You must be cautious how you go about starting a web hosting company because this will have long-term effects on the venture you start. Below are 10 steps for starting a web hosting company:
Step 1: Choose your platform
UNIX for example, is an open source program which is less costly as compared to Windows. It also provides a much more reliable and steady environment to host on. So if it so happens that you cannot make up your mind on which one to choose, start by using a provider who offers both operating systems under a single Reseller Plan.
Step 2: Pick which control panel you will employ
There are many types of control panels: those that have very simple end-user functionality, some are just basic reseller panels and with administrative features while others have very tough branding and billing skills like the H-Sphere system.
Step 3: Choose who your reseller hosting provider would be
This would be a key decision. This could decide a lot of things for you as you launch your web hosting company or webhotel firma as known in Danish. If you have a good reseller hosting company, you make your hosting company equally great. Cheaper might not necessarily click here.
Step 4: Set up your plans for hosting and decide the pricing
Keep yourself abreast of the competition in the market and check out prices that are being spoken of. It will be advisable if you try to oversell your resources.
Step 5: Develop a business website
Let your clients know about your problem-solving capabilities so that they know how you will address their issues. Ensure there are at least 500 words on your main page to enable optimization for search engines and marketing.
Step 6: Make your site ready for e-Commerce
You will have to set up the following in order to be able to take payments for the web hosting accounts:
– Certificate for SSL
– Merchant account
– Payment gateway
Step 7: Set up a support helpdesk
This is to ensure you can talk to the customers when they are in an urgent need. Having a FAQ part on your site that you can email will ease off some of the burden. Also consider live support through a calling service.
Step 8: Setting up client billing
You must create a plan for billing software. What you should keep in mind is that your plan should:
– Have a full-featured billing system that will permit you to exercise control over resources and plan your cost. This should include trial periods, rebates and much more.
– Use a flexible and robust gateway system that agrees with major credit card providers.
Step 9: Create a ‘welcome’ email
New clients would love to see this. It makes them feel important. Let them know the following about your web hosting company:
– Details of your plan
– The changes on DNS and registrar
– A username and password (temporary – to be changed after signing in)
– Control panel Link
– Access to the FTP and email features
– FAQ
– Helpdesk
Step 10: Market your website
This is the most crucial part of your whole effort in making sure you keep visitors attracted and getting you more hits. You should keep in mind the following factors to achieve this:
– Reach out to business acquaintances, friends and family
– Optimize your search engine performance
– Employ paid advertising
– Use affiliate programs and newsletters
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