How to promote a webhost?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by rahuldas14, Feb 9, 2009.

  1. #1
    How to promote a new webhosting business? I am a newbie.
    I have limited budgets so would prefer free ideas but let me know about all the ideas as in future i may try them out.
     
    rahuldas14, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  2. alltheweb1985

    alltheweb1985 Peon

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    #2
    hi there,

    Couple of suggestions:

    1. in such a competitive market as hosting, I suggest you first try local market. You can get quite a few clients this way.
    2. consider SEO for your website
    3. Monitor hosting related websites and forums, respond to hosting requests
    4. Try PPC campaigns (Adwords, yahoo search marketing)
     
    alltheweb1985, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  3. Philvault

    Philvault Active Member

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    #3
    If you're a newbie with limited funds, I don't think Adwords will do any good. Webhosting competition is very stiff. I think traditional way of promoting to your friends will do. Once you gain momentum, target Adwords.
     
    Philvault, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  4. mightyb

    mightyb Banned

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    #4
    Hosting is a very saturated and competitive niche. I personally would not even touch a hosting company I have never heard about.
     
    mightyb, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  5. calvynlee

    calvynlee Well-Known Member

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    #5
    you might try to target those non techie business owner.

    deliver some good point to those business owner to bring their business online.

    to conventional a bit, may be shop to shop introducing your product.
     
    calvynlee, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  6. m82492

    m82492 Peon

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    #6
    Build websites on your hosting account. Sell the site with a free month of hosting. That way people can see if you are solid or not before going with you full time.
     
    m82492, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  7. rahuldas14

    rahuldas14 Well-Known Member

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    #7
    offline marketing for webhosting in India is a tough job.
    I am willing to share my income with someone who can market my webhosting. But nobody turned up till now. Do you think it is a good idea?
     
    rahuldas14, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  8. Bauger

    Bauger Active Member

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    #8
    I heard of a great promotional idea today on a video especially if you run a hosting company. You can target local business thats for sure. Just look in your local yellow pages and see which business owns websites and which don't. Then other them a cost effective solution to get them hosting and a website up.
    You can also offer others that have websites a solution to put an opt in newsletter form on their website so they can easily offer their customers a newsletter and upcoming promotions on products.
    Good way to raise a bit of cash fast because you can charge a couple hundred dollars or whatever price you like.
     
    Bauger, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  9. Rubizzy

    Rubizzy Peon

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    #9
    Look if the webhost supplies coupons. Try optimizing your pages for webhostname+coupon.
    People love to pay less.
     
    Rubizzy, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  10. MarbleHost.com

    MarbleHost.com Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #10
    If you want to share your income with others why not to start affiliate program?
     
    MarbleHost.com, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  11. dbbrock1

    dbbrock1 Peon

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    #11
    dbbrock1, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  12. ianbayliss1

    ianbayliss1 Peon

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    #12
    I agree with the idea of building sites on your own hosting company then selling the site cause that conbined with good conpetive prices will allow you to gain returning customers that you have brought to your site. Also consider email marketing, Telesales to local and national Small time business's.
     
    ianbayliss1, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  13. calvynlee

    calvynlee Well-Known Member

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    #13
    this is a good idea, but we have to manually contact them either by phone or by sending them a snail mail for our service

    this is also a very good value added idea, may be offer them a free landing paga with every package their buy from me
     
    calvynlee, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  14. gldean

    gldean Active Member

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    #14
    Offer specials, article marketing, backlinks, blogs, I would think you would have to do it all to be competitive.

    GD
     
    gldean, Feb 9, 2009 IP
  15. rahuldas14

    rahuldas14 Well-Known Member

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    #15
    how to start a affiliate program? i mean how to get people to join it?
     
    rahuldas14, Feb 11, 2009 IP
  16. MarbleHost.com

    MarbleHost.com Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #16
    Basically you have 2 options:

    1. In-house affiliate program - you will use the same advertising methods which you use to promote your web hosting company. E. g. optimize one of your pages for something like "web hosting affiliate program", write articles targeted for affiliates, put link to your affiliate program to your forum signature because in this forum is a lot of people looking for this type of income etc.

    2. Join affiliate network like cj.com - it will cost you some extra money because these networks will get commission for every sale. On the other hand you will not need to pay to every affiliate. And the biggest advantage is that you can contact existing affiliates in the network with your offer.
     
    MarbleHost.com, Feb 11, 2009 IP
  17. MMandYOu

    MMandYOu Peon

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    #17
    Agree with the above. Also, try and sign exclusive deals with web design companies to have them forward their new clients to your host.

    (btw all the web, like your design and domain, nice)
     
    MMandYOu, Feb 11, 2009 IP
  18. rahuldas14

    rahuldas14 Well-Known Member

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    #18
    joining cj.com is impossible. only people generating $50000 permonth can join. can u suggest some other sites?
     
    rahuldas14, Feb 14, 2009 IP
  19. Tekime

    Tekime Well-Known Member

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    #19
    Very competitive business. Having fast, reliable servers, knowledgeable staff, strong support, and a top-notch Web site are unquestionable prerequisites. Clearly set yourself apart by offering something everyone else is not. Establish yourself as a knowledgeable and reliable leader in the field by participating in the big hosting forums/newsgroups, publishing useful and informative content on your site, maintaining a blog, etc.

    Some ideas for getting new business without a big budget:
    1. Offer hosting services at discounted rates to all new and existing clients. If you're designing Web sites for local businesses, it should be a part of the standard package.
    2. Partner with companies & individuals selling scripts that require Web hosting. Offer discounts on their products to your customers in exchange for the same on their end.
    3. Build & sell turnkey Websites at rock-bottom prices and offer 1-3 months free hosting to the buyer on your server - after that they pay.
    4. Offer a big incentive or discount for signing up for a full year or other big packages.
    The more competition you stand up against, the better you have to be. You can't just offer the same service as everyone else, or you will always fight an uphill battle. Build a strong name with clearly defined value and your service will sell itself.
     
    Tekime, Feb 14, 2009 IP
  20. calvynlee

    calvynlee Well-Known Member

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    #20
    for my affiliate method, I do provide people some promocode, with using the promocode, can get hosting upgrade for free...

    and those unique promocode represent each affiliater... when customer use the promocode, I know who is the introducer,and will paid them the commision.
     
    calvynlee, Feb 14, 2009 IP