We began life making our own websites, only one major one to begin with. After some years our sites were bought out and we needed a new direction. We already used a reseller program as we had over 20 of our own websites and found it more economical to go down this route than having them all individually hosted. As time went on we started to focus more on hosting as our other sites brought in less. 2 years later I can tell you it can be tough as you are constantly finding new angles to gain clients. We have had to think 'outside of the box' when it comes to advertising.
We get around the whole support issue by saying we provide email support and all emails are answered within 24 hours, which suits us fine.
Hosting can be a great revenue which can last a lifetime (or for how long your customer is in business), but it is alot of work trying to outdo your competitors in an already heavily competitive game, and they spend millions a year in advertising.
I have been doing this for about 4 years and like doing it but the realities of meeting my customers needs hit hard especially if I am more customer service oriented than my host. I host several email and websites for people I know and it is had to leave them aside. I feel responsible and helpless to fix their problems. One hosting company was blacklisted and they had no urgency to fix the problem and asked me to pay another fee for a private IP address. I did because it was the quickest answer for my client. The vacation thing is also another burden, thank God for laptops and access to the internet from most places. On one of my vacations, I had to go to a library while in Canada to resolve my problems.
I find that all the companies offer the same thing and all are bad in the sense that they take their jolly old time to respond. Is this typical of what we have become because I see it in a different way at many places where customer service is essential; those who provide it do not know what it is.
The concept is so good but there are several companies just making it bad. Wish I could get a company where I can discuss things with them and resolve them together. I have found that the customers are willing to wait if a solution is on the way; they become impatient and upset if nothing is being done.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Please recommend a company you think is responsive.
I started hosting back in 1999 for some private companies via shared hosting. I have to say this was a nightmare due to lack of good support. I am a MCSE and when my hands are tied it kills me. Over the next few years I had 5 different Alpha Master Reseller accounts that I could move my customers to in case of failure on the hosting companys part. Now in 2009 I moved to my own dedicated server in a datacenter within driving distance to my home and all is good! One thing I have to say is never trust and shared hosting company to back up your customers data... it just does not work. Be prepared for some shared resellers to go out of business overnight and just leave you hanging... want a list just ask.
We began life making our own websites, only one major one to begin with. After some years our sites were bought out and we needed a new direction. We already used a reseller program as we had over 20 of our own websites and found it more economical to go down this route than having them all individually hosted. As time went on we started to focus more on hosting as our other sites brought in less. 2 years later I can tell you it can be tough as you are constantly finding new angles to gain clients. We have had to think 'outside of the box' when it comes to advertising.
We get around the whole support issue by saying we provide email support and all emails are answered within 24 hours, which suits us fine.
Hosting can be a great revenue which can last a lifetime (or for how long your customer is in business), but it is alot of work trying to outdo your competitors in an already heavily competitive game, and they spend millions a year in advertising.
I have been doing this for about 4 years and like doing it but the realities of meeting my customers needs hit hard especially if I am more customer service oriented than my host. I host several email and websites for people I know and it is had to leave them aside. I feel responsible and helpless to fix their problems. One hosting company was blacklisted and they had no urgency to fix the problem and asked me to pay another fee for a private IP address. I did because it was the quickest answer for my client. The vacation thing is also another burden, thank God for laptops and access to the internet from most places. On one of my vacations, I had to go to a library while in Canada to resolve my problems.
I find that all the companies offer the same thing and all are bad in the sense that they take their jolly old time to respond. Is this typical of what we have become because I see it in a different way at many places where customer service is essential; those who provide it do not know what it is.
The concept is so good but there are several companies just making it bad. Wish I could get a company where I can discuss things with them and resolve them together. I have found that the customers are willing to wait if a solution is on the way; they become impatient and upset if nothing is being done.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Please recommend a company you think is responsive.
I started hosting back in 1999 for some private companies via shared hosting. I have to say this was a nightmare due to lack of good support. I am a MCSE and when my hands are tied it kills me. Over the next few years I had 5 different Alpha Master Reseller accounts that I could move my customers to in case of failure on the hosting companys part. Now in 2009 I moved to my own dedicated server in a datacenter within driving distance to my home and all is good! One thing I have to say is never trust and shared hosting company to back up your customers data... it just does not work. Be prepared for some shared resellers to go out of business overnight and just leave you hanging... want a list just ask.
Marc L
goodguyshosting.com