Hello....

In about 4 weeks we will be launching a new directory.

It will have common features as other directories, but will then surpas many in testing the hosts and doing backround research.

Overall It will have screening for common misused terms for such things as 'Unlimited'

To truly be One of the best hosts, you will have to pass our testing.

We are in beta stages right now, and a few people have seen the basic look to it. As we get closer we will let many in. We feel that we will separate this directory from many out there.

Advertising will be available, but will not allow everyone to advertise, per our regulations.

If you would like to know more information or would like us to contact you when we get closer please email us.

Thanks

Joe

No offense, but isn't having a host run a host directory a glaring conflict on interest?

Actually we have evaluated all of this, and have taken these measures:

1. Setting up the website on a server that cannot be traced to us at all.
2. Will not advertise and or mention our companies services at all.
3. We feel from our knowledge in the industry it will help with evaluations.
4. Creating a seperate corporation for the directory.

Overall the directory will have no ties to us at all, and we have kept all these in mind


Joe

i dont see any problems with conflicts of interest.

I think what you're doing is great.
A HostingDir, that strives to display only the hosts with the utmost quality and service.

This is a great idea.

We are working hard to make sure that it is done right

Joe

Originally posted by JBIZ718
We are working hard to make sure that it is done right

Joe

One of the things that I thought would be neat is to have a secret shopper type program. Once a month sign up for a hosting company and rate the company on things like setup time, value, service, offerings, etc.

Would you be willing to do that?

We have a bunch of ideas that we are working on.

We have about 4 weeks till its live.

Over the next 4 weeks we will be getting some ideas. We already have some interested advertisers.

Joe

Originally posted by RunOfTheMill
i dont see any problems with conflicts of interest.
I think what you're doing is great.
A HostingDir, that strives to display only the hosts with the utmost quality and service.

This is a great idea. It would have the potential to be; or the potential to be a sham front group with a goal of promoting companies with a business model similar to those of the founder while implying that other approaches are less worthy.

I'm not saying that's your plan, Joe, only that it's at best a possible perception that people will have. Really, it seems kind of a similar idea to that of the host "certification" organization started by the founder of AIT, or the one started by Verio and the other biggies.

So I'd only hope that you are sincerely looking to run it "right," and of course to subject your own company to the same level or scrutiny to which you'd subject any others.

I guess honestly I'd feel as a consumer that it was a better idea if it actually was unconnected to any hosting company.

Well as stated before.

The directory will be its own corporation. It will be run on a neutral server that has no connection to us, and just for the sake of doing it right, we will not mention our company on the directory ever.

Our goal is to truly find the best webhosts. It wont be like the other directories that the advertising dollars control the game. We dont care if you spend 50 or 500. We will apply in depth testing on all aspects of the directory.

I m personally listed on about at least 50 directories, and we feel we can do it better.

But as stated my webhosting company will not have anything to do with the directory.

Also most of the other directories are connected to a hosting company.

JayC I say this if this is a big issue for you, and you would like to come on board and help out you may, we can have review the beta versions. Then provide input on the bad parts....

Rest assured we want to do this right.

Joe

Originally posted by JBIZ718
It wont be like the other directories that the advertising dollars control the game. We dont care if you spend 50 or 500. We will apply in depth testing on all aspects of the directory.I do think, as I said, that it has a potential to be very useful. Certainly a place where real facts are available, devoid of rhetoric and opinion and hidden agendas, would be a great resource.

As an aside, sort of, does "we don't care if you spend 50 or 500" mean that only sites that pay something are listed (which, of course, would mean that advertising dollars do control the game to some extent, or at least one's entry into the game)?

Certainly I don't think that necessarily torpedos the idea, but it's a consideration.

JayC I say this if this is a big issue for you, and you would like to come on board and help out you may, we can have review the beta versions. Then provide input on the bad parts....And the good parts, too, of course! :)

We are going to have banners on the site. It will cover our costs and pay us for the time spent in development.

This will be a free directory for anyone to post in. To advertise everyone will have the ability to.

What I ment is just because you advertise doesnt mean we will favor you at all. Its going to based on quality, not money which many are based on

JOe

Originally posted by JBIZ718
What I ment is just because you advertise doesnt mean we will favor you at all.OK, so really it's "whether you spend $0 or $500," not "$50 or $500."

Good news, thanks.