Are you looking to build a website for your business or personal project? If yes, you should know that building a website in Nigeria is relatively cheap compared to other countries. In fact, it costs less than $100 to create a basic website in Nigeria.
Building websites has never been cheaper. Several web hosting services offer free and paid plans starting at under $10 per month. The only problem is that these services usually come with limited features and functionality.
However, if you want to create a fully functional website, you’ll need to invest some time and money. You’ll need to choose a good domain name, install WordPress (or another CMS), and add plugins to customise your site to get started.
“How much does it cost to build a website in Nigeria?” It is a question that I’m asked quite often by potential clients. I have addressed it here for the benefit of all.
My simple answer is: it depends. Let me explain.
Building a website is like building a house. The type of building you construct depends on several factors, e.g. your budget, taste, and the quality of your building materials.
It also depends on your architect and contractor/your development team, the location of your property, and so on.
It's advisable to go for the best website you can afford and not the cheapest. Click To TweetWhen you decide to build a website or mobile application (aka mobile app) for your business, you can approach this project in 2 ways. You can choose the DIY (do it yourself) route or hire a professional.
Hiring a professional to build your website will cost you more than doing it yourself. But as the saying goes, if you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur. Then you will know the difference!
When building your website, you need to consider several factors. Let us look at the cost of building a website in Nigeria.
How Much Does Building a Typical Website Cost You?
I will do my best not to overwhelm you with jargon. I’ll strive to simplify the following terms as much as possible. The following is in no particular order.
- Domain Name
- Type of Web Hosting
- Web Designer
- Type of Website
- Payment Gateway
- Website Builder
- Web Developer
- Fixed Price
- Content Management System
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Website Speed
Domain Name Registration
You need to register a name for your website on the Internet, i.e. www.yourname.com (or .net, .org, and so on).
Sometimes, your domain registration will come bundled with your web hosting plan. But you can choose to register your domain name separate.
The choice is yours. There are no hard and fast rules. It’s a simple step, but it’s best to do your domain registration with a different vendor from your design company or web hosting company.
So that if you have any problems with your web host (God forbid), you can transfer your domain name to another vendor.
If you want customers to take your business serious, stay away from brochure-type sites. Click To TweetThe cost of registering a domain name can vary depending on where you register it. In some cases, you may have to pay upfront before you receive your domain name registration. This is usually the case if you purchase a premium domain name.
The cost of your domain name registration also varies from one vendor to another. It also depends on the availability and your domain name extension, i.e. .com .net .org etc. My advice here is that you also have your domain registrar help you scoop up any domain extension related to your current or future business requirement.
The cost of your domain name registration is a recurring cost. So it would help if you renewed your domain name yearly. If you can afford it, it’s best to register your domain name several years in advance.
Type of Web Hosting
Hosting services provide space on servers to store your website files. Depending on what type of hosting service you choose, you may need to pay monthly fees.
There are different hosting solutions, such as shared hosting, virtual private servers, cloud hosting, and dedicated.
The prices for these vary from one vendor to another. Do your research and base your decision on your needs and not only on cost. In most cases, it is an annual cost.
I always advise clients to shy away from the cheap website. Instead, focus on a good business website or eCommerce website.
Don’t get sucked into going for the cheapest. Read my guide on How to Choose the Right Hosting Solution to learn more.
Web Designer
Let’s get one thing straight. A web designer is not the same as a web developer, although the two are often mixed up. Neither is website development the same as mobile app development.
So what’s the difference? In short, a web designer focuses on the front end of your website. A web developer or a development company focuses on the back-end coding of the website or mobile app and other techie stuff, primarily related to an e-commerce website.
But, it is also possible for a web designer to know about web development and vice versa. This is usually the case in Nigeria, where a design company can take up other related projects. Some may even branch out into social media marketing, search engine optimisation, etc.
The average cost of a web designer or design service depends on their years of experience. My advice is to ask for referrals and see samples of their work. Here also, it’s advisable to go for the best you can afford and not the cheapest design cost.
It is also advisable that you have a thorough discussion with your desired vendor so that they can understand your core business and know how to translate your business idea or business goal into your project. This is necessary because everything you do concerning digital marketing should be integrated with your other business activities.
