How to Promote a Web Hosting Business

12 years ago

How about doing it a big differently than everybody else? Try find a niche and focus on that. Offer them something exclusive for joining (such as templates, headers, graphics etc - created specifically for their niche).

Maybe offer them a free Themeforest template for a year signup, prepaid.

Thanks

Signature

Test my 21.03% CTR Theme
http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...?highlight=CTR

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384484].message }}

DustonMcGroarty

12 years ago

Hey Dee - I've seen a few successful marketers bundle this with another product. So maybe you offer another service like building a sales funnel for people and web hosting is include for the first 6 months, 12 months or forever if they're paying you monthly for your service.

Also, I felt I should mention... the market is NEVER too saturated. I hate when people say that. There's always a way to offer a better service, a better value, a better product and better customer service.

Be different. Do what others won't. You'll be on top.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

==> Free: Affiliate Marketing Case Studies & Tutorials

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384488].message }}

Dee Syed 12 years ago

Wow, thanks for the speedy feedback and inspiration, guys - especially Duston! You've just added a whole lot more to my motivation on this project. Great to have input from positive thinkers on any project

The idea of freebies and/or bundling both sound interesting. The niche I've selected is business hosting for UK SMEs, so I reckon they won't be too interested in graphics and stuff, but maybe more along the line of free books / whitepapers etc. to give it a professional edge? Anything else along these lines you can suggest?

As for bundling with other products, I can think only of web designers - most of whom already have their own reseller hosting, and maybe professionals like accountants/bookkeepers who can recommend this to their business for a %.

The site is still in a very early stage - still fiddling with the design, structure and copy and coding but it's almost there from the presentation point of view.

Here's how it stands now: DedicatedServerHostingUK | Dedicated Servers, VPS & Managed Web Hosting for Business to give you an idea of the audience I'm pitching at. BTW, I have an IT background, so am able to provide the ongoing support that this business will need if you're wondering.

Thanks for the suggestions once again, any input on site theme would also be much appreciated - it's a custom version of the toommorel-lite from fellow Warrior neeraga.

Dee
- Thanks
Signature

UK WordPress Website Design, Development and Hosting
There's only one thing we do and we do it well! Talk to us about your next WordPress project and let us make it happen. Our clients have been featured on the BBC and generate income running into six figures!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384607].message }}

DustonMcGroarty

12 years ago

I'm not sure I know what SME stands for... sorry. I assume some kind of professional. In this case, do they even know what hosting is? Why they need it? Which package they need based on their business?

Maybe you could offer to consult with them to determine what would fit well with their company.

Thanks

Signature

==> Free: Affiliate Marketing Case Studies & Tutorials

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384648].message }}

ACGroup1

12 years ago

It is so competitive that you really have to give away some enticements. Maybe offer free hosting for a period of time if they buy a website through you or vice versa offer a free website with hosting. This can work with targeted niches and local businesses to get you started.

Thanks

Signature

Warrior Deals on Fireplaces, Patio Heaters, or Gas Grills and more at HousewarmingHQ.com Contact me for Coupon codes

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384700].message }}

Dee Syed

12 years ago

@Duston: SMEs in the UK means small to medium enterprise (i.e. small businesses) - anything from your startup to those with around 500k-3m turnover. They would need hosting for a variety of reasons, whether for a fully online e-commerce project, file hosting or even to outsource their internal company network to a 3rd party. Sorry for the jargon!

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

UK WordPress Website Design, Development and Hosting

There's only one thing we do and we do it well! Talk to us about your next WordPress project and let us make it happen. Our clients have been featured on the BBC and generate income running into six figures!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384728].message }}

DustonMcGroarty

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Dee Syed

@Duston: SMEs in the UK means small to medium enterprise (i.e. small businesses) - anything from your startup to those with around 500k-3m turnover. They would need hosting for a variety of reasons, whether for a fully online e-commerce project, file hosting or even to outsource their internal company network to a 3rd party. Sorry for the jargon!

No worries, but back to my question... do they know they need hosting? They know they need to be online and all that but do they understand how it works or would you need to jump in and take them by the hand?

This is where you could be different. All other hosts sit back and wait for people to come to them that already know they need hosting. What about all the people that have no clue what hosting is?

I understand they may have some IT guys take care of this but they aren't the ones cutting the check. I'm saying go to the top and make yourself known.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

==> Free: Affiliate Marketing Case Studies & Tutorials

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384764].message }}

DonMarketer

12 years ago

Selling hosting is a very competitive business model.

In order to succeed you'll need to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack.

I do sell hosting, but most of my clients are from the internet marketing niche.

When they arrive at my squeeze page and enter their name and email address, I email them my give away product. After that I follow up with other offers, which include a professinally designed website, blog theme, squeeze page and some more... In the process I promote a very valuable free offer which is only available to those who buy hosting from me. Then I even offer to help with the hosting mechanics if they need it... I won't say more to avoid copycats

Maybe you could create something similar based on your niche's needs.

The first step is to choose your target market niche, identify their needs, see if you can fulfil their needs and in the process get them to buy hosting from you. That would be a win win situation...

