"$99 website" sounds either like a great deal or a trap. The honest answer is that it depends on what's included and what you need it to do. Here's how to tell the difference.
What a good $99 website should include
At that price you're almost always buying a one-page website. A good one still does real work. It should have:
- A clear headline saying what you do and where
- Your main services, in plain language
- A few photos of your work or business
- Your phone number as a tap-to-call button on phones
- A simple contact form or "request a quote" button
- Your hours and service area
- A design that works properly on phones
That's enough for a lot of businesses to look legitimate and get contacted.
What it won't include
A $99 site is not a full marketing system. Expect it to leave out:
- Separate pages for each service or location
- Online booking, shopping carts or customer accounts
- Lots of custom writing or professional photography
- Ongoing search engine optimization work
- Unlimited revisions
If someone promises all of that for $99, ask a lot of questions.
When a $99 site is exactly right
- You're brand new. You need to look real online this month, not in three months.
- Most customers come from referrals. They just want to check you're legitimate before calling.
- You sell one main thing. A mobile detailer, a dog groomer, a food truck or a handyman can say everything that matters on one page.
- You're running ads. A single focused page often converts ad clicks better than a big site, because there's only one thing to do: call or request a quote.
- You're replacing nothing. If your current online presence is a Facebook page or nothing at all, a clean one-page site is a big step up.
When you should spend more
- You offer several different services and want each to show up on Google.
- You serve several cities and want a page for each area.
- You need features like booking, a menu with online ordering, or a product catalog.
- Your competitors have strong websites and customers compare before choosing.
In those cases, a multi-page business site is usually worth the extra cost. Compare the extra annual cost with the contribution margin from an additional customer; results are not guaranteed.
Red flags with cheap websites
Some cheap websites cost more in the end. Watch for:
- A hidden monthly fee. "$99" turns into "$99 plus $49 a month forever."
- You don't own the domain. If the company registers it in their name, leaving can mean losing your web address.
- No real examples. Ask to see live sites they've built.
- Template sameness. If every site in their portfolio looks identical with different logos, yours will too.
- No way to reach a person. If something breaks, you need someone who answers.
The smart way to use a $99 site
Think of it as a starting point. Launch a clean one-page site now, start collecting calls and reviews, and pay attention to what customers ask about. When you know which services bring in the most money, upgrade to a multi-page site built around them.
Starting small isn't a mistake. Waiting six months for a "perfect" website while customers can't find you usually is.
Questions to ask before buying
- Is $99 the total, or are there monthly fees?
- What exactly is included on the page?
- Who owns the domain and the site?
- How many changes can I make before launch?
- Can I upgrade later, and does what I've paid count toward it?