What Do Dental Websites Cost In 2024?
Dental website costs in 2024 can range from $1,000 on the very low end, up to $20,000 or more on the high end. There are several factors that will determine your bottom line website design fees such as complexity of the site, platform (such as Wordpress), template vs. custom, and expertise of the designers and developers involved.
It’s hard to give an absolute price when writing an article about what dental websites cost in 2024. As humans we generally perceive that the advancement of technology should always make tech cheaper. And while technology has made things more accessible to everyone, it hasn’t necessarily made anything cheaper. Even if you’re considering a DIY website, expect to pay several $100’s of dollars + monthly fees just to utilize the latest platforms.
Factors That Determine What Your Dental Website Will Cost
There are several factors that will determine cost scale when hiring a dental website design company, depending on whether the website is built on a template, or designed custom for your practice. Expect to pay at least $3,500 for a reworked template website, and at least $6,500 for fully custom. Custom photography and videography can also raise the price tag substantially. Another factor to consider is if the website is built on an open source CMS such as Wordpress, or custom coded using HTML, CSS and additional coding languages.
Template vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom
So what is the difference between a custom vs. template (or even a semi-custom website)?
Dental website template cost breakdown: Some designers and smaller design firms use pre-designed and developed Wordpress themes. These templates can be found on market places such as Themeforest or Envato. The problem with these templates is that they’ve been prebuilt for other purposes, and generally contain a lot of bloat, large files, aren’t technically sound and just bad for SEO. I personally would never recommend using a pre-purchased template.
💰 Price tag: $50 DIY to around $3,000
📅 Timeframe: Typically a few days to weeks
Semi-custom dental website cost breakdown: These are generally built from scratch by dental marketing companies. They then change the elements around and drop client photos/videos into the existing page templating for each client they work with. This then gives the websites a more “custom” feel, but may or may not be super engaging for potential patients and could be full of stock photography.
💰 Price tag: $3,500 to around $5,500
📅 Timeframe: Typically 2-8 weeks
Elevate DDS semi-custom frameworks breakdown: Our take at Elevate DDS is slightly different, in that we use our semi-custom themes as “frameworks,” and layer in the branding, design, photos & video of our clients. We also use minimal, if any stock photography on the final product. This all ensures each dental client website is actually unique and not “templatized.”
💰 Price tag: $3,900
📅 Timeframe: 1-2 weeks
Custom dental websites cost breakdown: Custom websites are built from the ground up and designed from scratch based on your specific needs and desires. The custom design process is typically kicked off with a design discovery session. From there mockups are generally delivered with ensuing rounds of edits. Once the mockups are finalized, production is started and your dreams become reality. Custom websites have much more flexibility, functionality and limitless “pizazz.”
💰 Price tag: $6,000 - $20,000 (or more)
📅 Timeframe: Minimum 4-8 weeks or longer
Uniquely Designed Homepage vs. Service Pages
A lot of dental website companies create amazing looking homepages, but neglect the service or interior page aesthetics & layouts. Expect to pay more when designers have taken more time and effort within the interior pages of your website.
Target Demographic
Oftentimes the glitz and glamor associated with high end cosmetic services come with a larger price tag. Getting quality photography or even finding the right stock imagery can be time intensive and pricy. Elaborate design layouts can also add to the bottom line.
Be on the lookout for dental implant specialty marketing companies. Some companies do offer more value when it comes to video production related to implant services. These companies may be worth the price tag for quality levels. However, some companies are predatory and view the increased value of implant cases as a perfect time to overcharge for services…
Competition Level
Unfortunately your competition level will play into what you should plan to spend on your dental website design costs. Think about the competition level in Beverly Hills. If you were planning to open your own practice in 90210, you’d be competing with dentists turned E! Entertainment reality TV stars (not that there’s anything wrong with that). They probably all spent tens of thousands of dollars on aesthetically pleasing sites. A redesigned template probably won’t stand out in that crowd, and it probably won’t earn you new patient business (or movie star smiles).
Can You Overpay For A Dental Website?
