Compare your website options
There are four realistic ways for a window or glazing business to handle its website. Each one suits someone. Here are the honest trade-offs, including the ones that count against our plan.
At a glance
| Point | Managed plan | DIY builder | One-off agency | Social only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Setup fee | Low | Highest | None |
| Your time | Low: supply content | High | Medium during the build | Ongoing posting |
| Product pages | Included | If you build them | If in the brief | Not really |
| Quote form for window jobs | Included | If you set it up | If in the brief | Messages only |
| Changes after launch | 5 a month included | You do them | Often billed | You post |
| Hosting and security | Included | Included in subscription | Often separate | Not applicable |
| Commitment | 12 months, then monthly | Subscription | Project contract | None |
General descriptions, not claims about any named provider. Prices and terms vary, so read any quote closely.
A managed website plan
Like this one: A$249 a month and A$499 setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum.
Suits: Businesses that want a proper site but don't have the time or interest to run one.
For
- Someone else builds, hosts and updates the site
- Edits are included, so the site keeps up with your range and photos
- Predictable cost you can budget monthly
- Pages and quote form planned for window work from the start
Against
- A 12-month commitment before you can leave without paying out the term
- Costs more over several years than a site you build and never touch
- You still supply the words and photos
- Changes beyond the monthly edits are quoted separately
A DIY website builder
You sign up to a builder, pick a template and make the site yourself.
Suits: Owners who enjoy the work and will keep the site current themselves.
For
- Low cash cost to start
- You control every change, any time
- Fine for a simple one-page presence
- No agency to wait on
Against
- Your evenings and weekends, which for most installers are already taken
- Templates are generic; product pages and a proper quote form are up to you
- Easy to launch and then leave untouched for years
- Paid add-ons for forms, bookings or extra pages can creep up
A one-off agency build
An agency or freelancer builds a site for a project fee.
Suits: Larger businesses with a budget and someone to look after the site after launch.
For
- Can be fully custom
- You own what you paid for, depending on the contract
- Good for businesses with an in-house person to maintain it
- Often includes copywriting or photography if you pay for it
Against
- Usually the largest upfront payment of the options
- Hosting, updates and changes often billed separately afterwards
- Every later change can mean a new quote and a wait
- Quality varies a lot; check who owns the domain and the site files
No website: Facebook or Instagram only
A business page on social media, plus a Google Business Profile.
Suits: Very new or very small operators testing the waters, ideally as a stepping stone.
For
- Free to set up
- Good for showing recent jobs as they happen
- Easy for past customers to share
- Works alongside a Google Business Profile
Against
- You don't control the platform, its rules or who sees your posts
- Hard to organise products, glass options and ratings so people can compare
- No quote form of your own asking the questions you need
- Some customers and most builders expect to find a website
How to choose
Start with time, not price. If you will genuinely update a site yourself every month, a DIY builder can work well and cost less. If you have a staff member who looks after marketing, a one-off build with them maintaining it can make sense. If neither is true, the site you build or buy will probably sit unchanged, and an out-of-date site is a poor showcase for a business that sells new windows.
Social pages are useful whichever you choose. Posting recent installs is good practice. It just works better pointing to a site where someone can compare your products and send a proper quote request. We cover that in website or Facebook page for a window company, and the costs in what a website costs a window company.
If the managed plan looks right, pricing sets out every term.
Not sure which option fits? Ask on a call
Tell us how you work now and we will say plainly whether the plan is the right choice or whether one of the other options suits you better.
A$249 a month, A$499 setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum term.
No obligation on the call. If the plan isn't right for how you work, we say so.