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Thread: Getting Initial Clients
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08-30-2009, 07:32 PM #1Junior Guru
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Getting Initial Clients
Hello, I just recently dove into the paid hosting business. I used to run a couple free hosts, but of course when running a free host it is a lot easier to pick up clients.
Does anyone have any tips or advice on getting initial clients?
Possibly any other sites to promote on other than wht?
- Nolan
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08-30-2009, 07:39 PM #2Newbie
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Hi there. I would suggest maybe signing up to Google Adwords, however this of course would require a small investment.
It really depends how big your marketing budget is.
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08-30-2009, 07:42 PM #3Junior Guru
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That would always help, but I'm trying to keep it on a pretty low budget. I'm sure advertising at webmaster forums such as Namepros and Sitepoint wouldn't hurt.
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08-30-2009, 08:17 PM #4Disabled
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Be active on communities such as this one. You're allowed to post an ad on each section once a week in the offers section here on WHT.
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08-30-2009, 09:18 PM #5Web Hosting Guru
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█ Brandon Long | https://brandonlong.me/
█ Just a guy with a brain.
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08-31-2009, 02:39 AM #6Web Hosting Master
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Why not try and convert some of those free clients to paid? If you use the right email marketing and give them a really nice deal you might be able to convert 1% of them. All you need is those first few clients and you can go from there.
There are also a bunch of webmaster related forums you can visit. Here are some other ones that will help you:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com
http://www.freewebspace.net/forums/(has both free and paid hosting sections)
http://www.hostingdiscussion.com
http://www.webhostingchat.com
http://www.hosthideout.com
http://freehostforum.com
http://forums.webhostdir.com
http://www.freewebhostingtalk.com
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/webhost
Some other very popular forums great for getting leads:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com
http://www.warriorforum.com
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/
http://www.sitepoint.com
http://www.v7n.com/forums/
http://www.namepros.com
http://www.webtalkforums.com/
These are the most active forums that I have found. All of them are definitely places you can get clients from.
Best of luck,
-DanDownload my eBook + Videos: Starting your own successful web hosting company.
Learn from a web host with 7 years of experience.
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08-31-2009, 08:43 AM #7Junior Guru Wannabe
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If you could convert some of those free accounts thats what I would be doing right now. I know a lot of people that convirted in the same situation just to get rid of adds...
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08-31-2009, 12:15 PM #8Web Hosting Master
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Justin has the right idea - if you can convert some of those free clients by offering them more, then you could get quite a few paid clients that way.
otherwise it is very difficult to get started, and posting in forums help, using CPC ads such as adwords and YSM gets your name out but it doesn't help as much as forum posting (follow all rules) and word of mouth advertising. I've seen the latter to help us out a LOT over the past months.
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08-31-2009, 10:57 PM #9Junior Guru
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Thanks for all the help guys, I hope this all works out well.
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08-31-2009, 11:08 PM #10Web Hosting Master
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I got my first clients by doing websites for the and offering the hosting service on top. It's much easier to get hosting customers when you already provide them with another service.
-=SKULLBOX.NET=-
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08-31-2009, 11:58 PM #11Junior Guru
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09-01-2009, 02:11 PM #12Web Hosting Master
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Getting your initial clients can be difficult, though not impossible. Key is to cut your costs right from the beginning, start small and have a decent budget for advertisements. Further to that, the biggest thing would be to give your customers a reason to sign up with you. Competing on price is a no go. Too many hosts offering the world for next to nothing..
Good luck!
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09-01-2009, 02:58 PM #13Virtually Flawless ;)
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Very important to get listed in all the web hosting directories (the free ones - the pay to list ones are evil
Then, submit your site to all the search engines (just like with any other site - SEO is helpful)
Also, submit your site to some of the wikis for linux os's like http://wiki.debian.org/DebianHosting
That is the bare minimum to get going. Once you've done that, come back on WHT and post a free trial offer in the advertising forums - that will get the word out and those customers will do your advertising for you.
Try and get some reviews and customer feedback - what did they like the best? the worst? fix what they don't like and use what they do like in your next advertising campaign→ RAM Host -- USA Premium & Budget Linux Hosting
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09-01-2009, 05:57 PM #14Web Hosting Master
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Hi,
It is hard to get your initial clients but hang in there! They will come!
Personally I contacted College courses and asked if I could send some discount vouchers for their web design students. It was a great success!
All web design students need web hosting, and most of them will do freelance projects on the side who they need hosting for.
Hope this helps!
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09-02-2009, 12:42 PM #15Newbie
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What a great idea Hydro Host!
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09-03-2009, 07:51 AM #16Aspiring Evangelist
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I think that you need to establish partnership with web development companies. Implement an affiliate program into your website send web design, web development companies business proposal. Than pay them honestly for each sale generated. Hope it will help you from the beginning. Also, continue to develop internet marketing strategy throughout all the time.
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09-03-2009, 10:46 AM #17Support Facility
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Also you can target the peoples you knows like your friends, relatives and you co-workers and as nowadays the market is become more saturated it is hard to get set in this business as there is lot rush of competitors. So initially I thinks starting with offering free service would be good would be good to attract the initial customers and get holds.
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09-04-2009, 12:03 AM #18Junior Guru
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I got my first one! I'm pretty excited right now!
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09-04-2009, 12:07 AM #19Virtually Flawless ;)
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Congrats!
A word of caution: Keep an eye on them as often the evil people target the new hosts - you're "fresh meat" to them.
If it turns out to be a good client then more power to you.
And Welcome To The Web Hosting Industry - hopefully you'll do good and be around for years to come→ RAM Host -- USA Premium & Budget Linux Hosting
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09-04-2009, 12:50 AM #20Junior Guru
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09-04-2009, 12:56 AM #21Virtually Flawless ;)
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→ RAM Host -- USA Premium & Budget Linux Hosting
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09-04-2009, 01:00 AM #22Junior Guru
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09-04-2009, 01:03 AM #23Virtually Flawless ;)
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Not really - they come from all over.
Although china has a few more baddies than most - but that's to be expected with over a billion people.
since you're only doing shared / reseller you're at much less risk than someone like me who does vps's - client has much less control on shared / reseller hosting.
there is still a risk though - but it's mostly limited to warez, direct blatent piracy, and other things you can easily see just by browsing the websites of your customers every now and then.Last edited by ramnet; 09-04-2009 at 01:06 AM.
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09-04-2009, 01:09 AM #24Newbie
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I would suggest posting on various forums such as this one letting people know of your services and what you offer.
That's an easy and free way to get your name out there.
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09-04-2009, 08:41 AM #25Web Hosting Master
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Any orders from AOL ips you need to scrutinize. 90% of the fraud orders we get who immediately start spamming come from 172. (aol ips).
Any orders for hosting for sites that in ANY way sound like escrow, payment, CAR SHIPPING (we get a lot of these), paypal variations, etc you want to call personally on the phone to verify. Better safe than sorry, and for those good orders you call, it gives them the feeling of the personal touch. In reality you're just CYA.Gary Harris - the artist formerly known as Dixiesys
resident grumpy redneck
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