What are the different types of cost for having a professional quality business website?

Many people keep asking us about an exhaustive list of different types of cost that are associated with having and running a business website successfully. Here is the answer in tabular format which would be equally helpful to everyone - new as well as veteran. Speaking technically, we are discussing cost implications of Web Branding exercise. (I am preparing an exhaustive blog on Web Branding which I am planning to publish in a week of so. Stay tuned.)

Here is a graph showing approximate proportion of different types of cost. This is what is true for a typical web branding exercise and can vary significantly in special cases. For example, % breakup for an established brand/business will be quite different than a new concept based business.

Task	Description	Approximate range	Important considerations
Domain name	The address a visitor types in his browser to reach your website e.g. www.yourcompany.com	Rs 300-Rs 500 per annum	Cost depends on domain registrar and type of domain booked. For example .com cost around Rs. 500 p.a. while .co may cost Rs. 1500 p.a.
Hosting and mail IDs	To store files of your website on a web server and to have mail IDs like you@yourcompany.com	Highly subjective as cost depends on many parameters	Server reliability and security, storage space, monthly data transfer, server side scripting and database supported, number of email accounts, mail storage space, integration of email with mobile phones etc
Design and development	Website design and web apps development as per your requirements	Highly subjective though around Rs. 15000-20000 for a 10-15 pages professional quality website can be considered reasonable	Quality of the website, process of design and development, features, tools and technologies used are the key factors
Promotion	Making the website popular on Internet and to attract more qualified visitors	Costly exercise which depends on many parameters	Type of product, media selection (free or paid), budget allocation, strategic or tactical approach, innovation infused etc
Website performance measurement	How your website is performing against the set goals	Cost is subjective though Rs. 3000-4000 per month for a 25 pages website can be considered reasonable	The most important factor is whether the website is created with clear goal oriented link structure at the first place
Website optimization	Updating the website from technical and psychological point goal view for maximize goal attainment	Cost is subjective though Rs. 4000-6000 per month for a 25 pages website can be considered reasonable	Again, goal oriented link structure and flexible design are a must

If you have any specific queries regarding the cost of Web Branding exercise and how to minimize them, feel free to write to me on biz@wrofit.com.

Honestly, market for web related development and online marketing in Gujarat (or for that matter India) is very different from rest of the world where people have started making smarter choices for online media. Gujarat is still conservative about promoting businesses online though we are sure, when provided with correct information and transparent cost-benefit analysis, things will change for better.

Do post how you find this information. Your comments help us work extra hour daily evening to bring you some valuable information via blogs. Thanks.