As small businesses in NZ strive to promote themselves on platforms like Facebook, many potential customers prefer a professional-looking online office, which is a well-built custom website reflecting a business’s feel and offerings. Such a site provides credibility and trust, showing that the business has made an effort to be accessible online.
Unfortunately, not all small businesses can afford the cost of hiring developers to create a site that truly reflects their dedication. While platforms like Wix or Shopify are options, even these require an experienced developer to achieve the desired look and functionality.
The cost to develop a basic website on Wix can range from $300 to $800, not including Wix’s monthly hosting fee. A standard business website might cost $800 to $2,000, while a more advanced site with custom features and integration could range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more.
For a basic e-commerce site on Shopify, with a standard theme and minimal customisation, hiring a developer could cost between $500 and $1,500. A standard online store with a custom theme may cost $1,500 to $5,000, plus Shopify’s monthly hosting fee. Highly customised e-commerce stores, with extensive customisations and third-party integrations, can cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
Additionally, ongoing maintenance, support, and platform fees add to the expense.
If a small business website looks unprofessional, it is often because the owner, lacking design expertise, created it themselves.
DigitalDNA is investing heavily in covering web designers, content architects, and developers’ costs so that struggling small businesses can get their dream websites online. According to their managing director, Jack, “A lot of small businesses have expressed how difficult it is to have a website due to the associated costs. We at DigitalDNA can fill that gap and offer a website developed by us. You only need to pay $60 per month to host it on DigitalDNA systems. Even for e-commerce, the development and design are on us, with a monthly fee of about $85.”
“We want to help, which is why we are in the market. DigitalDNA is a disruption to the existing website market in the region,” continued Jack.
DigitalDNA also offers photography services and copywriting through third-party partners, which are not free but provide quality services for their customers.
Recently, DigitalDNA launched an e-commerce site for a local business, Fautasi Co., which has already received positive feedback for its professional design and user-friendly interface. “Our website went live last month, and we’re excited about the potential it has to boost our sales,” says owner Terisa Alaimoana.
DigitalDNA’s approach allows small businesses to access high-quality digital tools without the expensive price tags typical in the market.
