So, you’re interested in launching a new website. There are so many cheap (and even free!) content management systems available to you. Why bother paying someone else to do it when you could build your own app or website? We’ll tell you why: A lot can go wrong. This is why web design and development are still in demand. There are about a million moving parts, and one wrong move can spell disaster. In this blog, we’re going to answer some of the most common questions about app/web design and development from people who reach out to Adlava for guidance. You’ll also learn a little bit more about our services, how we work with our own clients, and what you should look for in any agency.
5 FAQs About Web Design and Development
Our team has designed and launched countless websites and apps. Here are some of the most important things you need to know.
1. How Much Will My Web Design and Development Cost?
That’s a great question, and the answer is… it depends! Web and app development costs can range quite wildly, from $1,000 to well into the six figures. It all depends on what you need. Think of these questions:
- Approximately how many pages do you anticipate your site/app being?
- Are you selling goods on the site? If so, roughly how many SKUs do you have?
- Do you want to share a lot of images and videos?
- Do you need to have a live chat feature?
- What other third-party tools or software need to integrate with your website or app?
In a nutshell, the more robust the site needs to be, the more it’s going to cost.
Furthermore, you should always budget for unforeseen expenses. For example:
- If you don’t have any brand or product photos, you’ll need to hire a photographer.
- Do you have a logo ready? If not, you’ll need a graphic designer.
- What tools will work alongside your website/app? Think of things like your email marketing software or live chatbot.
All of these will be additional expenses.
2. How Long Does it All Take?
We hate to sound like a broken record, but again, it depends. If your web design entails a single-page website — or a site with just a few pages — this can sometimes be done in a week. However, web development that’s more expansive can take several months.
Bear in mind that it’s not simply building the pages that we’re talking about. There’s also:
- The initial web design, where we nail down the branding and user experience you’re after.
- Designing the functionality.
- Writing all of the website copy.
- Securing images and (if necessary) videos.
- QA testing to look for bugs.
Plus, in between each of the steps, Adlava communicates with the client to keep them in the loop, answer any new questions, and get any additional information we might need.
We know how excited you are to launch! And whoever you turn to for help with your website or app development should provide you with at least a rough timeline of the deliverables. However, leave some wiggle room, because you (and they) are going to need it. This is very normal.
3. Will My Website Be Mobile-Friendly?
Hands down, yes — your website should be mobile-friendly. Statistics tell us that as of 2021, there were about 4.32 billion unique mobile internet users. This means that over 90% of the worldwide internet population uses a mobile device to get online.
In other words, if users can’t access your website on their phones, you’re missing out on a huge audience. This is one of the biggest reasons why websites don’t sell. And it’s not just about accessibility, either. It’s also about ease of use. Part of the web development process means ensuring that the experience on mobile devices is as flawless as it is on desktop.
Adlava’s designers and developers confirm that:
- Buttons are easily clickable.
- Images resize and load quickly.
- Text adjusts for the smaller screen size.
- All forms and links work as expected.
Our goal is clear: Make sure that no matter what device people are reaching your site from, the quality is always stellar, across the board.
4. What Platform Will My Website be Built On?
When it comes to web development, there are a number of content management systems (CMS) available today. These include WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and Webflow. (It’s the same situation for app development.)
WordPress is one of the most popular go-to choices. Many people consider it a CMS Swiss Army knife when it comes to web design because it’s very flexible. Shopify is common for eCommerce brands. Wix is a more user-friendly version of WordPress, with a lot of drag-and-drop functionality. Adlava prefers Webflow for web development. In fact, we’re a Webflow certified partner.
What we love about Webflow is that it offers the best of every world. You get the flexibility of WordPress with the simplicity of Wix. And like Shopify, you can use it for eCommerce sites — along with just about everything else. Plus, it cuts the development time down significantly, meaning you get the website you want sooner.
5. Will I Be Able to Update My Site After it’s Launched?
You absolutely should be able to! Your web/app development doesn’t end after launching it. It’s a living, breathing creature that you’ll want to continue to iterate on. It’ll evolve over time, just like your brand will.
While you should defer to your designers for certain updates, you should also have a lot of control yourself, so that you can be more autonomous. When Adlava is building a website or app, we stay available to our clients after launch in case they need our expertise. After all, like everything else, at some point, your website will need a redesign. However, we also train our clients on how to use their own sites so that they can make smaller changes themselves.
Our aim is to give you the balance you need. We want you to feel independent and capable, but we also want you to know that we're there for you when you need us.
So, what comes next? If you’re looking to move forward with a bright idea you’ve got, book a free strategy call and tell us all about the website or app you’re envisioning.
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