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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    143

    Your first hosting client?

    Hi,

    As some people know my partner and I are about to launch our hosting service. Nothing big mostly a reseller account. We are targeting the local market have a couple of client's lined up and about 4 more after these two.

    But I digress. I run the programming and hosting side of the operation and I wanted to open the hosting account up to the 'Net market, but I would like to know after how many months was your site up, and when did you get the first hosting client who wasn't a friend or relative the true first 'stranger' to sign up from your service? How did you get that person (online ad, banner,etc...) Are they still with you?

    Looking to start an inspirational thread for all the would-be hosters out there sort of Chicken Soup for the aspiring hoster

    Sam C

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Orlando FL USA
    Posts
    1,315
    Our first real client had his web site activated on our servers in October of 1998. We had other clients but they were obtained via the "friends and family" methods.

    I believe he found us in a HostSearch.com list because of a "HostSearch Special" we were running at the time. He had sent in an email asking a few questions about our services and we pounced on it!! I personally was quite excited when his order came through.

    A couple of years later he made a trip to the States (he lives in Germany) and we had the opportunity to treat him to a steak dinner. That was awesome.

    I'm proud to say we are fortunate enough to still host his domains along with many others that signed up in that first year. It's exceptionally hard to see an "old timer" move to another host and extremely exciting to still be hosting our first
    FutureQuest.net
    Quality Services & Professional Support Since 1998
    Click Here To Visit the Community

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    143
    Deb, I heard a lot about you on these forums That's nice how you remember the date almost exactly about your first client. Did it take awhile, and did you get pics of your dinner? Would make a nice attachment

    Was your site always that big or great in the beginning? Or did you start from humble beginnings like us? I love stories about companies growing...it gives me inspiration.
    Sam C
    Blue Dog Hosting
    http://www.bluedoghosting.com
    "Your new best friend!"

  4. #4
    We had half a dozen clients before we were truly "open" for business, plus two friends/family accounts. In fact, of all the clients who joined us in the first four months of our existence (since I happen to be looking at some accounting stuff right now), 97% are still here more than two years later, either as individual domains, converted to reseller status with their own clients, or moved up to dedicated servers through us. Trust me, if you treat your customers right, don't play the "who can go lowest" game (and thus price yourself right out of business), and have some fun, you'll do fine.
    Annette
    Hosting Matters, Inc.
    Superior service. Sensible price.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    143
    Originally posted by Annette

    Trust me, if you treat your customers right, don't play the "who can go lowest" game (and thus price yourself right out of business), and have some fun, you'll do fine.
    Thxs for the insight. That is why we are starting with the local market mostly to be able to give personal attention as well as develop the "personal" client relationship. We're hoping it goes a long way in estabalishing us. I mean if we can get 100 local hosting accounts we would be set We already know we can't compete on the net not yet anyways...with everyone giving away the farm. But if they can sustain it more power to them.
    Sam C
    Blue Dog Hosting
    http://www.bluedoghosting.com
    "Your new best friend!"

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Orlando FL USA
    Posts
    1,315
    Was your site always that big or great in the beginning? Or did you start from humble beginnings like us?
    We started from the rockiest of bottoms. I recall failing to pay my rent to cover a T1 bill and then having to make up for it via more web design work and other various freelance tasks. My then best friend, now husband, and my three children lived off of the famous bags of Noodles (15 for a dollar on sale at the time -- any real tech knows what I'm talking about LOL).

    No silver spoons here just a lot of hard work and the willingness to give up on silly things like sleep in an effort to make it happen. We reg'd the domain name in Jan and didn't get that first 'real client' until October. After October things started to pick up for us but prior to that it was tough.

    Terra and I slept opposite shifts to uphold the 24 hour watch even when we had only a few clients. The first time we tried to leave work together our server went down -- yikes! So we remained faithful to the company (meaning treating it like a newborn where one parent was on watch at all times!) a while longer until we were finally able to earn enough to afford to hire some help ...

    ...and as those who know us know... we finally got married... which we accomplished during a half hour lunch break ... Didn't need much more than that and couldn't afford more anyway.

    Someday we hope to have a honeymoon. We've never been away from work together for more than 20 hours since 1998. Some find it insane others inspirational. For us it's just a way of life in hopes of accomplishing what needs to be accomplished so we can actually take that thing they call a vacation (though we'll call it a honeymoon hehe). Mind you I think the main thing stopping us now is just that we need to train ourselves that it is ok to be away for a while (with beepers, cell phones, and laptops of course lol).

