Some managers also expressed surprise that after adding staff to build the site, other people with different skills are needed to maintain it. As the Web becomes more complex, costs rise. Even the simplest scenarios increase expenses. However, a Phoenix employee has to spend one to two days a month coordinating with product managers to determine what new information should go on the site. According to Forrester, the Internet connection is another common source of cost surprises.
Companies often outsource the hosting of their site.
A smaller hidden expense could be called the price of success. If you think you're doing a modest site and begin getting 50,000 hits a month, maintenance costs will rise. Marketing can spring another surprise. On the high end, some companies launch elaborate contests with prizes to tempt visitors to a site. Indeed, Gokorsch, the Rockwell marketing manager, generated a launch kit for the site just as he would for a new product.