Reseller hosting refers to a type of web hosting where someone purchases disk space and bandwidth in bulk from an established hosting company, and then goes ahead to resell packages to individual users. Since it does not require setting up and maintaining any hardware or infrastructure, reseller hosting offers an easy and inexpensive way of starting a web hosting business. However, success is not guaranteed for everyone who gets into this business.
Here are some of the most common mistakes committed by people who are getting started in reseller hosting.
1. Having an incomplete or unprofessional site
You must ensure that your website gives a good impression of your business. Make sure the site is designed in a professional way, and that there are no broken links or misspelled words. Such mistakes might cause you to lose the trust of your potential customers. In addition, you need to ensure that the site has simple navigation so that visitors can easily find what they are looking for. Finally, let it be clear what exactly you are selling.
2. Failing to do your homework before selecting a host
When looking for a reseller hosting company, don’t settle for the first one you come across. Finding yourself stuck with a bad host can be the source of endless frustration. Therefore, take time to carry out some research to find a company which is reliable and most suitable for your needs. Make sure you visit various forums to read recommendations and reviews from other people. However, you should only rely on trusted sources since there are many fake reviews out there.
3. Investing too much cash
Many people make the mistake of investing too much cash on unnecessary things. You need to limit your expenditure on what you really need, especially when you are getting started. For instance, you don’t need to host your site on a dedicated server when starting off. A shared server would be more appropriate. In addition, instead of going for a costly reseller plan, it wouldn’t be advisable to start with a smaller package. Rather than paying for a custom design, you can save money by using a free web design template to create your site.
4. Not having a 1-800 number
Since 1-800 numbers are very affordable, every business needs to have one. Having a 1-800 number in your contact details will help win the trust of your customers and enhance their chances of signing up. This number can then be diverted to your house phone or cell phone. Remember to mention on your site the hours when you can be accessed on phone. After business hours, you could set it to go to voicemail.
5. Failing to get listed in hosting directories
Signing up with one of the many free hosting directories is one of the best ways of ensuring that prospective customers can find you. Web hosting directories contain lists of companies offering different hosting plans. To ensure your site gets a lot of traffic, make sure you get listed on as many hosting directories as possible. Some of the directories you need to consider include HostDirs.com, Yahoo and Google. However, before submitting your details to any hosting directory, make sure your hosting plans, pricing and features are established.
6. Having inactive forums
Having sales or support forums on your site which are not active will leave a bad impression on your prospective customers. Therefore, make sure you share useful information regularly on your forums and encourage your visitors to participate. You could also consider locking up the forum so that only customers can access it. However, you need to maintain a general forum which explains to the general public how they can gain membership.
7. Attempting to compete with established web hosts
When it comes to the amount of disk space and bandwidth offered, you don’t stand a chance against the large hosting companies. Instead of trying to compete with such companies, you need to target a specific niche market and provide appropriate mid-level plans. For instance, you could target people pursuing a certain interest or focus on plans which support a particular blog script. The key to success in reseller hosting is identifying the specific needs of your target market.
8. Giving up
Before you quit, you need to remember that reseller hosting is a long term investment. Therefore, there is great need for patience as you increase your customer base and grow the value of your business. In addition, you need to be ready for problems such as downtime. These are normal problems that you will have to deal with once in a while.
Charles is a tech enthusiast and has written reviews about offers such as the anhosting coupons and midphase promo codes. Click here to read his latest post. He also writes frequently for blogs which offer tips concerning topics such as domain names, blogging, web hosting, internet marketing, web development and social media. Once in a while, he also writes for Technically Easy.