    I recently posted a pic of the team and our families on our message forums. I'm not sure if it's ok to post them here since the company sign is behind us but if you search our forums for "Extremely rare photos" you'll find them I didn't get a pic of the steak dinner

    Long, Long, LONG, story short... we had to start from "humble beginnings" and are still working at it with a great deal of pride

    Annette hit the nail on the head though... just treat them right.
    FutureQuest.net
    Quality Services & Professional Support Since 1998
    Click Here To Visit the Community

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    668
    Deb,

    Hello friend... I was really impressed with your story, however had read it before in different threads. But always it's something new for me and more interesting.

    As a friend mentioned, we heard good stuff about you, your husband and finally your company.

    Myself I wish you lots of lucks.

    PS: All the newbie hosts should read your threads and realize that since you are not willing, you wont get it. Once you have willing, you'll work 24/h and finally could be something after 2-3 years.

    As FutureQuest.net made it true.

    Forza FQ
    Amir Golestan
    Executive Director | Micfo
    datacenter facilities in 39 cities across the world | AS53889
    www.micfo.com/datacenter

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Posts
    2,979
    Deb, that's wild. You guys need a honeymoon. It looks like you have a big enough staff now, you should risk it.

    We originally did domain reservations (with email and URL forwarding). We had customers lined up before we started offering hosting who had inquired about the extra service.

    Now adays, domain reservation services are offered for free from the registrars. We stopped offering the domain reservation service back in 1998 (when register.com offered it for free) and we lose a lot of the existing customers each year, but we are still providing service for a few of them (71). I find it amazing how many people still use the service.
    -Mark Adams
    www.bitserve.com - Secure Michigan web hosting for your business.
    Only host still offering a full money back uptime guarantee and prorated refunds.
    Offering advanced server management and security incident response!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Posts
    163
    Our first real client found us through Google (back when we had a decent placement!, in 1999). We will never forget the excitement of landing that first customer...

    I also second Annette's point: Treat 'em Right.

    eyow, I pound that point home with my employees every day: It's never just one customer you are dealing with. A happy customer will tell 10 of her / his friends about how great your company is. An unhappy customer will tell 10 of his / her friends about how much your company sucks.

    BTW, Annette and Deb are two of the most upstanding hosts that post in this forum.

    And Annette: I never publicly thanked you for helping us out with your advice last year. Annette took time out of her busy life to provide us advice on issues that she had already conquered. Host to host. Ladies and gentleman, that is a class act. You are awesome and Thank You.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    82
    A happy customer will tell 10 of her / his friends about how great your company is. An unhappy customer will tell 10 of his / her friends about how much your company sucks.
    It might be safe to change the ratio a little. A happy customer might tell 5-10, while an unhappy customer probably tells 15-20+ --- or tries to broadcast to the world on WHT, etc.

    The point is, an unhappy customer should be considered more of a liability than a happy customer is an asset. Accumulate assets and minimize liabilites.

    yjack

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    24,027
    Our first client was 31-12-01. The account came through about 15 minutes to midnight [aussie time]. I was so excited that I forgot all about the new years eve thing. I setup the account [shaking with such excitement] and then looked at the clock and it said 12:13am. I'm too old for new years eve parties anyway.
    WLVPN.com NetProtect owned White Label VPN provider
    Increase your hosting profits by adding VPN to your product line up

  12. #12
    Wow Deb,

    Your story is wonderful, so very inspirational.

    I think my first client found us through a forum board, and is still with us. I think I can relate to AussieBob in the shaking aspect. It was pretty exciting getting that first client.
    Regards,
    Karen
    -----
    Reseller Accounts and Dedicated Servers

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    143
    Thanks to all who have shared there stories thus far. They are all very inspirational. We have our first client a local loan processor, but I'd be happy and nervous to get the first internet based client

    We're starting locally because at this moment there is no WAY we can compete with the internet crowd (anyone have any hints on how to offer prices so LOW? ) But we are doing some banner impressions and getting listed in last place on Google *g* just to build awareness. But I would someday like to join the fine ranks of the people who have posted here. That would be excitement enough for me to be able to post "our first (net) client".
    Sam C
    Blue Dog Hosting
    http://www.bluedoghosting.com
    "Your new best friend!"

