Hi,

For a new web hosting business focussing on good customer service to retain and attract more clients through word-of-mouth; where is the best place to advertise to get the first dozen-few dozen clients?

Hosting Directories paid advertisements? (any in particular?)
PPC Search Engines? (any in particular?)

I reckon its one of the above two or is it a combination of both?

I will be running an introductory special offer to accelerate initial growth (see astarhost.com (http://www.astarhost.com/)).

How much should I expect to pay to attract these first few clients from either source?

Thanks a lot
-Robin

You can probably get your first dozen clients just using the advertising section of this forum.

Originally posted by FDrive
You can probably get your first dozen clients just using the advertising section of this forum.

Only if you are giving them everything for practically free :D

This is a joke, so please dont take it seriously.

heh, it may be a joke but it's pretty much true. if you can't beat 20 GB bandwidth/month for $3 it's almost useless advertising ;)

Maybe give some free hosting to some big posters in this forum ...

Originally posted by puggy106
Maybe give some free hosting to some big posters in this forum ...


Really, you'll get better results from giving free hosting to designers.... They'll refer their clients to you for hosting :D

Also, maybe host some popular free script sites, something like XMB, OpenBB, etc... In return for a link....

I never did like paying for a host listing on some directory site....

Excellent Question.

Well, most of our clients, are local. We have never had a problem attracting clientele, from our area. As alot of people seem to prefer going with a local company. However this is not the issue at hand, global customer attraction is a bit more difficult. I have some recommendations for you to compile.

PPC.
As I am sure we all know, Overture is the big player in this category. Yet, that also makes them the most expensive player. Most high positioned bids are in the $5+ range, per click. I would start with PPC engine, that is known, yet not the big player in the market.

Directories.
Submit your company to just about every hosting directory you can find. And send in press releases when needed, this is an excellent way to get a little additional notice. However posting a Press Release that you are offering an additional 1gb of bandwidth, wouldnt make it. Only announce major changes in your company/systems.

Forums.
Forums such as webhostingtalk.com, sitepointforums.com/, freewebspace.net. Are problably the best places to advertise, as posting a special in a advertising section, is free, and will attract alot of views.

Free Hosting.
Good idea, offer free web hosting in exchange for a link 'hosted by xyx.com hosting'. If the site is popular, most likely someone browsing, at one point in time, will be interested in finding a host. Try to free host, sites with pertinent information towards yours. Example, web master site.

My suggestion is, once you get a couple clientele, get them to more vocal about your company, encourage them to spread unbiased comments about you. If you keep them happy, all their comments will be postivie. In return this will yield the most sales revenue.

Just stick with it, and spend alot of time posting to replies.

Hope I was of assistance.
- Russ
admin@vecro.net

Buying ads on a directory will probably be above your max cost... Host search is pretty expensive (over $50 CPM)

- James

Originally posted by zRedDice
Buying ads on a directory will probably be above your max cost... Host search is pretty expensive (over $50 CPM)

- James

$50 CPM, wow. :eek: I guess it's the only way to keep the "20 GB bandwidth/month for $3" hosts out. :stickout

Thanks very much for all your replies :)

Very helpful, web solution, thanks! :)

Try locally. It seems like a good idea=] There was a post about local advertising a little while back.

Only problem is that if the people who buy hosting from you are not satisfied...well they live in the same city so well..I'd be on the lookout=)

I hope you sensed the sarcasm...

submit to search engines (alltheweb.com,google.com etc) as well :) (don't cheat robots!)