Originally Posted by Dee Syed

Hi Warriors,

Just wanted to pick your brains on how you would best go about promoting a web hosting business. I know all the stuff about the market being saturated, etc. so please no downers about barking up the wrong tree or I'll lose my motivation :rolleyes:

Seriously, for the seasoned warriors out there from whom I learn and continue to learn on a daily basis, the question is:

- You want to start a web-hosting business.
- You have a reseller account plus the website and payment processors in place.
- You have some funds, but not heaps with which to market your business.

Looking forward to your thoughts. How would you go about it? How would you get that first client? And then, how would you build the business going forward...

Questions, questions... I know

Cheers,
Dee

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

***Traffic Is The Life Blood of Your Online Business***

Want To Send Hoards Of Traffic To Your Website Without Paying A Penny? => Click Here!<=

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384798].message }}

Stevie Johnson 12 years ago

A top Notch Affiliate Program will help!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384884].message }}

ElaineHenderson

12 years ago

I would buy banner ads on webmaster forums and also do a "welcome offer", some discount on a plan of 1-2 months so the customers will be able to check the services and decide if they want to stay or leave.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6384883].message }}

whland

11 years ago

Originally Posted by ElaineHenderson

I would buy banner ads on webmaster forums and also do a "welcome offer", some discount on a plan of 1-2 months so the customers will be able to check the services and decide if they want to stay or leave.

Banner ads on webmaster/webhosting and other related sites are in my plans soon for webhositng-land

Currently we just post ads in forums that allow hosting offers to be posted. It seems to be working so far.

Chad

Thanks

Signature

WebMasterBabble.com Webmaster Forum

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8265136].message }}

Michael Ray

12 years ago

My son asked me to partner with him on a re seller web hosting business less than two months ago. The going so far has been slow but consistent effort is paying off. If we could start all over I would have insisted on one missing piece. He did not have a well thought out business plan that involved research and good feedback from those already successful in this kind of business.

If you don't have your business plan in place, do it asap. You will find that it will help you stay on track. I hope this helps.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6385769].message }}

abuhanifa

12 years ago

find affiliates to promote your business , more over try to reach clients before your competitor. I may be writing a thread on how to do this

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

$500 daily limit fb ads accounts in stock
Skype : abuhaneefa7

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6385868].message }}

Dee Syed 12 years ago

Thanks for the tip, Michael - I have a straw-man plan in place but your comments inspire me to take it more seriously.

So far, we have some common themes running through the replies:

- Differentiate/Stand out from the crowd.
- Offer some kind of incentive to clients.
- Get an affiliate program up and running.
- Have a plan.

The first two are quite easy to figure out but the last ones are probably worth a thread in their own right

On the assumption that there must be others in my position who would find this info useful, can anyone explain:

- How to get an affiliate program up and running from scratch without breaking the bank. Where to recruit, what software/tools etc would be handy.

- As marketers, what are the must-have elements of a pre-launch business plan and over what length of time?

Thanks for all the responses - this is exactly what's great about the WF!

Dee
- Thanks
Signature

UK WordPress Website Design, Development and Hosting
There's only one thing we do and we do it well! Talk to us about your next WordPress project and let us make it happen. Our clients have been featured on the BBC and generate income running into six figures!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6386251].message }}

williamk

Banned 12 years ago

PPC and Banner Buys along with affiliates. That is the best way to promote your services. Also unless you are sure that your service is really good, its not worth promoting it. Because one bad review at starting will ruin you.
But I recommend using Ebay to get initial customers too.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6389200].message }}

elzafonv

12 years ago

work on your USP, try to get some furom traffic. good luck.

Thanks

Signature

and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6390051].message }}

William Maloney

12 years ago

In my opinion, the best way of starting a web-hosting business is by offering sponsorships to (important) bloggers, websites and so on. In exchange for the free webhost, they will have to put backlink + write an article about your webhosting services.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

tigari electronice
--
EDIT BY MODERATOR: Why does your location say "Chicago" when your IP is in Romania?
I'm staying in Romania for a while but I'm from Chicago, is there a problem?

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6390107].message }}

Noel Cunningham

12 years ago

You could run an advertisement in your local paper saying you are giving away 50 Free Websites etc.

Direct them to your website where they will be instructed that the only cost of getting their free website is purchasing some hosting (which every site needs

...) Then direct them to buy their hosting through your affiliate link, from my host I get $65 per referal.

All you need to do then is hire an outsourcer for a couple of hundred bucks per month and get them to buy the domain and install a basic WP site.

If you did 50 sites per month (which is small change) that would generate $3,250 in commissions from the hosting company

Not you have your client base and they love you because you built them a Free site so you can easily Upsell them on some of your other services like:

- premium website design
- SEO services
- custom graphics/logo design

The possibilities are endless with something like this. Good luck with it..

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Killing Off the Day Job...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6390611].message }}

fated82

12 years ago

I don't sell web hosting but here are some ideas you can take away and run with it.