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    169
    Our first client came to us in June 2001, within 3 days of opening.

    We did not pay for any advertising or anything. We just got listed in lots of Hosting Directories, which I tihnk is where he came from.

    And yes, he's still with us now and he pays yearly

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    163
    I think from the sorts of people that this forum attracts you'll find the majority of people started very low.

    The guys who got $10m VC and built a data centre with no customers backing them up generally won't browse around the forums.
    Ed Butler - RapidSwitch Dedicated Servers
    Call us on 0808 2380033
    Or email sales@rapidswitch.com

  16. #16
    Originally posted by Coran
    And Annette: I never publicly thanked you [snip]
    You're most welcome, and I'm very happy things have worked out well for you. Information is power, right?
    Annette
    Hosting Matters, Inc.
    Superior service. Sensible price.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    24,027
    Originally posted by alohahosts
    I think I can relate to AussieBob in the shaking aspect. It was pretty exciting getting that first client.
    I still get a buzz in setting up new accounts. I don't shake now, but the thrill is still there.
    WLVPN.com NetProtect owned White Label VPN provider
    Increase your hosting profits by adding VPN to your product line up

  18. #18
    First customer? Wow... the account was created with a fairly high amount of dread, because we realized that now we actually had to start working.

    I still get excited with each new customer, especially since opening up my own hosting company completely seperate from the one I originally started with partners. There's something amazing about doing it all by yourself.

    Every time I hear that "KA-CHING" sound on my computer, I come running. (Am I the only one who has a special sound that plays when certain emails arrive?)

    heh.

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  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Posts
    645
    I've only been here for a lil bit, but let me just say how pleased i am to be able to read this forum! (this one, in particular). Personally, i used to be a part of a hosting biz... i won't share details, but the care for clients was just poor. hence why i started my own hosting, only to completely flip that focus. It's starting back all over again (like any of you care ), but i know it's going to be done right.

    But yes.. that's the most thrilling thing in the world.. it's NOT just having someone that's been around for a long time, but HAVING that person later say "hey, i appreciate what you all do.. keep it going" that makes **my** day.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,541
    Our first client was a friend of a friend who we also made a website for.
    After that i think it was about a month until we got our first real stranger............we had other clients who were friends in the mean time
    I still get excited each time i get a new customer as i went solo and only one person actually had any faith that i could make it work.
    In fact iam one of the younger hosts on here (over 18 tho) and still my parents seem to think i am playing a game, they don't even know what my business is called!!
    Last edited by tazd9t9; 08-21-2002 at 11:52 AM.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Posts
    645
    very cool tazd9t9!

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Orlando FL USA
    Posts
    1,315
    Am I the only one who has a special sound that plays when certain emails arrive?)
    We've a wav that says "Excellent...!" in a sort of maniacal tone (not Mr. Burns from the Simpsons..but something quite close)
    and still my parents seem to think i am playing a game, they don't even know what my business is called!!
    Mine have no computer skills whatsoever and being on the Internet is still just a fable to them, no matter how hard I try. Yet they still believe I "play on my computer and people send me money" while mumbling to friends that I don't have a real job. Go Figure.
    FutureQuest.net
    Quality Services & Professional Support Since 1998
    Click Here To Visit the Community

  23. #23
    I recently started charging my parents whenever I help them out with a computer problem... now they understand that it really IS possible to make money on the net.

    haha. just kidding.. I actually did send them an invoice, but it was just a joke.
    We are eNom PLATINUM PLUS resellers!
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  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,541
    my parents seem to be on a nasty streak atm, so not only do they go on about how i do nothing and have no job...........i felt ill 2day and asked my dad if he could walk 2 the end of the road and pay some cheques in for me. I got told to do it myself an then they wonder why im not all sweetness and light with them !

  25. #25
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Internet / Colorado
    Posts
    1,660
    My first hosting client found me a few hours after I went live and must have found me on page 33 of some online list of hosting sites, he made a Medal of honor fan site and was a great first customer! I even helped him install PHP Nuke
    Like passive recurring revenue you can retire on?
    You focus on building your brand, we handle all support, billing, and more.
    Pressed.net - Start your own Managed WordPress Hosting Company

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