You would think the answer to this question is simple: Nothing, right? I hear this all the time, “We have the website the way it is because it doesn’t cost us anything.” What they are really saying is that they don’t have to pay any money to have the website active on the web. There are many free website systems, some better than others. The problem is that, most of the time, a free website doesn’t come without a cost. Sure it may not cost anything financially, but there might be a far worse price to pay for a “free” website.
It has always amazed me that people think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars (or more) every year on phone book listings, newspaper ads, and even billboards, and yet they think that paying a small fee for a website is too much. Considering that the majority of people research online, this way of thinking doesn’t make sense. Here are some considerations when choosing whether or not to use a free website system.
1. The cost of a poor design. Many free website systems do not offer up-to-date, visually appealing website designs. The cost of having a free design that’s “good enough” might be turning people away. If your site isn’t appealing, people won’t stay to read it.
2. The cost of cheaper technology. Free or cheap web hosting can be very flaky. Sometimes the website is up and sometimes it’s down. This is problematic because you don’t know when someone is visiting your website. It should be up and running 24/7. This is especially true if you have a gospel website. Your site might be reaching all over the world, and it’s important that it’s accessible all the time.
3. The cost of difficult updating. It’s been my experience that many people who opt for a free system eventually stop keeping it up-to-date because updating the website is too difficult. And so the website goes for months or years with no updates.
4. The cost of time. In many cases, believers spend countless hours trying to set up and maintain a website. Often this job falls into the lap of someone who has very little knowledge of developing websites. The frustration that goes along with it can be a reason why many give up. By spending a few dollars on a website that is easy to use, you can free up time to devote to other ministries and efforts.
5. The cost of going it alone. Most free systems do not provide any support or help when things go wrong. Questions remain unanswered, and, once again, the website suffers and becomes out-of-date.
I’m often asked, “How much does a website cost?” There is usually a setup fee (especially if you want a custom design), so plan to budget $1000 or more to get the site going. After that, you should expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 per month on your website, depending on the level of functionality you need.
Disclaimer: There are people within many local churches who know how to program websites, and they can make these free systems work to their advantage. This article is not for those skilled developers but for those who don’t have the necessary expertise within their local church.