Building great insurance websites can be difficult. However, here are a few tips that might make it easier for you. While we have cautioned about not using website builders, here are some things you should do. Most of this advice has to do with saving time. Saving time directly translates into saving money.
Budget: Know your budget and stick to it. Whether you have $5,000 or $50,000 to spend will greatly influence what you can do with your website. But even if it is only $5,000 that is still enough to have a good site. Be sure to share your budget with any web designers or marketers that you consider contracting.
Avoid stock photos (for people): Sometimes businesses see stock photos as a cost saving measure. However, if you do your research and use a good photographer for your website, it can save you 
money in the long run. It also helps with your customers if they can see pictures of the people they talk to on your site. Instead of random guys in suits. By the way, if you need a good release for your staff to sign, download customizable video and photo release.
Know what you want: I cannot emphasize enough that you need to know what you want from your financial services site going in. That means that you need to know your goals, your message, your unique selling proposition, your marketing strategy, all of these before you write one line of code.
Know what you like: You need to have an idea of what you like before getting started, while your web developer is going to help you refine your vision, having a broad base of “we like this, and we hate this” is going to save you tons of time. If you already have a style guide pass that along as well. If there is anything, you want to change in the guide be sure you bring that up as before you build your insurance website.
Use a CMS: A CMS, or Content Management System, is going to make things easier and less expensive in the future. With a traditional website, you have to go back to the developer or designer to make changes to your site. So whenever you have a change, i.e., add a service or change your about page, you get a charge.
It is much easier to use a CMS where you can make the changes yourself. In fact, your web designer should offer some training to one of your staff members in the proposal, so you have this option.
Team: Pick your team wisely. Make sure that they have the time and desire to help with this project. Your website will probably be your financial services companies biggest marketing spend of the year, so make it count.
With these caveats in mind, you can build the best insurance website and stick to your budget. If you want to learn more about building a great insurance website, get our Guide to Building the Foundation for a Great Insurance Website.