If you’re looking to set up a website in Kenya, this guide is for you.
I know setting up a website can be confusing and expensive. That’s why I created this guide to help business people understand what it takes to get a website in Kenya. I cover the costs, requirements, and anything else that might come up when creating your site.
You don’t have time or money to waste on something that doesn’t work out right away. This guide will ensure you’re not wasting either of those resources by showing you everything about getting your website in Kenya!
To get started right away and skip this guide, visit Nabaleka.com to get them to design your website.
Web Design in Kenya Overview
If you operate a company and don’t have a website, it’s time to think about getting one. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, Kenyans will soon do everything online, and you don’t want to be left out. The Internet is rapidly becoming the future of businesses in Kenya; therefore, it’s time to get
A website is no longer just a URL on the Internet in Kenya. It is more than that in Kenya today. It’s a tool where you may sell your items, interact with consumers, and so much more. Therefore, getting a website in Kenya is critical for both your company and its success.
Why choose a professional designer for your website?
Last year I launched a website, and I did it all by myself. Of course, nothing went as planned, and I ended up wasting my time and money trying to fix the mistakes I made. It wasn’t until this year that I discovered a professional website in Kenya for my business.
Individual Freelancers are a fantastic and adaptable choice because they will provide you with their full time. You may select a firm to develop your website rather than an individual if you’re a business. On the other hand, individual freelancers are fantastic and flexible, and they’ll give you their full attention.
The majority of websites in Kenya are already pre-designed using templates and themes. Templates make their job quicker and easier. You also obtain higher quality, but the issue arises when the designer does not modify it, resulting in a site comparable to others.
If you want to create your website from the ground up, be prepared to pay more, but make sure you choose a professional designer.
According to the Communication Authority of Kenya, as of June 2017, there were 43,329,434 Internet users in Kenya. These figures represent 89.4 percent of the population. The number is rising and will likely continue to grow in the future.
Web Design Requirements
To get your website designed, you need to have the following resources. If you don’t have them, talk to your web designer, and they can guide you.
- Domain Name
- Web hosting account
- Company Profile
- Brandable assets (Logo, company color, images of products, or office) can be in the company profile.
- You need to provide an overview of what you want from the designer.
- Money.
Website Design Cost in Kenya?
In Kenya, how much does a website cost? This one is a difficult question to answer. We spoke with a few web developers in Nairobi to find out. Most of them said it was based on many variables.
These are only some of the things that influence the price of a website in Kenya:
- Category of Business
- Several pages on the site.
- Duration of the project – This hugely depends on the type of website.
- Type of client – When we spoke with several developers, most of them told us that they charge customers differently based on their classification. For example, an individual customer’s cost is not the same as a business or a corporate.
To give a specific amount would not be correct, and I may get in trouble if I do so. But, to summarize, the cost of web design in Kenya ranges from KES 20 000 to over 1 million Kenyan Shillings.
A small business portfolio website should not cost more than 75,000 Kenyan Shillings.
How to Create a Website in Kenya
There is a procedure to be followed if you want to create a successful website in Kenya. Here’s my step-by-step guide to building a successful business website:
Step 1: Determine the purpose of your website.
The first step is to determine the purpose of your website. The reason you want to launch a website will affect how it looks, what content you provide, who edits this material, and how it is updated over time.
Some common purposes of websites include:
- To share information or news (i.e., media portal)
- To sell items (i.e., an online store)
- To present a professional image of a company (i.e., business website)
Before searching for a web designer in Kenya, you should list everything you want your website to accomplish. Consider the following questions while making your website’s purpose clear:
- What information do I want to share?
- Am I selling anything online?
- Will I be updating the websites with information?
- How will I use the website?
- Do I expect to make money from the website?
With these questions answered, you will know what type of website you want. The following are some of the popular brands of sites available.
- Static website – A static website is a non-editable brochure website. These types of sites are no longer necessary in the new information age.
- Editable brochure websites – These websites can update content. They have a Content Management System, making them dynamic and easy to manage.
- eCommerce Websites – They have payment software where you can sell products online. An example of a payment software is PayPal Kenya.
- Blogs – Used to generate content and articles.
- Progressive Web Application – These are complex types of websites with more going on. For example, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
The most popular method for creating a website is with a CMS (Content Management System). You may develop all sorts of websites in this area of the site.
WordPress is a popular CMS; it’s used on 31% of the Internet, from personal blogs to major news websites. So go with WordPress for your next website project.
Step 2: Decide your Domain Name.
