How much does a showcase site cost?

The creation of a showcase site is the first step for your business towards its online presence. Often relegated to the rank of singles communication support, However, the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 reshuffled the cards and accelerated awareness. Now, professionals in the provision of services from all sectors know that the attention paid to the quality of their showcase site must be equivalent to that enjoyed by their offer or their premises, and necessarily, the cost that goes with it.

Behind the creation of the showcase site: a multitude of skills

Many CMS argue that you do not need any skills to create a showcase site, and that it only costs you a few dozen euros turnkey. That is true, but for what result? Does the generic design provided by a theme suit the uniqueness of your business and your person? Are you able to imagine, design, adjust, and modify it directly by yourself? Do you plan to keep this showcase site for at least a minimum of 10 years? Will these few euros per month, which will weigh thousands of euros in a few years, be worth it?

In reality, for the creation of your showcase site to be perfect, from start to finish, it must be based on several key skills with experienced profiles including only the agencies that have made it their job, have, namely:

1. Planning and Strategy : Before you get started, it's essential to understand the purpose of the site, the target audience, and how the site fits into the overall strategy of the business or brand.
2. Graphic design : An attractive visual design is one of the most important points. This includes selecting colors, fonts, images, and creating a layout that is both aesthetic and functional.
3. UX/UI design (User Experience/User Interface) : The user experience should be intuitive through easy navigation, clear calls to action, and a structure that guides visitors to important information.
4. Web development : Coding skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) are required to transform the design into a functional website. Knowledge of CMS (content management systems) like Webflow can also be useful and significantly reduce the costs of creating a showcase site.
5. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) : The site must be optimized for search engines in order to ensure good visibility. This includes the use of relevant keywords, the creation of quality content, and the technical optimization of the site (loading speed, mobile compatibility, etc.).
6. Content Writing : Content should be engaging, relevant, and well-written to attract and hold visitors' attention.
7. Responsive Design : The site should be accessible and functional on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
8. Web security : Protecting the site against online threats includes setting up SSL certificates, securing forms, and regularly updating software.
9. Analysis and Continuous Improvement : After launch, it is important to analyze site traffic and user behavior to make continuous improvements.
10. Social Media Management and Digital Marketing : Promoting the site on social media and through other digital channels can increase visibility and attract traffic.

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Using headless with Strapi

The use of Strapi, a Headless CMS, can provide greater flexibility and customization in managing the content of showcase sites. This type of CMS allows for a separation between content and the way it is presented, thus offering more freedom in design and display on different channels. Strapi is particularly suitable for businesses looking to integrate complex functionalities or manage large amounts of content effectively. By choosing Strapi, you can benefit from more agile content management and greater integration capacity, which is essential for sites that require frequent updates and dynamic content.

Average cost of creation

The cost of creation of a showcase site is very variable and depends largely on the specific requirements of each project. For a basic site, using standard templates, the price can start from a few hundred euros. However, for a custom showcase site, including custom design and advanced functionalities, costs can quickly increase, sometimes reaching several thousand euros. These estimates should also take into account the support services appendices such as SEO (natural referencing), the content creation adapted, and the integration of content management systems such as the Webflow CMS or Strapi. Each of these elements contributes to the final value of the site, but also to its effectiveness and its ability to attract and convert visitors.

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Budget brackets and corresponding quality for a Showcase Site

During the creation of a showcase site, the budget plays a decisive role in the quality and functionalities of the final site. Here is a breakdown into four average budget brackets, with associated expectations for each price range.

Budget of 6,000 euros

• Expectations: In this bracket, you can consider a showcase site with a moderate custom design and improved functionality.
• Quality and Features: The site will offer a design that is more suited to your brand image, a better user experience, and features such as social media integrations, basic SEO, and adaptive response. It may also include elements of personalizing more advanced and a better content strategy.

Budget of 10,000 euros

• Expectations: With this budget, you are entering a higher range of showcase sites, with a high level of customization.
• Quality and Features: You can expect a unique design, an optimized user experience, advanced features like interactive animations, a more complex CMS integration, and a deeper SEO strategy.

Budget of 20,000 euros

• Expectations: This budget allows access to a level considered to be top-of-the-range in terms of design and functionalities.
• Quality and Features: At this level, the site may include technological innovations, comprehensive customization, highly advanced interactive features, seamless CMS integration, and an integrated digital marketing strategy. SEO and UX will be of high quality to maximize visibility and engagement.

Budget of 50,000 euros and more

• Expectations: This budget is intended for businesses looking for a first-class web solution, without compromising on quality and innovation.
• Quality and Features: These showcase sites at this budget level are considered digital masterpieces with designs that are ahead of their time (but not too ahead of their time), exceptional user experiences, cutting-edge features such as augmented reality or AI integration, and a highly personalized content and SEO strategy. These sites offer maximum performance and efficiency, easily positioning the company at the top of its market.

Webflow development agency and specific skills

Choose one Webflow development agency can be a good option, especially if you are looking for a lot of design freedom and an easy to manage platform. Webflow is distinguished by its ability to offer almost total control over the design without requiring extensive coding skills. One specialized agency in this platform will be able to make the best use of its functionalities to create a showcase site bringing together all the objectives aimed at: performance, aesthetics and fluidity.

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