overall conversion rate. 

It is a guarantee that any future and prospective investors will explore your website to get a basic understanding. A website design company can create a custom website that highlights your strengths and leaves a good impression. Can you imagine if you didn’t have one at all? It may be even worse if you have a website that is outdated and without a clear message or theme. Investors will likely be turned off and opportunities to grow diminished. 

The upfront website cost is almost always the reason why business owners are reluctant to engage a web design company. The good news is that small business website design pricing can start as low as $3000 for a basic one. That price point is low enough to enable every small business owner to see and justify the aforementioned value propositions. 

Professional and responsive web design helps you build trust and credibility with prospective buyers and other industry participants. This is irrespective of whether you’re selling services and capturing leads or require ecommerce website design to sell products directly. To put it simply, in this day and age, having a website helps solidify your claim as a legitimate business. 

I’ve built my website, what’s next? 

Many business owners are surprised to find out that investing in modern website design services doesn’t conclude their marketing spend. In fact, it is only the beginning. A shortsighted business owner may see this as a deterrence to invest in web design services at all. However, if done right, the return on investment can far outweigh the website design cost and subsequent promotional marketing.

Therefore, a promotional plan should be developed in sync with your web design and development project. You can compare a web developer to a land developer building apartments for sale. Both want to sell their products once the project is complete and both must advertise to generate interest and sales.

That is exactly what a business owner must do once the website design online process is complete. There are multiple channels you can use to drive traffic to your newly built website. Some examples are email or social media, billboards or TV commercials, and anything else that captures your target audience’s attention. 

Digital advertising has particularly become a cost-effective way to capture and convert prospects into customers. A website design company will have its own internal department that is equipped to assist you in promotional advertising. Alternatively, they will recommend one of their partner agencies or you can search for one yourself. 

Here at IM Creative, we are a design and web development company that also provides promotional marketing services. That is because we understand that there is a symbiotic relationship between web page design and promotion to deliver success. Some website developers disregard or are unaware of key components that maximise conversion rates. Thus, your promotional advertising will be negatively affected by inadequate website packages. On the other hand, a web design agency that also provides advertising services considers all angles. 

A WordPress web design company should be able to build a website within a period of 4-5 weeks. The same goes for ecommerce website development through platforms like Shopify or Magento.  

This general timeframe will vary depending on the functionality and pages required to build your custom website. Here’s an approximate timeframe that a website design company will give: 

• Strategy and goal setting: 1 week
• Web page design mock-up & review: 1 week
• Web design and development:  1-2 weeks
• Final review and quality assurance: 1 week

Although this is a standard timeframe, ultimately it depends on the complexity and features you’re wanting made through website design. Generally speaking, a small business website design company should be able to meet these deadlines without a hassle. 

There is one key component to getting your project completed on time and within budget. It’s essential to clearly define the scope of the work involved. This including the number of pages, custom features, copywriting and overall look and feel. Being clear from the start and sticking to the set parameters will ensure you get exactly what you bargained for. 

Content writing is often times the main bottleneck towards completing your project. You can pay more to get your website development company to write and source content on your behalf. Otherwise, you can pay a couple of thousand to get a basic website up and running in a few weeks. There will be cases where you will need to work closely with your web developer to create the content.

Ultimately, there are many factors that affect the timeframe of responsive web design. Nonetheless, that is the first question you should ask before beginning a project. If the website development company doesn’t have at least a projected timeline, you should look elsewhere.