Sure you can. Just like you can buy a used car for more than it’s worth. But a Ferrari is still a Ferrari even if you overpaid for it. If it’s built well, looks great and gets you from A to B (i.e. new patients), then it’s going to cost you a bit of money.
" Your website is probably the most important representation of your brand and should be treated as an investment.
Could You Be Underpaying For Your Website?
You might be thinking, "How can I be paying too little when I'm trying to get the best deal?" On rare occasions you might be right. But let's consider something important—if you really care about how your website looks, you want it to attract new patients, and you hope to be the first name that pops up in Google searches, then there's quite a bit of work to be done. It's true what they say, "you get what you pay for." If you're not willing to invest in your website or online presence, then you're probably not paying enough. The truth is, getting to the top of the internet game takes a lot of effort and time. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to be willing to put in the work, or find the right folks who know how to get you there and are worth the investment. It all starts with a solid foundation, i.e. your website.
Should You Ever DIY It?
Weebly, Squarespace and even Wordpress can offer the do-it-yourselfer some intriguing options when it comes to website design. These platforms are generally easy to use, and the online support and helper communities are plentiful. However, in my experience with Weebly and Squarespace, the foundations of SEO (search engine optimization) are lacking. And what's the point of having a really beautiful website if no one can find or see it? It’s like painting the Mona Lisa to hang in your garage.
" If you want an aesthetically pleasing website that ranks in Google, you definitely don’t want to DIY it…
Wordpress is a great option for the tech savvy DIY-er as page builders such as Divi, Beaver Builder and Elementor make it super easy to layout your entire website. At Elevate DDS we even use a combination of Wordpress and Elementor. I will say however, that I’ve personally been involved with Wordpress design and development for over 15 years and I’m not even close to mastering it. If you decide to go this route, I promise you’ll discover all of the DIY pitfalls sooner rather than later.
I could list a million reasons why it’s a bad idea, but the TL;DR is: If you want an aesthetically pleasing website that ranks in Google, you definitely don’t want to DIY it…
How Often Should You Redesign Your Website?
A dental office should aim to redesign their website every 4 to 5 years to stay aligned with the latest web design trends, technology improvements, and evolving patient needs. This periodic update ensures your website remains attractive, easy to navigate, and functional across all devices, especially as more people use mobile phones to access the internet. If your practice undergoes significant changes, such as new services or a shift in branding, or if patient feedback and website analytics suggest usability issues, it might be time to consider a redesign sooner. Additionally, keeping your site updated can help with search engine rankings by adhering to the latest SEO strategies.
Technological advancements may introduce new features that can enhance the user experience, such as online booking systems or interactive chatbots, making your website more efficient and user-friendly. By continuously evaluating your website's performance and staying up-to-date with digital trends, you can ensure your online presence effectively attracts new patients and serves existing ones.
Where Can You Save Money On Dental Website Design Costs?
Negotiations can be done if you really have a strong relationship with a particular designer or marketing company, but pricing structures are there for a reason. Copywriters, designers, developers and SEO professionals all need to make a living. The best way to save money is to ask the right questions upfront. Do your research, be upfront and transparent about what you want and ask the right questions of your design company. This will help you save costs from getting burned or getting a website that doesn’t represent your brand or business.
Don't Forget About Additional Costs Associated With A Dental Website
Even when you’ve got your website ready to launch, be prepared for a few additional expenses. You’ll need to ensure you've covered essential steps beyond design. Secure reliable hosting to make your site accessible, and register a domain name for your online address. Implement an SSL certificate to protect patient data. Plan for ongoing website maintenance to address updates and security. Invest in content creation for engaging site material and consider SEO and marketing efforts to boost visibility. The cost of SEO in 2024 may surprise you. Comply with legal standards, including privacy laws and ADA guidelines. Set up backups to safeguard your site's data, and use analytics tools to track performance. Lastly, budget for professional services for continued support or enhancements. These steps are crucial for a smooth launch and the sustained success of your website.
If you are interested in a free quote for your practice and want to learn how we can improve your results, please schedule a time with a sales rep here, or give us a call today at (888) 300-8994. We will personally walk you through what you need to do to improve your website and internet marketing results!
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