The verdict in three sentences
For an expatriate family arriving in Hong Kong, the school website is often the first admissions interview, and a slow, dated site that is vague on fees loses the visit before open day. A serious redesign usually costs USD 10,000 to 32,000 with a local agency, while the Kolonell fixed grid runs from USD 2,900 (Starter) to USD 8,900 (Premium). The real risks of a redesign lie elsewhere than the price: lost Google rankings, poorly protected children's data and outdated admissions content.
Is your current site hurting your credibility with families?
Relocating families compare four or five schools from London, Singapore or San Francisco, often on a phone, before booking a visit. They look at the curriculum (IB, British, American or French, whichever the school actually offers), accreditations actually held, the admissions calendar, fees, campus and school transport. These are the signals that cost you applications.
| Signal on the current site | What a family thinks | Expected fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fees missing or in a 2023 PDF | "They are hiding something" | Up-to-date fees page, debentures and extra charges explained |
| Last year's admissions dates | "The school is not kept current" | Dated calendar, updated every term |
| Partial or machine-translated Traditional Chinese version | "Local families are not a priority" | Content written or reviewed by a native speaker |
| Slow mobile site, 6 MB photos | "Poorly organised" | Optimised images, load under 3 seconds |
| No information on school buses or campuses | Another call or email, or a drop-off | Campus and transport page by district |
| Enquiry form collecting too much data | Parents grow wary | Minimal form, clear privacy notice |
Ground rules for this niche: never display exam results, rankings, pupil numbers or accreditations that are not official and verifiable. Pupil photos are published only with parental consent, and children's data must be kept to the strict minimum.
What does a redesign cost in Hong Kong in 2026?
Local figures are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical Hong Kong agency quotes, converted approximately at HKD 7.8 to USD 1. Kolonell prices are fixed and stated in USD.
| Option | Local range (HKD) | Approximate equivalent (USD) | Usual timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer or small studio | HKD 25,000 to 70,000 | about USD 3,200 to 9,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Mid-sized local agency | HKD 80,000 to 250,000 | about USD 10,000 to 32,000 | 10 to 16 weeks |
| High-end education specialist agency | HKD 300,000 to 800,000 | about USD 38,000 to 100,000 | 4 to 6 months |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual) | USD 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery and 3 months of support. Premium is the multilingual tier: for a Hong Kong school, English and Traditional Chinese is the most common combination, and languages are set in the quote. An online admissions portal, a connection to the school information system (SIS), a parent area and fee payment integrations are on quote, as is maintenance after the 3 included months. Tier details are on our international offer page.
What can go wrong during a redesign, and how do you limit it?
The Kolonell timelines above start once content is ready: approved admissions copy, authorised photos, fees confirmed by the bursar.
| Risk | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Google traffic | Fewer enquiries at the height of admissions season | URL inventory, 301 redirect map, Search Console monitoring for 8 weeks |
| Content migration | Policy or scholarship pages lost | Page-by-page mapping sheet approved by the school |
| Personal data | Parent complaints, PCPD involvement | Minimal forms, PDPO-aligned notice, restricted access |
| Unverified content | Claim about a curriculum or accreditation not held | Review by academic leadership before go-live |
| Downtime at switchover | Enrolment form unavailable | Switch outside admissions peaks, test the form on the day |
| Accessibility | Visually impaired parents excluded | WCAG 2.1 AA target on key pages |
In Hong Kong, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO) governs data collection, overseen by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD). A form asking for a child's date of birth, school reports and passport should justify every field. This is not legal advice: your adviser should approve the privacy notice.
When is a local agency the better choice?
To be fair: a Hong Kong agency is preferable if you need a team on campus to shoot video every month, a complex admissions portal tied to the SIS from day one, or a Chinese-language advertising campaign run locally. Kolonell makes sense when the need is a solid marketing and admissions site, delivered quickly, on a controlled budget.
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Questions to ask any provider: who writes the Traditional Chinese version, how many 301 redirects are planned, how the form complies with the PDPO, who holds the domain credentials, and what gets billed after delivery.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. "Harbourview International School" (a fictional name) receives a local quote of HKD 180,000, about USD 23,000, for a bilingual redesign over 14 weeks. It compares this with the Kolonell Premium tier at USD 8,900, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks once content is ready. It adds USD 3,000 for campus photography and USD 2,500 for a Chinese review by an external translator: USD 14,400 in total.
The gap of roughly USD 8,600 pays for a year of virtual tours or open days. The school keeps its current admissions portal and asks for a separate quote to connect it later.
FAQ
How long does a school website redesign take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks on Starter or Growth and 4 to 6 weeks on Premium, once content is ready. Local agencies tend to quote 10 to 16 weeks.
Should we publish tuition fees?
It is strongly advisable: relocating families compare fees before booking a visit. A clear page with annual fees and debentures saves dozens of emails each season.
Can we show photos of pupils?
Yes, only with parents' written consent and no full names attached. Plan a bank of 40 to 80 authorised photos for a redesign.
Is the admissions portal included?
No. An online portal, an SIS connection and fee payment are on quote, because they depend on the tools already in place.
How do we avoid losing our Google rankings?
By listing every existing URL, preparing a 301 redirect map and monitoring Search Console for at least 8 weeks after the switch.
Let's scope your project. A redesign on the multilingual Premium tier, languages set in the quote (for example English and Traditional Chinese), with redirects and a compliant enquiry form, takes 4 to 6 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.