New Techniques for Marketing Your Web Hosting Company in 2006
New Techniques for Marketing Your Web Hosting Company in 2006
There are many ways to market a web hosting company. Traditional
methods include web hosting directories, banner ads on webmaster
sites, search engine placements, ppc advertising, and so on.
These are all effective methods if used and managed properly.
These techniques, however, market primarily to a limited target
audience: Webmasters, Programmers, Graphic Designers, and small
hosting companies.
With the evolution of web hosting and website builder tools, as
well as the ongoing education of the common person, the average
web hosting customer is no longer a Webmaster. It is more likely
an alumni association, a church, an artist, a soccer club, or a
family photo album. Recently, the staff of Hostchart.com
analyzed the signups from several popular web hosting companies
across the month of January, and here is what they found: the
number of signups from people in the industry was less then 20%.
Over 80% of all Hosting customer signups were from people who
are not Internet professionals! So, how best does a Hosting
Company target such a wide audience?
Assuming that 80% of your customer base is non-internet
professionals, a Hosting Company's marketing methods should be
greatly expanded beyond Webmasters alone. If your marketing
budget includes online marketing only, then some potentially
rich areas to find Hosting customers may be on sites like
Vacation/Travel websites, Investment sites, Retirement websites,
or any site that has a potential customer base with expendable
time and/or income.
If a Hosting Company's advertising budget includes non-Internet
methods, it may want to consider marketing on billboards, in
newspapers, phone directories, or even brief commercial ads.
GoDaddy has proven how powerful a TV ad can be with it's
provocative Superbowl ads the last two years. Even a simple
advertising method like handing out free t-shirts can have a
farther-reaching impact on branding a Hosting Company's name
than one might think.
Another noticeable change in the Web Hosting industry is the
comfort level customers have with switching Hosting providers.
Historically, customers did not change hosting companies. Most
people were not comfortable moving their website for fear of
downtime and lost data. The times have changed. People are more
educated on websites, and there are plenty of web Hosting
services that will move sites at minimal charge and without
downtime. People feel free to move from Host to Host when they
are offered a better plan. It is an increasingly competitive
market, where companies must find new and better ways to stand
out from the competition, whether that be from decreased cost,
increased Customer Service, or farther reaching advertising
campaigns. But Hosting Companies need not lose heart, for
although competition is increasing, the number of people
Worldwide who are getting connected to the internet is
increasing at an exponential rate. It is a good time to be in
the Hosting Industry!
About the Author: Rodney Ringler is President of Advantage1 Web
Services, Inc., which owns a network of Web Hosting
Informational Websites including HostChart.com,
ResellerConnection.com, FoundHost.com, ResellerForums.com, and
HostingKnowledge.net. Rodney has over 15 years industry
experience from programming to internet marketing.
About the author:
About the Author: Rodney Ringler is President of Advantage1 Web
Services, Inc., which owns a network of Web Hosting
Informational Websites including HostChart.com,
ResellerConnection.com, FoundHost.com, ResellerForums.com, and
HostingKnowledge.net. Rodney has over 15 years industry
experience from programming to internet marketing.
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