Website Design & Development Services
Having a reliable and functional website is essentially a requirement for any business. Harv Communications can build new or redesign existing websites. Whether you are looking for a templated site, an eCommerce platform, a landing page for SEM, or fully customized, proprietary solutions, we can build anything within any budget or scope.
Website Design projects focus on improving a website’s user experience, functionality, and overall aesthetic. While a website project can help with Search Engine Optimization, this is a separate endeavour which requires consistent support to maximize results.
If you have a small business in Hamilton or across the GTA, having a website acts as a singular but critical digital touchpoint for your customers. Websites showcase who you are, what you do, what makes you different, and how to purchase a product or service. Websites allow your brand personality to shine and provide detailed information about your business. However, a website is just one way to be discovered online. It’s imperative to have multiple ways for customers to find your business while having each of those channels work together to create a cohesive brand message.
What Type of Website is Best?
With so many different options available, the first step is finding the solution that is best for your business. WordPress websites offer flexibility and can support both information & online purchase.
However, like other templated websites, they do have their limitations as well. While websites like Wix offer a more design-focused approach, they have their limitations from an SEO perspective.
Shopify websites, while great for eCommerce, have design-related restrictions as well as they may not be the most SEO-friendly option. So where does that leave you? These are examples of templated websites.
There is always the option of a custom-built site which allows for maximum creativity, design, functionality, and inclusion of all the necessary components to make your brand stand out.
Website Design & Development Pricing
With so many options available, it can be difficult to get started. Here is a quick overview of how each website compares with one another from a pricing perspective:
- WordPress websites ($$) offer customizable functionality & flexibility. Think of it like having a phone – lots of models available to you which can further be customized by adding your own preferred apps. Great for information, eCommerce, text & visuals
- Wix websites ($) are easy to drag and drop from a visual standpoint but do have limitations outside of stylistic capabilities
- Shopify websites ($) are not just for selling your products online but most of their features are to support this primary function
- Squarespace/GoDaddy/etc websites ($) are templated websites similar to Wix/WordPress but less commonly used
- Proprietary websites ($$$) are entirely yours to customize and can include essentially anything you may want, any way you want it to function
Generally speaking, we would recommend a WordPress website. While it still has its limitations, it checks most of the boxes for things any business will need while allowing customization to both design and functionality. If you need a truly customized solution, we would still recommend starting with WordPress before looking at developing a website from scratch.
Website Design & Development Options
- Customized Theme and installed Template including Responsive design
- Up to 5 Pages
- Contact Form
- Social Media Integration
- Stock Photography (where originals are not available)
- 2 Revisions
- Customized Theme and installed Template including Responsive design
- Up to 10 Pages
- Website Builder Integration
- Contact Form & Maps Integration
- Social Media Integration
- Google Suite Integration
- Sitemap Creation & Submission
- Stock Photography (where originals are not available)
- 2 Revisions
- Customized Theme and installed Template including Responsive design
- Unlimited number of pages*
- Website Builder Integration
- Contact Form & Maps Integration
- Social Media Integration
- Google Suite & Social Media Data Tracking Integration
- Sitemap Creation & Submission
- Stock Photography (where originals are not available)
- 3 Revisions
- Additional support including an introductory tutorial for website updates/maintenance
*Number of pages is subjective. If you only need 6 pages, the quote would be adjusted. If you need 500 pages, a WordPress website is likely not right for you
We would schedule a meeting to understand your needs and develop a solution that is right for you. If it can be done on WordPress, great, but if you need to get away from templates and find a completely different alternative, that is absolutely an option we can review together. WordPress sites are great, but they are not for everyone. Let’s chat!
Here is a very quick overview of some of the website options out there to help determine what might be right for you:
- WordPress websites ($$) offer customizable functionality & flexibility. Think of it like having a phone – lots of models available to you which can further be customized by adding your own preferred apps. Great for information, eCommerce, text & visuals
- Wix websites ($) are easy to drag and drop from a visual standpoint but do have limitations outside of stylistic capabilities
- Shopify websites ($) are not just for selling your products online but most of their features are to support this primary function
- Squarespace/GoDaddy/etc websites ($) are templated websites similar to Wix/WordPress but less commonly used
- Proprietary websites ($$$) are entirely yours to customize and can include essentially anything you may want, any way you want it to function
Generally speaking, we would recommend a WordPress website. While it still has its limitations, it checks most of the boxes for things any business will need while allowing customization to both design and functionality. If you need a truly customized solution, we would still recommend starting with WordPress before looking at developing a website from scratch.
