Before you think that it’s cheaper to use WordPress.com, you may want to keep reading as the WordPress.com platform may not be the best for a business, but only ideal for a blogger. Average businesses will cost between $3,000 and $15,000. If you work with a good agency it will cost between $8,000 and $40,000. This doesn’t include monthly maintenance, hosting and marketing fees. Not all businesses are the same and neither are your websites needs. If it’s just a website, then these numbers are going to shock you. But if it’s a business investment, then you’re in the right mindset to crush your competition.
The types of sites that are out there, but this is not a compete list I’m sure:
- Medium Business
- Brochure
- Simple eCommerce
- Simple Blog
- Small Business
- Marketing Site
- Complex Blog
- Corporate
- Advocacy/Non-profit
- Online Learning (LMS)
- Large Commerce (B2B or B2C)
- Membership/Subscription
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
WordPress.com
For WordPress.com it is not a self-hosted solution. This means that you cannot buy a hosting package from another company, install your theme, plugins or use all the features of WordPress. For a basic site on WordPress.com the average cost is about $300 per year. But you don’t get much support, SEO, eCommerce or plugins to add to the theme that broaden your brands reach. You also do not get a premium theme included with that as it’s extra and may not even fit your needs correctly. However, you can for a extra cost use your domain rather than wordpress.yoursite.com.
Recommended for You
Webcast, May 22nd: How to Hit a Home Run Competitive Brand Audit
WordPress.org
Theme Customizations
Not every theme on WordPress.org is suitable for use for your needs. You may require something that has more custom built in options or is specifically built for your business like e-commerce. While there are themes on WordPress.org now built for e-commerce, there are many that are built by premium developer shops that are used for simple landing pages or membership sites.
Whatever your need, the versatility of WordPress can handle it to varying degrees, but the main thing is that you want to do this on a self hosted WordPress site via WordPress.org, and if budget allows hire a developer with experience on it.
Plugin Customizations
Not all plugins are created equal, some may do one thing you really like or need, but it lacks in performing some other function. WordPress.org self hosted installs allow you (with the highly recommend aid of a developer) install and test freshly created or commercial plugins.
