I can't get it up on it's feet and going. What should I be doing to promote it/Where should I advertise it so I can get some clients? Thanx!

I'm not trying to sound rude, but surely you should have thought about this before you started the company?

On a more helpful note, try getting listed at different design directories. Also, why is your hosting better than everyone else's? How is it different?

On a more helpful note, try getting listed at different design directories. Also, why is your hosting better than everyone else's? How is it different?
I would have to agree. Offer your visitors something special and out of the "norm." I was involved mainly with local clients and wanted to go bigger but couldn't. I started offering a free domain with signups and people began to notice me. Something as simple as that can help you out a lot--it doesn't take much, just something noticable.

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?

Marketing budget?

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?


A domain costs, what, $10? You could quiet easily charge more than that a month for a relativley small package...maybe you should of thought a bit more and planned what you would do before setting up this 'company'.

Ask yourself what is your starutp budget? If less < $100 what are you doing? If less < $1000, still ask yourself what are you doing. This is a very competative industry and you need to fight tooth and nail to get a foot hold

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?
By not charging <$1/month, probably. :erm:

Haha, you're from freeipodguide aren't you!

It looks like his startup budget was easily under a hundred bucks, I'm not going to share the site if he doesn't want me to but it defiantly doesn't look like much work went into it. I'd never sign up when casually browsing - theres nothing eye catching or attractive about the physical design or plans.

You've got to find a niche and an edge that makes you better then the riff raff or you'll never succeed.

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?
Domains are cheap. A customer that sticks around is valuable. If you're charging a decent amount of course.

how could you afford giving each new signup a new domain though?
there are a few places i order my customer domains through and they hold random sales ..when they do, i jump on it and order up. A domain can cost me around $3..so in just one month, I've covered the domain, made a SMALL profit and made a happy client who will stay with me a while if all goes well.

Okay thanx for the suggestions. I'll try to make my site look a little nicer and offer free domain names with sign up. :) And yes, goofy, i'm from fipg. :D I have plenty of money for startup, I just think I need a better design and to find my niche. :) :)

Always be unique in any way you can to stand out from other hosts. If you don't want to spend money advertising you could always advertise in webhosting forums such as webhostingtalk in the offers section.

Cwn, honestly, you need to take a step-back and redo your entire strategy. This is a saturated business as this is, what can you provide? Since you're asking a question as basic as this, you need to read up.

I totally agree with PixelManual. You need to write a business plan.

There are many great articles how to set up web hosting business, check out the 'webhosting' section > 'tutorials' sub-section in this forum.

You need to do strategy, write a business plan and so much more. Research your business; how can your promote your services... it did help me when I started hosting business instead read articles.

I'll help. Let's start by looking at your site, since its your 24 hour salesman. What is the URL?

I'm not sure where your from, but if your in the US, you should check your local SCORE. You can find their site here: http://www.score.org/. They offer a lot of help and advice and it's free as much as you need it. Also check with the SBA. Lots of places to get good business advice.

it is located at http://www.cyclonehost.com ...

Not a bad name...

But the web site is lacking to say the least. I would seek professional web design help for the site and think about your business plan before you move further. Their is a lot that goes into any company and web hosting is not excluded from that. Read up here and other web hosting sites and look for some info on starting a business. I assure you having a good solid business plan will do wonders for you.

it is located at http://www.cyclonehost.com ...
Ouch. If you've got the funds, contract a professional web designer, to build you a professional looking site. Your site as it stands now, will drive away most folks who land on your site.

Your order form for the first package doesn't work
(http://www.cyclonehost.com/ordercylone.html)

That site needs a major re-design. Contact a professional designer and get it done right. Your packages and pricing makes sense though, I was expecting another hostgator style.

if you dont have the fund, go to templatemonster.com (cheap) or oswd.org (free).

if you dont have the fund, go to templatemonster.com (cheap) or oswd.org (free).
i've read on other forums that google's bot really dislikes TM templates ( I was gonna get one) and the one I designed my site off of was from OSWD. :) I'm going to look at other hosting site's designs and use elements from each to make a new design :)...

i've read on other forums that google's bot really dislikes TM templates ( I was gonna get one) and the one I designed my site off of was from OSWD. :) I'm going to look at other hosting site's designs and use elements from each to make a new design :)...

I dont know about google and templatemonster, but it is probably untrue.

oswd really got superb designs like these:
http://www.oswd.org/design/preview/id/2199
http://www.oswd.org/design/preview/id/1965
http://www.oswd.org/design/preview/id/1773
http://www.oswd.org/design/preview/id/2272

You can change these to fit your requirements, add afew server, tech images.

which one you used?

I used for this site
http://www.oswd.org/design/preview/id/2860

I'm thinking of using phpCOIN for my new design though. Do you guys reccomend?

Alright! I've redone the site, yet again! This time, instead of just redoing the design though, i've integrated a whole new system and whole new billing system using phpCOIN. what do you guys think?
http://www.cyclonehost.com (http://www.bar-of-soap.com/bnc.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyclonehost.com)

Cwn,
Good idea in integrate billing stuff. (makes life easier later on)
I think the new sit is better. I would suggest putting boxes around the plans (to much text to focus on individual items. Also I would put maybe a speccial image at the top of the white area with a deal or something that states what makes you stand out. You will need a niche or a target. Maybe you can make it and put somethink generic in there until you make you rbusiness plan.

Alright! I've redone the site, yet again! This time, instead of just redoing the design though, i've integrated a whole new system and whole new billing system using phpCOIN. what do you guys think?
http://www.cyclonehost.com (http://www.bar-of-soap.com/bnc.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyclonehost.com)

There are a number of problems with your site:

1). You do not provide any information about your company anywhere on the site that I can see. The "About Us" page needs to be fleshed out.

2). "Home" and "Plans" show the same information.

3). Get a unique site design. IMHO, it makes a huge difference.

4). Using phpCoin and other free software might be a turn off to some customers. Invest in some commercial software, like a billing system and a help desk/knowledgebase.

Okay. What should i put on the about us, since i just opened though. What's to say? I can work on a new design. That wont be to hard and phpCOIN does have a helpdesk/knowledge base with info once logged in.

Okay. What should i put on the about us, since i just opened though. What's to say? I can work on a new design. That wont be to hard and phpCOIN does have a helpdesk/knowledge base with info once logged in.

Are you kidding?

Your profile indicates you're 50, I find this very difficult to believe, as you're coming across like a grade 9 student doing their first round of highschool homework, you're not thinking about *anything* from what I can see, you're simply looking for handouts.

You haven't "found a niche" or started doing anything else different for example, someone else noted they give out free domains with their package, and you are now using their strategy.

About Us - We're determined to get you as a customer, so we can have all of your money. We'll try to provide whatever the next guy does, but with a minimal amount of experience, skill, thought, or effort.

(sorry to come off as harsh, but you need to re-evaluate your plans here, because they're doomed).