How should companies budget for a website project?

Companies should budget for a website project by allocating a portion of their total marketing budget (typically 10-20% of gross revenue) to digital infrastructure, then sizing the website investment based on scope, business goals, and expected customer acquisition value. Budgeting should account for both the initial build and ongoing annual costs for maintenance, content, and optimization.

Defining clear goals and objectives before setting a budget number prevents scope from expanding without corresponding budget adjustments. Taking inventory of every technology, vendor, and media cost currently counting against the marketing budget reveals what is already committed and what is available for the website project. Monthly budget tracking by channel and campaign (budgeted amount, amount spent, amount remaining, cumulative totals) keeps spending visible and prevents end-of-year surprises. Website costs are not one-time: ongoing content creation, testing, conversion optimization, security patches, and software updates require continuous allocation. Planning monthly budget distribution at the start of the year, with adjustments for seasonality and one-time costs, provides the structure needed to absorb website project phases without disrupting other marketing commitments.