Modernization of the website
I often hear on the phone or read in customer inquiries how much it will cost to modernize a website X or Y.
The question is quite complex in nature, and I have the impression that on the other side there is an expectation for a specific amount to be named immediately…
Unfortunately, it’s like if my car had broken down – I would be completely clueless and I would call a mechanic and ask him “how much will it cost to repair?”
The mechanic wouldn’t know what kind of car it was, which model, engine, or fuel type, so he wouldn’t be able to give me an estimate. He also can’t diagnose the problem over the phone.
I find it completely incomprehensible for people in my industry that they would ask such questions as “how much will a website modernization cost?” – this is similar to repairing a car because it’s just as complex.
When modernizing a website, a programmer will ask you questions like:
* What technology was the website built with?
* Do we have any documentation from the author of the solution (if it was a dedicated solution written in PHP)?
* What exactly would need to be included in the scope of work (or maybe just some cosmetic changes related to the design of the website, or maybe expanding some specific functionality)?
* How many language versions does the website have?
* Is the website SEO-optimized (every modernization of a website affects Google search engine rankings)?
plus many other questions based on your previous answers.
**Modernizing websites**
This is a very complex process, rarely is it enough to just click something in the website’s panel and the problem is solved. A layman might wonder where such a high cost comes from for this type of service as modernization of a website. Sometimes it seems like a simple cosmetic change can lead to tens or hundreds of lines of CSS code being added, not to mention functionality issues where you have to analyze the existing code, find all dependencies in that code and add or modify existing functionality.
If you had a WordPress website, everything would be fine because you could do most things yourself with numerous free plugins for this solution. However, even then it’s not always possible to avoid coding.
**Rebuilding a website**
This is usually a very costly endeavor – sometimes it’s cheaper and easier to commission someone to build a new website from scratch on a platform such as WordPress, which would give you full control over the site, access to thousands of free plugins so that in the future you wouldn’t have to pay for any modernizations.
The initial seeming savings can often turn into financial losses because you end up paying more for a simple modification than you would have paid for building the website itself. It’s not uncommon for people to fall prey to cheap solutions with recurring payments, only to find out later that they are tied down to the service provider and are forced to make further payments.
**Modernizing websites**
This is usually not cost-effective – you should carefully review whether a website offered at an attractive price will actually meet your needs. Websites are not like washing machines from Bosch model X – regardless of where you buy them, they have the same quality and specifications.
The methods used for purchasing consumer goods do not apply to buying services such as building websites. Therefore, it’s worth being smart before getting hurt and asking questions about why the price is so low and whether this solution will meet your needs.
To avoid disappointing experiences or costly website rebuilds, you should check, among other things:
* Whether the website allows for future self-modification of content and functionality, and how far-reaching such modifications can be.
* Whether the website allows for free extension of functionality or modification of its appearance.
* Whether the website requires ongoing technical support from the provider, whether you would be able to handle simple tasks like modifying text on the site yourself.
The price doesn’t come out of thin air – often seemingly cheap or significantly cheaper solutions have one goal: to lure you into a very costly “adventure” whose final outcome is usually paying money twice for a solution that ties you to the service provider and forces recurring payments.
**Rebuilding a website**
This is usually a very costly endeavor – sometimes it’s easier and cheaper to commission someone to build a new website from scratch on a platform such as WordPress, which would give you full control over the site, access to thousands of free plugins so that in the future you wouldn’t have to pay for any modernizations.
It’s worth noting that programmers in the IT industry are an elite group, earning significantly more (those good ones) than their bosses. Salaries at the level of 30-40-50 thousand zł per month (on a contract) are not uncommon. So I wouldn’t expect small prices when commissioning website modernization.
That’s why it’s worth not throwing money into modernizing websites that don’t give you full independence – with time, it will become increasingly difficult to get rid of such a “toxic” solution seeing how much money you’ve already invested in it.
If you are considering modernizing your website, ask questions about the scope of work and recalculate whether this is even cost-effective, keeping in mind that there will probably be more than one modernization of your website. Maybe it’s better to invest those funds in something that will give you more freedom?
**Modernizing websites**
It’s always worth leaving specialized services to specialists and focusing on what you’re best at – your own business (:
