By Stephen Holford, CMO, Fasthosts
A great start to becoming a successful Web host, particularly for resellers, is to know what hosting providers are out there. Unbeknown to your customers, the quality of service they receive from you, the reseller, can often depend on the quality of the hosting provider you choose, the true source for their Web solutions. Researching providers in the beginning, and learning what you can and cannot offer to your customers can have a substantial impact on your success in the reseller industry.
That said, Web hosting can be a lucrative business move for VARs. While an in-depth background in hosting is not a necessity to become a reseller, there are a few "tricks of the trade" that can help even the savviest IT providers become a mainstay in a very competitive industry.
1. Probably one of the most important elements to look for in a Web hosting provider is the cost associated with bandwidth and Web space. Ask the provider if it limits the amount of bandwidth and Web space you are allocated. What costs, if any, can occur if that limit is exceeded? Sometimes, providers may cap how much you are allotted in order to make a greater profit at your expense.
2. Depending on the provider you choose, as a reseller you have the flexibility to run your hosting business as you see fit. Ensuring that you have the ability to structure your business and control its progress can be a plus because it pulls the final say from the provider and gives it to the reseller. In short, if you are in charge, you have total command of your business. On the other hand, not every reseller wants to have full control. To be safe, just make sure you know what responsibilities you and the provider each have in managing the business.
3. How quickly do you want to have your reselling venture up and running? Your best bet is to have a quick and efficient start-up process. This means it should take minutes, not hours! Double check, too, if there is any software you have to use in order to get things working properly.
4. The variety of Web solutions that will be available for you to resell can be important as well. Inquire with the provider to find out what your options are, including how the solutions are purchased. Are they bundled into pre-determined packages? Can you customize them with other options? What individual services are available for you to resell, such as email inboxes, domains, etc.?
5. Regardless of how much control a reseller has, the administrative side of Web hosting matters. It’s a good idea to look for a user-friendly control panel. Ask the provider what tools it offers that can make the administrator's job easier (but not at the expense of efficiency or effectiveness).
VARs will find the world of Web hosting holds a lot of potential for those brave enough to venture into the online world. But, it's important to remember that a partnership with a dependable provider can greatly help you achieve a stable stream of revenue.
[bsminfo]
A great start to becoming a successful Web host, particularly for resellers, is to know what hosting providers are out there. Unbeknown to your customers, the quality of service they receive from you, the reseller, can often depend on the quality of the hosting provider you choose, the true source for their Web solutions. Researching providers in the beginning, and learning what you can and cannot offer to your customers can have a substantial impact on your success in the reseller industry.
That said, Web hosting can be a lucrative business move for VARs. While an in-depth background in hosting is not a necessity to become a reseller, there are a few "tricks of the trade" that can help even the savviest IT providers become a mainstay in a very competitive industry.
1. Probably one of the most important elements to look for in a Web hosting provider is the cost associated with bandwidth and Web space. Ask the provider if it limits the amount of bandwidth and Web space you are allocated. What costs, if any, can occur if that limit is exceeded? Sometimes, providers may cap how much you are allotted in order to make a greater profit at your expense.
2. Depending on the provider you choose, as a reseller you have the flexibility to run your hosting business as you see fit. Ensuring that you have the ability to structure your business and control its progress can be a plus because it pulls the final say from the provider and gives it to the reseller. In short, if you are in charge, you have total command of your business. On the other hand, not every reseller wants to have full control. To be safe, just make sure you know what responsibilities you and the provider each have in managing the business.
3. How quickly do you want to have your reselling venture up and running? Your best bet is to have a quick and efficient start-up process. This means it should take minutes, not hours! Double check, too, if there is any software you have to use in order to get things working properly.
4. The variety of Web solutions that will be available for you to resell can be important as well. Inquire with the provider to find out what your options are, including how the solutions are purchased. Are they bundled into pre-determined packages? Can you customize them with other options? What individual services are available for you to resell, such as email inboxes, domains, etc.?
5. Regardless of how much control a reseller has, the administrative side of Web hosting matters. It’s a good idea to look for a user-friendly control panel. Ask the provider what tools it offers that can make the administrator's job easier (but not at the expense of efficiency or effectiveness).
VARs will find the world of Web hosting holds a lot of potential for those brave enough to venture into the online world. But, it's important to remember that a partnership with a dependable provider can greatly help you achieve a stable stream of revenue.
[bsminfo]
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