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Thread: Cant even get started.
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07-09-2005, 01:21 PM #1Newbie
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Cant even get started.
I own a webhosting company, and i dont know where to start to get users.
I've only got one person at the moment, and he's only thinking about hosting.
of course its new though
Anyone know how to start off on a good footing, with a few users?
if you can help me, i'll appreciate it.
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07-09-2005, 02:05 PM #2Eternal Member
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Maybe you should get an actual website up -- first?
-GSVMediaLayer, LLC - www.medialayer.com Learn how we can make your website load faster, translating to better conversion rates for your business!
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07-09-2005, 02:46 PM #3Web Hosting Master
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Yeah...I have to agree there...
No wonder you aren't getting customers. No website, forums, none of your rules (TOS, AUP, SLA).
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07-09-2005, 03:50 PM #4Disabled
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I have just started my own company up. it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of thought put into it the best of luck mate
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07-09-2005, 04:16 PM #5Web Hosting Master
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Greetings:
Prior to starting your own ___________ company, please consider putting together a very solid business plan.
Your local chamber of commerce as well as SCORE -- http://www.score.org/ -- can provide you with excellent, often free, resources.
A solid business plan will contain what bankers need to know if you need to get loans, what investors need to know to get investors.
A solid business plan will also include a marketing and operations plan. The marketing plan would answer your question as to where do you get your customers, how much to spend on advertising, whom are you advertising what towards, etc.
Thank you.
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07-09-2005, 04:32 PM #6Web Hosting Guru
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Wow.... if you dont have a website then you dont have a hosting company. email me for hosting isnt going to cut it pal :-D
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07-09-2005, 10:04 PM #7Junior Guru Wannabe
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if only it was that easy....i would be rich and unemployeed long ago
YourDotComPeople.com Hosting And Web Design For Small Businesses!
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07-09-2005, 10:54 PM #8Web Hosting Master
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Oh... and btw, when people say "business plan" they typicaly are talking about a 25-50 page document which took someone at least 6 months to write.
http://www.sba.gov/starting_business...ing/basic.html
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/.../bizplan2.html
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07-09-2005, 10:58 PM #9Web Hosting Master
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If not a year to write.
Most of the hosting "companies" that start out lately are just on resellers with a 1 page plan, if that and hope they get customers..
Sad what this is coming to.
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07-10-2005, 12:13 AM #10Web Hosting Master
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Hi!
Oh..and let's not even start talking about a marketing plan..
Where are my customers coming from? Ebay? yeah..right..good luck with that. Advertising on here? Ummm..most of these people *are* hosts..not much in the market to *buy* hosting...although some do.
What makes you different than everybody else? In this crowded market...you must make the case for why people should give you..and trust you..with their business.
Bryon
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07-10-2005, 03:36 AM #11Web Hosting Master
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Originally posted by elix
Maybe you should get an actual website up -- first?• WLVPN.com • NetProtect owned White Label VPN provider •
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07-10-2005, 04:55 AM #12Junior Guru
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Be structured
Business Plan 25+ pages... Website with all required things such as pages... you know the drill. Are you wanting to host individuals and businesses or are you just wanting to host just friends? If you need one on one help my email is in my signature.Michael Copeland
WebLyte - We Make Establishing Your Web Presence Easy!
Over 6 Years In Business! We're Here To Stay!
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07-10-2005, 08:50 AM #13Disabled
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Yeah I have to agree; you can't just start up and expect people to sign up with you without you doing anything. You don't even have a proper order form there.
If I'm a potential customer, please tell me why I should sign up?
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07-10-2005, 08:58 AM #14Eternal Member
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Originally posted by Aussie Bob
heh. You're a fussy one, hey?MediaLayer, LLC - www.medialayer.com Learn how we can make your website load faster, translating to better conversion rates for your business!
The pioneers of optimized web hosting, featuring LiteSpeed Web Server & SSD Storage - Celebrating 10 Years in Business
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07-10-2005, 09:28 AM #15Newbie
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Thanks for the help people.
At the moment im not 'exactly' selling. I am but im not.
I think i explained this wrong.
I own a webhosting company (The Website is under construction)
And as soon as i get the website up and running i'll be advertising.
I just want to know what to do 'once' i've started. How to get a footing before so when i start i can start on a good foot.
Do you understand?
Thanks for the help guys...
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07-10-2005, 09:37 AM #16Eternal Member
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Do yourself a big favor and focus on your local market. You'll enjoy lower acquisition costs, less spam, greater loyalty, more referrals, lower server resource consumption.
