By now I'm sure
you know how important your choice of web hosting company
is to your business. But just in case you don't, let's
review. At first glance, cheap web hosting may seem
like a pretty good deal. Who doesn't want to save money?
However, there are some areas in which you, as an online
business owner, just can't afford to cut corners. Would
you put water in the gas tank of your car just to save
money? Choose a cheap web hosting company and you are
doing exactly that. While you can cut corners in other
areas of your business, your web hosting company is
not where you want to do this, if only for one simple
reason: with free or cheap web hosting companies, you
are little more than a number, just another website.
Let's take a look at how cheap or free web hosting
companies make their money and how they do business.
First, how can they offer such cheap prices? Or even
free web hosting? There is only one answer: volume.
They host thousands of websites, some smaller, some
larger than yours. Do you think that in hosting thousands
of websites, they can give you the personalized service
that you deserve? Let me answer that one for you: they
simply cannot. Why? Because the number of sites hosted,
coupled with the low pricing simply makes it an infeasible
business practice. Practically speaking, from a business
standpoint, they cannot do this. It would not make sense
to their bottom line. Second, large web hosting companies
generally run lean and mean. That is, in business 101,
they do more with less. They are not going to provide
more people to service more customers when they can
do the same job with less. Granted, customer service
will suffer. But to them, this is a tradeoff that they
make up for with volume.
Now let's look at things from your point of view (an
online business owner). You already know that time is
money. You have probably already figured out that, sadly,
time is not on your side. Thus, every time your site
is down you are losing money. Even 5 minutes is too
long for your site to be inaccessible to visitors (potential
customers). Online business runs 24/7. Does your web
hosting company understand that? More importantly, when
you have a problem, is your business "just another website"
to them? Or will they take personal ownership of the
problem and solve it as soon as possible? What about
follow up? Are you just another website in the heap?
Or will they follow up with you to make sure that you
are a satisfied customer and your site is running smoothly?
Better yet, will they follow up personally, via phone
call? Or will they just send an email - an automated
one at that?
Many Internet business owners make the mistake of choosing
a cheap web hosting company, thinking that it will help
save them money. Often, it costs them more in the long
run in the form of downtime, time spent waiting for
answers from the hosting company and lost customers.
Below are 6 tips that should tell you if you are "just
another website" to your web hosting company:
* Time - Does your web hosting company have an "open
door policy"? If you have a question, Will they have
the answer or will they refer you to their Help Page
URL? As an online business owner, there is nothing more
frustrating than calling the web hosting company for
help and then being told to go to a URL for help. If
your web hosting company does this to you, then you
are just a number to them.
* Accessibility - Is your web hosting company answering
the phone promptly? When they do, who is it? Sales?
This is a big tip-off. A web hosting company that really
knows you and cares about your business won't automatically
try to sell you something and they won't hide behind
an answering machine or salesperson. A cheap web hosting
company definitely won't know you by name; they will
know you by the domain that you have with them.
* Business Knowledge - Does your web hosting company
know what your needs are as a website owner? Do they
care? Are they hiring teenagers from the local high
school to answer the phones (who can't really help you)?
Does your web hosting company have Internet Marketing
experience? If you are with a cheap web hosting company,
the answer is no, because they do their business by
volume and can't be focused on those kinds of issues.
Kind of ironic, don't you think, given the fact that
you have a website in the first place due to the Internet?
* Advertising/Sales Tactics - As your business grows,
how many services is your web hosting company trying
to sell you? How many emails do they send you trying
to get you to upgrade, pay upfront, etc, etc.? Better
yet, how do they make their sales? I'll tell you how:
aggressive advertising and sales tactics. For a cheap
web hosting company, it's the only way, because it is
all about the numbers. And you are one of them.
* Relationship-Driven - Does your web hosting company
want a relationship with you or with your money? I bet
by now you can guess the answer. The fact is, cheap
web hosting companies make profits by increasing sales.
If one customer leaves, so be it, because they have
the volume to make that up. They really don't have the
time, resources or the inclination to really make sure
they have a satisfied, long-term client in you.
* Patience - Lots of Internet business owners don't
know the ins and outs of web hosting. That's understandable.
When you talk to the sales department of your web hosting
company do they use Plain English or "technospeak" that
you don't understand? Do they have the patience to explain
everything to you? Or do they automatically assume that
you should know and become more impatient the more questions
you ask? To put is bluntly, do they make you feel stupid
or dumb? If you are trying to give the web hosting company
your business and they are making you feel stupid for
asking questions, they may as well be saying "Next!"
Why would they do this? Because your business is just
another website to them.
Generally, a business web hosting company that gives
you personalized service, has answers to your questions
(or ways of getting those answers) will serve your online
business better. Having tons of options is fine, but
even better is the peace of mind that comes with knowing
that to your web hosting company, your business and
its success is priority one.
Greg Cesar gets results. Find out how hundreds of webmasters
benefit from Greg's web hosting and internet marketing
knowledge by visiting his Business Web Hosting website.
Greg Cesar is a successful Internet marketer, web designer
and web hosting provider with over 10 years' experience.
He specializes in providing innovative web hosting and
internet marketing services that help business owners
make more money online. To improve your online business
immediately and work with someone who understands what
it takes to make real money online, visit http://www.hostpartnerplus.com/
|