Next, you will need a domain name. Your website’s domain name is the following part of your URL:
http://www.websiteName.com/
If you already have a business name idea, search to see if it’s available as a .com domain first. If you don’t find it there, try GoDaddy.com, Namecheap.com, and other domain name registrars to see if it’s available as a .co or .net domain.
If you haven’t decided on your business name yet – like many entrepreneurs and web designers in Kenya, don’t fret: You can always change your business name later on down the road.
Choosing a domain name should be the most straightforward task in running a company. Utilize your company name. If your firm’s name is long, see if you may abbreviate it.
Kenyans’ main issue is registering a domain under the country’s top-level domain, .co.ke, or the international standard domain extension, .com. Both are excellent and will provide you with everything you require.
The is an exception. If you want to target people worldwide, a .com domain would be ideal. A .co.ke is a good choice if you have a physical location and operate a company.
The price of a domain in Kenya is set at KES 1000 per year, although some registrars may charge 500 shillings.
Step 3: Choose a Web Host Kenya
When you have your domain name, you must pick where you host your site. A hosting company is a service that provides storage space on their servers so that when someone types in your web address or click on a link, it can be delivered to them.
Choosing a web hosting company based in another country or your own country is personal. However, go for a host with a good reputation and ensure they have an excellent support policy to assist you.
Step 4: Identify a Web Design Company
Many web design companies in Kenya want one that will take time to understand your needs and your business. Choose a company that will walk with you through the development phase and even after launching your website.
Go to Google and search for website design companies. Please select the first five and send them the same email. Look at how they will respond to your email. This will tell you if they are good or timewasters.
Also, it is essential to go through their website and look at how it is designed. A web design company with a poorly built website should not be in the web design business.
Make sure you have a well-written contract with your web designer. Ask them to send you one (a red flag if they cannot send you one). Would you please go through the deal since most web designers will protect themselves?
Always work with milestones or use down payments, don’t pay the total amount unless you are satisfied with the work.
Most importantly, try to arrange a meeting by visiting the company office and checking the office setup.
Step 5: Know the tools used.
Even if you don’t understand, make sure to ask how they will develop your website and what technologies will be used.
WordPress is one of the most popular tools used to build websites worldwide. This is because it is easy for anyone to handle the site and update it. When contacting a developer, ask them if they use WordPress. Make sure they use a premium theme or develop a custom one for you if they do.
Step 6: Test and publish your website
You must get the URL from your developer and test your site. Pass along the link to friends and employees to check the website.
When testing the website, look out for the following:
- Look and feel; it should be attractive to the eye. The layout should be classy and straightforward for someone to get around.
- Check on your mobile phone; it should look beautiful on mobile, and all the elements should be visible.
- Check loading speed, according to Google; a good website should load in under 3 seconds. However, if it loads for 7 seconds or less, it is ok. Anything more than that indicates a problem, and you should inform your web developer.
- Check on the image and content used. Don’t use wazungu images and ask where the developer got their pictures. Check spelling and grammar too.
Step 7: Market on social media/search engines
A website does not make you money; marketing the site will make you money. Having a website without sharing on social media is like the proverbial “winking to a girl in the dark.”
Ensure you develop a plan to market the website in the first few months after building.
Step 8: Update and maintain your website
If you take good care of your site, it will reciprocate and give you a good investment return. Make sure your web developer has a proper maintenance and update plan for you.
Web Development Companies in Kenya
Here is a list of the top web design companies in Kenya. We have checked the reviews online, and they are legit.
1. Nabaleka Digital Solutions
We have first-hand experience working with this company and are the best. Nabaleka is a leading Web Design & Digital Marketing Agency in Kenya. They focus on Web Design, Search Engine Optimization, and general Digital Strategy.
2. Kenya Web Designers
This company has more than eight years of experience building and developing websites in Kenya. They serve corporates, SMEs as well as individuals. The company also offers web hosting services.
3. Peak and Dale
This is one of the top web design companies in Kenya and serves many clients. Peak and Dale also offer domain name registration services, web design, and web hosting.
4. Kenya Web Experts
As the name says, these are experts in the Web industry. They are known for domain registration services. Kenya web experts provide the best web hosting services in Kenya.
5. Conquest Capital
This creative agency is based in Kilimani Nairobi; it offers web design, graphics design, and digital marketing.
I hope the above information about Web Design in Kenya will help you get your website online in no time. If you have any questions regarding web design in Kenya, feel free to leave a comment below.