I also recommend dealing with an experienced digital marketing agency rather than signing up with the cheapest app developer or website design company you approach.
Type of Website
All websites are not equal. There are simple, static brochure type websites that contain essential business information. These are usually the “cheap web design” many people search for.
Then there is the professional website or custom design, or dynamic websites. It’s an affordable website favoured by established businesses and other organisations who need to project the image of an established corporate body or brand. These go beyond having an essential feature and are more dynamic and have more bells and whistles.
Then there are the E-Commerce type websites. These have a shopping cart and require the content creation and management, enabling fast, safe, and smooth online transactions. The website you choose will usually determine the cost.
If you want customers to take your business serious, stay away from brochure sites. Also, don’t base your choice on price. Instead, focus on your needs and the site’s quality you desire.
Payment Gateway
Do you want a website like an online shop for customers to buy your product or service? Then you need a payment gateway.
It is an e-commerce application service provider. They authorise credit or debit card payments online or via your website.
Website Builder
This software application enables you to build a site in minutes. With no technical knowledge, though with some limitations.
There are different website builders. Some are free, and others paid. They all come with various bells and whistles.
But, as mentioned above, these website builders come with some limitations. So they might not be suitable for everybody.
Website Developer
As mentioned above, a web developer does your site’s back-end programming. She differs from a web designer.
But, some people are good at both front-end (web design) and back-end (web development).
Fixed Price
As you may notice, I am not mentioning any prices in this article. It is because these services vary from one vendor to another.
So, you need to conduct your research to find the right service provider. If you need help, schedule a call with me. I will be glad to help you.
Content Management System
Web pages, blogs, infographics, videos, and podcasts are examples of digital content. Over time, you create lots of content.
Then it would help if you had an automated/systematic way of content management. A content management system (CMS) is a software application or related program used to create and manage digital content.
WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Squarespace, Wix, and TYPO3 are some popular CMS available today.
Without a CMS, you need to create a static HTML file and upload it to a server. And if your website has several thousands of static HTML files, it will be hard to maintain.
Using CMS eliminates stress. But, each CMS has its limitations. So it would help if you researched to determine the suitable CMS for you.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
If you read my blog, I’ve written a lot about SEO. So I’ll not dwell too much on it here.
But make sure that your website is optimised for search engines right from the start. A well-optimised site will give you an edge over your competitors in the digital world.
Though SEO is not rocket science, it takes a long time to master. Google makes about 200 updates to its algorithm in a year. So you will need an SEO expert to optimise your website.
Website Speed
Again, many business owners who go the DIY route make mistakes. They add content to their website without thinking of how it affects the speed of their site.
Over time, their site slows down to a grinding halt. And Google has already clarified that they penalise slow websites.
So if a DIY site is not yielding any ROI, it’s usually the business owner’s fault. Do you see why I recommend using a professional?
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions on the cost of building a website in Nigeria.
Why Should You Build a Website?
A website is an online business tool that allows you to create a presence for yourself on the internet. It provides a way for people to find out about you and your products or services. It’s also great for customer service.
The Costs of Building a Website
There are two main costs involved when building a website for a business in Nigeria. First, you need to hire a web developer to build your site. Second, you need to pay for hosting. The first cost is usually around $500-$1000, while the second cost varies depending on how much traffic your website receives.
When Is the Best Time to Start?
The best time to start building a website in Nigeria is now! There are many reasons why starting a business today makes sense. First, technology has made it easier than ever to build a website. Second, the internet is growing rapidly in Nigeria, which means more potential customers for your product or service. Third, the Nigerian economy is one of the biggest in Africa, which means there is money to spend on new businesses. Finally, the government is investing heavily in infrastructure, which means there are opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to create jobs.
Who Can Help with Website Development?
If you want to hire website developers in Nigeria, you need to look for a company with experience in professional website design and development services. Preferably one in a bustling city like Lagos, Nigeria. A company with a solid online presence and expertise in a wide range of eCommerce solutions and building different types of websites.
Conclusion
It would help if you considered these things step by step when building your website.
If you hire a professional, discuss all these with her. Everyone must be on the same page, and there are no unpleasant surprises. As always, if you need help, get in touch. We’ll be glad to help.
In conclusion, building a website isn’t cheap, but it can be worth it if you plan to use it as a business tool.
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