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Evaulating Web Site Performance
Evaulating Web Site Performance
By: William R. Nabaza of www.Nabaza.com
Setting up a website is the very first step of an Internet
marketing campaign, and the success or failure of your site
depends greatly on how specifically you have defined...
How to select a WEB HOST - Web Hosting Review
Here are some things you should look for when comparing basic web hosts: 1)How much storage space does the web host provide? 2)How much does each additional meg of storage space cost? 3)How much bandwidth is allowed each month? 4)How much...
Site Bread and Butter work – The Web and Graphic Designer’s loss of EASY dollars
With the provision of a local ‘Control Panel’, on your computer ready to adjust the slightest of web site changes, additions or corrections; Web Designers or even traditional Graphic Designers can use, web hosting company, M6.net’s newest creation...
Website
Website
There is nothing really specific that will make". A Website, as I mentioned before, is about expressing your 'personality'. This is what makes a site interesting, because everyone has a unique personality.
If you are designing your...
Why Top-earning Affiliates Have Their Own Domains And Websites
Many affiliate programs usually provide special web pages for their affiliates. This is one of the reasons why it may appear very strange, at first, that most top affiliates and the high earners from affiliate programs will most certainly always...
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Sell Web Hosting for Fun and Profit
Sell Web Hosting for Fun and Profit
by Dan Forootan
The market is good for new Web hosting companies. According to Forrester Research, there is now "positive -- if modest -- growth for Web hosting and managed IT services, at both the enterprise and SMB levels." This is an especially good business to be in if you are a web designer or IT consultant. It fits naturally with the business model of such small consulting firms. Why refer out or miss out on selling a service that most small businesses need? Hosting is an excellent source of monthly recurring revenue.
The hosting industry is one of the few profitable sectors of the Internet. As such, large corporations such Yahoo are offering Web hosting services. You, too, can join this highly profitable business and reap the financial awards -- but only if you do it right. To build a successful Web hosting company, I offer the following two time-tested and proven rules: Focus on offering high-quality services in a tiered pricing schedule.
In addition, it is essential an automated infrastructure to create self-sufficient customers. For marketing, it is crucial to maximize intelligent marketing opportunities. Automation will create a self-sufficient client-base and reduce your expenses down the road. In order to provide the best-possible service, you'll want a minimum of the following processes automated: order forms (for new customer account set up or existing customer updates), billing system, administration system, end-user control panel, and technical support interface.
Order Forms
The front end of your order form should serve an minimum of these four key functions: 1) verify domain information for registration purposes, 2) validate entered results, 3) process the customer's credit card or create an invoice, 4) enter the customer's information into billing database for future use.
The backend of the order form must process the domain registration (if customer needs to register one) and generate the Web hosting account.
Administration System
The administration system is necessary to manage ordered accounts. You may wish to manually add or remove new domains, change passwords, etc.
End-User Control Panel
The end-user control panel is necessary for allowing your customers to manage their accounts. At the very least, customers should be able to set up their own e-mail accounts, view Website statistics, and manage their files.
Billing System
An automated billing system is an absolute must! The billing system should e-mail invoices, charge credit cards, and suspend overdue accounts. The system should also allow the you to issue credit or discounts as needed.
Technical Support Interface
By technical support interface, I'm not referring to a system that merely generates trouble tickets. An effective tech-support interface automatically generates an FAQ-interface that customers can search before submitting trouble tickets. These interfaces can reduce technical support
requests by a factor of 10!
Also, be sure that the company you go with offers the option of taking care of technical support on your behalf but branded with your brand. You can then focus your energy on your core competencies and growing your business.
Maximize Intelligent Marketing Opportunities
You know what platform you want to use, you've figured out what packages to offer, and set up a tiered pricing schedule and automated systems. So how do you get the word out about your new hosting service?
Pay per Click
Pay per Click can potentially allow you to reach large numbers of customers. Although you don't pay to list your site, you do pay when a user clicks on your listing and connects to your site. How, then, do you get your site high on the results lists? You must engage in a bidding war over how much you're willing to pay for each person who clicks through to your site. The stakes have recently grown pretty high, so be careful about bidding too high. Just because someone clicks through to your Web hosting site, doesn't mean they'll convert into a new account. Also be sure to select targeted keywords not competing with everyone else for the same keywords. That is a very difficult game to win. Find your niche.
Hosting Directory Sites
There are numerous Web sites known as hosting directories -- that attract Web hosting customers. These hosting directories are an excellent place to advertise, but be selective in your placement. Many offer banner placement, spotlights, search enhancements, and other forms of advertisement. As a general rule keep in mind that banner ads are better for creating brand recognition than generating new accounts, so advertise based on your budget, not on your expectation of new clientele.
Leverage Your Current Client Base
If you run an established Web design firm, information portal, or domain registration service, you can immediately begin marketing to your current clients. A simple e-mail to your customer base can quickly generate a large number of accounts. There are permission-based email marketing services, such as StreamSend, that work very well for earning more revenue from your current customers and gaining additional customers. Try a free trial of one or more of these services to find one that works well for your needs.
Offer New Products and Services
Keep in mind, once you acquire a solid customer base, you can consider developing new products and services to keep your customers happy and to generate additional revenue. But always remember: Quality is key!
About the Author
<em>Dan Forootan</em> founded <a
href="http://www.ezpublishing.com/">EZ Publishing, Inc. in 1998. EZ Publishing's Backend Hosting solution provides you with the infrastructure needed to achieve the automation of providing hosting services, including order form, billing, and the technical support interface. We can even do the technical support on your behalf.
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