Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : Niche marketing ?

[DR4296]

I'm curious as to how some of the smaller hosting companies / resellers are targetting their market ? I'm just getting started in marketing my business... and am somewhat worried that I haven't narrowed my market enough (at least in my mind). On the other hand, I'd hate to narrow it so much that I'm somehow excluding business that could help me "get off the ground" faster.

I'd really like to hear some examples of how some of you have narrowed your market and what approaches you take to hitting that market.

I'm not looking to steal your ideas, just get some idea of scale and scope. (Besides, its a big, big hosting world out there!)

Thanks !

[Laci]

Originally posted by DR4296
I'm curious as to how some of the smaller hosting companies / resellers are targetting their market ? I'm just getting started in marketing my business... and am somewhat worried that I haven't narrowed my market enough (at least in my mind). On the other hand, I'd hate to narrow it so much that I'm somehow excluding business that could help me "get off the ground" faster.

I'd really like to hear some examples of how some of you have narrowed your market and what approaches you take to hitting that market.

I'm not looking to steal your ideas, just get some idea of scale and scope. (Besides, its a big, big hosting world out there!)

Thanks !

Im using my experience as a *client* to try to meet the needs of my users and using plain talk I havent opened yet (thank you Alabanza) but I have 6 clients lined up *S* From a users stand point alot of the hosts seem to lack the human touch.

Also expand your web resources sections alot of host resources section are lacking..you could also get partnerships with software makers to earn extra $ (Im only doing this with programs I use and trust) you can sell books from Amazon.com related to HTML you can sell software from Amazon.com all these ideas are not so much for the $ but to create a feeling from the client that they are getting the most for their money and in a friendly place

Good luck to you

[cbaker17]

When i visit a site and see them selling products through a portal program such as amazon, I think it is really tacky, and prob. would disregard the whole site in general. But everyones different.

[Laci]

Originally posted by cbaker17
When i visit a site and see them selling products through a portal program such as amazon, I think it is really tacky, and prob. would disregard the whole site in general. But everyones different.

Yes they are guess yahoo is tacky

[cbaker17]

yep at point yahoo is tacky, but then again I dont have a problem with a compnay who is in the business of advertsing, advertising...

[Jag]

I would avoid partnerships unless they are with another host to share information. Especially avoid those lame ones that contact you all time about earning 10% of this and 20% of that. I mean are we hosting comapnies or some day to day web junkie trying to earn a dollar every way possible. All that banners and "partnerships" with outside source do is complicate business and give you another level of people to deal with to accomplish a simple goal.

[DR4296]

Well, I wasn't really asking about what to SELL as much as how to REACH a specific target market with your message.

As for affiliate programs / posting a bunch of Amazon books to sell.... I was actually thinking about doing that, but only with respect to books I've already read. And each such posting would have a brief review or commentary or summary of the main points (since I take notes on all the books I read). Since many of these books deal with personal effectiveness, saving money, and starting/running a business, I figure my target market (small small businesses in my area) might find those things useful and interesting.

Plus such reviews might make me appear to be a bit more "human".

Thanks for the replies !

[JayC]

Originally posted by DR4296
I'm curious as to how some of the smaller hosting companies / resellers are targetting their market ?

It really depends on what your target market is. I think your instinct is right, that the more targeted your niche the easier it might be to market.

My company provides a number of different services to clients; primarily database design, list management, that sort of thing, and operational consulting within a specific area of business. So our web hosting market is very narrow: our own clients. For us that brings the benefit that they tend to be mid- to upper-level hosting clients, so we haven't had low-end business with its smaller profit margins.

Beyond our existing clients, then, everything has been word-of-mouth from client recommendations. We're just now preparing to openly offer hosting to the "general public." Even then, however, we'll be leveraging our affiliations with specific clients and marketing to their own contacts.

Which I know isn't very specific, but it's as much detail as I can go into without getting in deep trouble!

[ascon]

sorry

[Web Hosting Stuff]

You should first decide on your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

What is the main star feature that you can offer customers which you are better in? For example, your USP can be windows hosting ... you provide windows features which other hosts usually don't or charge extra for.

Do your USP man

[DR4296]

Nothing like a three-year-old post, man.....





-= Dave =-

[Web Hosting Stuff]

LOL ... dang .. I didn't notice that!!
hmmm ... wonder why ascon revived it ??