How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Healthcare Website?

We all know that cost is one factor, but it's not the only basis to make the final decision between two physicians. There is more research that goes on. You would probably talk to a former patient about why the fees are higher. Maybe one doctor is certified by the board or has special training in their field of therapy or has more experience and relevant practice for your condition. Or one physician is widely known for their skills and expertise. 

All of these points are necessary to analyze before finalizing and justifying the treatment cost. Each of them has an impact on the final result and the surety of successful treatment. Also, some patients pay more to a board-certified physician who is well trained and provides a reliable treatment rather than going to someone with lower credentials and no practice for the treatment procedure. This gives patients satisfaction and peace of mind knowing that they are paying for premium healthcare services. 

You get what you pay for is valid while looking to develop a healthcare website too. A web development company might charge twice or more than another, and on the outside, both the end products may not seem all that different. So, is there any basis for such high pricing? 

To help you understand the discrepancy of web development pricing for the healthcare sector, we have gathered all the aspects that influence the website development cost - in an attempt to explain the high price, you would have considered too high. 

Six things to consider while assessing website costs 

The cost of web development for healthcare websites such as dermatology, surgery, hospitals, clinics, and others can be anywhere between $1000 - $10,000, maybe more (if there are complex features or advanced designs). When you face such a wide range of pricing, it is essential to know the basis of such a high cost and what you will get for the investment. 

• Customized Design 

Templates are pre-designed and configured with a bunch of elements that can be customized but only to a limited extent. The prime benefit of using templates for web design is that it is cheaper and faster to implement. The free templates are not that good for design, looks, and performance on search engines. And the ones which are paid have an annual fee which keeps increasing over time. 

On the other hand, if you hire a web development agency, they will code the entire website theme, layout, images, content, media, headings, and more. All the elements are truly customized to your business needs. Also, a professionally developed website ranks better in google. A completely customized website will make your practice stand out on the internet, which will set the path for your success. 

• Time required 

How many hours spent on building a website is a popular pricing model for web development. Especially if you hire an offshore web development company, the cost is according to the number of hours spent in coding and rendering the website.

Some websites can be built by changing the logo and adding the content in a pre-designed template, which is cheap and relatively fast. Still, it can never match a customized website's final finish and performance with many hours spent on developing the code and design. 

You must understand that developing a high-performing website takes much more time than a simple free template counted in pricing. This is why customized products in any industry cost more than the mass-produced items anyone can buy. It's exactly the same for healthcare website development. 

• Focus on the internal pages 

The homepage of a website is the showstopper; we never think beyond that, which should not be the case. You should pay attention to the internal pages because, as a medical institution or professional, not all the services and information can be provided on a single page. Most of the time, patients will land on internal pages, so adding amazing features, images, and the content will infuse trust in them and show your commitment to providing an excellent experience. 

• Mobile compatibility 

More people search about something on their mobile-first and not necessarily on desktop. Nowadays, almost all websites are built for mobile compatibility and to fit any screen size; the content is displayed on including tablets. But that is not all. Not all the components are reformatted to fit mobile screens. So, you should carefully consider the mobile version while website designing for user-friendliness, compatibility, and seamless experience; otherwise, if not all elements provide that one touch contact, you risk losing many patients. 

• SEO optimization and tech stack 

The technology space changes every day. There is always a newer version of tech available within a few months. It is important to future-proof your website with a tech stack that gets updated and is well equipped to handle any feature from the future. This includes choosing the right browser and hosting platforms like WordPress. Choosing a platform that gets regular technology updates will make you stay ahead of the crowd without getting stuck with a website that can't meet modern demands. 

• Maintenance 

A website is not for just a while; it is the front door of any medical practice online. It is a long-term investment. And one which should have a strong foundation that can easily withstand new technologies and standards over time. Also, when venturing into website development, you must know that websites need maintenance and regular updates or else it loses the touch of today and won't rank as highly as it should be. 

A web development package with timely maintenance is a better one than one-time product delivery. 

Summary 

While it is true that low-cost web development prices are enticing, such websites won't last long. As we discussed before, you get what you pay for. 

If you have any other doubts or questions about website design and development, speak to our healthcare industry expertise to improve your online presence.