Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : Web Site Building Scripts - Worth it?

[ParagonHost]

Greetings all...

I would like to get some comments from those who host Web Site Building Scripts such as RVSite Builder and such.

Do you have many clients that use these scripts?

Worth the investment per year?

Thanks!

Dave

[Jason_NTS]

Originally Posted by ParagonHost

Greetings all...

I would like to get some comments from those who host Web Site Building Scripts such as RVSite Builder and such.

Do you have many clients that use these scripts?

Worth the investment per year?

Thanks!

Dave

I think that if you have a decent number of customers that aren’t tech/web savvy or just want a quick way of creating an internet presence then yes it can be a good investment. Providing tools for your clients that make the job of creating a website for their business easier can be a positive marketing point. We host a wide range of customers and find that there are quite a few users that like have a “ready-made” web interface to build their site.
There are many to choose from but some of the main things to look at should be ease of use, scalability and cost. It may be helpful to identify your top 3 choices and install the demo or trial versions on a server for testing. Once the builders are setup, you might try to find a way for existing customers to try out and rate the builders and in return you can provide a small token of your appreciation for doing so. You may also have other acquaintances, friends or family that can assist you with providing feedback about their experience to help with your final choice.
It seems that much of the internet is moving towards Content Management Systems of some sort and I think that creating an interface that addresses that calling is a very good idea.

[PaulM]

It really depends on the cost....

As a first guess - I'd be tempted to say no: definitely not.

[SenseiSteve]

I voted YES. There are still a ton of prospects out there that aren't tech savvy, yet still want an Internet presence.

[PaulM]

Originally Posted by Steve-Hostirian

I voted YES. There are still a ton of prospects out there that aren't tech savvy, yet still want an Internet presence.

But are those types of customers aware that other hosting companies exist (other than godaddy / 1&1 etc...?)

[Varial]

If you don't offer web design services site builders can be helpful in acquiring a client who doesn't know how to build their own site or have the budget to hire someone. Having a site builder has helped us to pick up many clients.

[SenseiSteve]

Originally Posted by VPSGuys_Paul

But are those types of customers aware that other hosting companies exist (other than godaddy / 1&1 etc...?)

They know GoDaddy, but probably not much more - but the Internet isn't the only way to reach these prospects. When I built my first site, I didn't know any providers other than my ISP.