Good luck.
VitoDemoDemo.com - Flash tutorials since 2002
DemoWolf.com - 5,300+ Flash tutorials for hosting companies, incl. Voice tutorials
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07-10-2005, 10:56 AM #17Disabled
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You need a website for starters...Nobodys gonna order if they see a page like that, would you?
I also agree with vito try getting people locally, local businesses,freinds etc.
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07-10-2005, 11:37 AM #18Disabled
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OK, so my question still stands. You're not going to get many customers until you basically answer that question I asked. If I'm a potential customer looking for a host, tell me why I should sign up with you?
You also need to decide who you are marketing, that way you can study that market and change your offers to suit that market.
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07-10-2005, 06:48 PM #19Web Hosting Master
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Originally posted by darkraven
I just want to know what to do 'once' i've started. How to get a footing before so when i start i can start on a good foot.
Thanks for the help guys...
1) Come up with an idea.
2) Write up a business plan.
3) Select the most appropriate type of legal structure to operate under.
4) Obtain financing
5) Deal with growth and expansion...
You're questions seems to indicate you're still interested in just skipping the most important step (#2), which when done properly would answer most of the questions you will come up with.
It's as if you're just asking people to write a business plan for you.
You do realize most of the people here you're talking to would be your competitors, and would rather not see another fly-by-night competitive operation giving another bad name for the industry.
Once again, http://www.sba.gov/starting_business...ing/basic.html
should probably be your best resource for the next several months.
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07-10-2005, 07:51 PM #20Retired Moderator
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Who's your target market and why should they buy from you? Please don't say everybody and because I'm cheap.
█ Mike from Zoodia.com
█ Professional web design and development services.
█ In need of a fresh hosting design? See what premade designs we have in stock!
█ Web design tips, tricks, and more at MichaelPruitt.com
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07-11-2005, 09:11 PM #21Junior Guru Wannabe
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by bryonhost1
Hi!
Oh..and let's not even start talking about a marketing plan..
Where are my customers coming from? Ebay? yeah..right..good luck with that. Advertising on here? Ummm..most of these people *are* hosts..not much in the market to *buy* hosting...although some do.
What makes you different than everybody else? In this crowded market...you must make the case for why people should give you..and trust you..with their business.
Bryon [/QUOTE
Lol, I thought when I first got into it that all I had to do was put up a website and I'd have millions of customers. Yeah, I know but when I dream, I dream big.
What has been successful for me is targeting the local community. I offer it all, hosting, domain names and design and by sticking close to home, I'm able to give them better service. If a sizeable company wants to meet with me to go over options, I can jump in the car and be there when it's a good time for them.
Ebay? Yeah right, the only job I ever got off ebay turned into a nightmare where I didn't get paid.
Most of us,unless you have substantial backing, cannot compete with the big guys and while you can make money, you need to offer something unique to bring customers in. Mine is the level of service I offer to local businesses that want more than a name in order to gain their trust. You have to do something different in order to distinguish you from company a, b and c.
Bryon is right. Your customers must be earned, it's not an automatic thing.
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07-12-2005, 12:10 PM #22WHT Addict
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Originally posted by vito
Do yourself a big favor and focus on your local market. You'll enjoy lower acquisition costs, less spam, greater loyalty, more referrals, lower server resource consumption.
Good luck.
VitoKenneth R Taylor
Inet7 Internet Serivces
Web & Application Hosting Services
http://www.inet7.com
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07-12-2005, 12:52 PM #23Web Hosting Master
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Re: Cant even get started.
Close your company, go to school - get some degree and apply for normal job - here more then enough peoples like you in this business - don't waste your time.
Originally posted by darkraven
I own a webhosting company, and i dont know where to start to get users.
I've only got one person at the moment, and he's only thinking about hosting.
of course its new though
Anyone know how to start off on a good footing, with a few users?
if you can help me, i'll appreciate it.
-
07-12-2005, 01:07 PM #24WHT Addict
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Re: Re: Cant even get started.
Originally posted by steven-v
Close your company, go to school - get some degree and apply for normal job - here more then enough peoples like you in this business - don't waste your time.
.......only to be followed up with some one like this. It's sad that you would discourage someone from persuing an idea. Shame on you.Kenneth R Taylor
Inet7 Internet Serivces
Web & Application Hosting Services
http://www.inet7.com
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07-12-2005, 11:23 PM #25Disabled
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I would suggest that get ready with your website is the first step for you. And then think about marketing and dont get discourage.