A Digital Strategy Podcast

What's Your Website Actually Costing You?

Episode Summary

In this conversation, Symon Oliver and Marcello Gortana delve into the complexities of total cost of ownership in website and product design. They discuss the often-overlooked costs associated with redesigns, including hosting, labor, and licensing, and emphasize the importance of understanding these costs during the planning phase. The conversation also touches on the challenges organizations face in accurately estimating these costs, the cultural attitudes towards website value, and the need for better communication and governance in project management.

Episode Notes

Takeaways

• Total cost of ownership includes hidden costs like hosting and labor.
• Organizations often underestimate the costs associated with website redesigns.
• Hosting costs can vary significantly and are often overlooked.
• Labor costs related to managing technology can add up quickly.
• RFPs rarely include detailed descriptions of hosting and management costs.
• Cultural attitudes towards websites affect how costs are perceived.
• Incremental delivery can help manage costs more effectively.
• Clients often lack awareness of their total spending on technology.
• Effective communication is key to understanding project costs.
• Managed hosting can provide peace of mind despite higher costs.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Total Cost of Ownership
• 04:28 Understanding Hidden Costs in Website Redesigns
• 10:16 The Role of Hosting and Labor Costs
• 16:14 Challenges in RFPs and Cost Management
• 22:08 Cultural Perspectives on Website Value
• 25:55 Hard Truths About Total Cost of Ownership