One member here used to give away a free website for every client who sign up with his web hosting package. Can you give complementary services away for free when a new client sign up?

Also, you must know that most businesses already have hosting providers, so the only way to get clients will be those without a website OR those who are fustrated with their hosting providers. Can you a promo for these group of ppl?

You need to bundle your hosting service with something else. I suggest having several other front end services or products and make your hosting service a backend profit center.

Lastly, brainstorm and decide who you can work with. Leverage on other biz who might need your services for their clients.

Thanks

Signature

Get 50% Recurring Commissions Promoting Football Betting Tips!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6390946].message }}

multiplecloud

12 years ago

Hosting business is already red ocean. In marketing perspective, I will have target customer type first, web designer, internet marketing, web master. Then finding the list and make invitation to try our service. People who looking for hosting account will have many choice, so they will be not know how to pick only good hosting. So they will find some review/word of mouth/suggestion from their friend. The first 10 clients is very hard to start with. However if it pass the first 10 the first 50 or even the first 100 clients, power for word of mouth will be multiple, more and more. Given your service is good and have no problem.

Thanks

Signature

█ SafePBN - PBN on different shared hosting company
█ 100% no bad neighborhood | host pbn at safest
█ MultipleCloud - Multiple location hosting provider
█ 200+ worldwide location | different server | different ip owner | best for pbn

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6462140].message }}

BamIPD

11 years ago

Target current HostGator customers and give them 6 months free and offer to help them transfer their (100) sites over. There seems to be a lot of people fed up with HG, so maybe you can pull a few of them to your service.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8265164].message }}

Kingfish85

11 years ago

Thread is over a year old since the last post. It appears the OP has just abandoned the site anyhow. content such as "Text Goes Here" found on various pages with affiliate links to other providers.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

|~| VeeroTech Hosting - sales @ veerotech.net
|~| High Performance CloudLinux & LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting
|~| cPanel & WHM - Softaculous - Website Builder - R1Soft - SpamExperts
|~| Visit us @veerotech Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8265207].message }}

mosthost

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kingfish85

Thread is over a year old since the last post. It appears the OP has just abandoned the site anyhow. content such as "Text Goes Here" found on various pages with affiliate links to other providers.

Of course he did. He was approaching this in a half-assed way to say the least.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8265326].message }}

Kingfish85 11 years ago

Originally Posted by mosthost

Of course he did. He was approaching this in a half-assed way to say the least.

I know. OP didn't get rich over night like so many think.
- Thanks
Signature

|~| VeeroTech Hosting - sales @ veerotech.net
|~| High Performance CloudLinux & LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting
|~| cPanel & WHM - Softaculous - Website Builder - R1Soft - SpamExperts
|~| Visit us @veerotech Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8265331].message }}

vietnap

11 years ago

I just had an interesting call from an old friend, asking me why we haven't advertised much and if we need some investments. I know that, we don't build business based-on advertising. We tried sometimes before, but somehow it's not working with our business model. We mostly get customers based on "word of mouth" references.

Mind you, that will be a slower way. But from my experience, it's bringing you stable, long-term customers. We still have customers who have been working with us since 2003. If you go that way, the quality of service is the most important thing.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8266380].message }}

Kingfish85

11 years ago

Originally Posted by vietnap

I just had an interesting call from an old friend, asking me why we haven't advertised much and if we need some investments. I know that, we don't build business based-on advertising. We tried sometimes before, but somehow it's not working with our business model. We mostly get customers based on "word of mouth" references.

Mind you, that will be a slower way. But from my experience, it's bringing you stable, long-term customers. We still have customers who have been working with us since 2003. If you go that way, the quality of service is the most important thing.

X100 on that. Unless you're selling unlimited this & that, have tens of thousands to waste on ads & are paying 50-100+ to affiliates, it's just a waste other than the normal forum posts.

Most of the customers clicking the ads are not looking for limited services , they're looking for cheap, bargain basement deals. Ultimately, leads to expecting the world for a few pennies.

Thanks

Signature

|~| VeeroTech Hosting - sales @ veerotech.net
|~| High Performance CloudLinux & LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting
|~| cPanel & WHM - Softaculous - Website Builder - R1Soft - SpamExperts
|~| Visit us @veerotech Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8266394].message }}

aarthielumalai

11 years ago

Hey Dee,

There is this nifty method that marketers have been doing for some time. They usually promote a hosting affiliate program with this method, but you could try the same for your reseller site.

In this method, you'll offer a free basic website to business people in exchange for them buying your hosting. A basic 3 or 5 page site with a basic theme would do I guess. You can later upsell SEO services or other designing and programming services to the same client too.

You can find these business people in yellow pages. But, I'd suggest you target countries other than the US, because almost every marketer targets the US market, and you might have a lot of competition.

Good luck.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8266470].message }}

How to Promote a Web Hosting Business

Trending Topics

Been a while! Any of you Old Timers here?

How much does the rebranding affect CR ?

Are billboards still effective in driving customers?

Boat and Jet Ski Rentals...... Door Hangers Effective?

Clickbank low cost recurring