Yea right… Why FREE?
What’s the catch?
So I’ve been getting this questions lately. Here’s the real deal, the best I can explain it.
Why would you build websites for free? Website building and hosting is extremely competitive. You either have the Pro companies charging Thousands (Think $5,000 and $10,000 to start…) or you have the smaller companies like me, who are charging minimum prices (more like $1,200 to $5,000) for websites. Free is as low as I can go. I’ve been building websites for years, but only recently have started to try and make a business out of it. So in a sense, I’m the new guy. And I have to just about give it away to get a foothold.
What do you mean “Free”? I mean I will work with you for the general layout and look, then create the website for you. Then, there is a monthly fee moving forward.
The bottom line is: We discuss and get your website up and running with no upfront cost to you at all.
So there’s the catch… a monthly fee
I don’t see it that way. First, I’m telling you that right here. No nonsense.
So why the monthly fee? A few reasons:
To make sure your site is always up and running. Quick (true) story here… My first paying client had mentioned that their website was not that great, it was old and never updated to show current products and services. They texted me the website so I could have a look. Well, it wasn’t there. It was a placeholder for GoDaddy. Seems like they missed the email saying their domain (and website) was expiring. They didn’t renew it. They had NO IDEA how long their website had been offline. YIKES!
The monthly fee includes updates to your site! One of the few things that does not change much in regards to how Google “Ranks” your website is “Updated Content”. Meaning, if your site has not changed in the last few months, it slowly sinks lower in the search results. Until… you’re invisible. At that point, why have a website? Your fee includes updates! Use that! Use it for adding/removing products or services, run a “Special” or “Sale” or promote an upcoming event. Always update your site. At least once a month!
There are costs for keeping a website. To build your website, we need a domain (the actual “yourcompany.com”). There’s payments to the company that “hosts'“ your website. Basically, the internet computer that holds all the code for your website. That has to reside somewhere. So they charge a fee for that.
Stretching payments over time. I generally charged about $2,400 for a basic 10 page site. So, I stretch that cost over 12 months. Somewhere around $250 per month. That allows smaller businesses to basically stretch that initial build over for the first 12 months. Interest free.
My “Exit Strategy”… I have a full time job. I enjoy it. But it involves traveling and I’m looking for something I’m good at, that I can do from home. This is my exit strategy.
The bottom line is: We discuss and get your website up and running with no upfront cost to you at all.
So that’s it. If you have any more questions I’d be happy to answer them for you. Contact me. I’ll get right back to you. After our initial contact you’ll have my direct email address and phone number. Thank you for taking the time to read this!