What can we do to get your web hosting business?

Answer:

To get me from my host, I am looking a server that can meet my needs at a reasonable cost level (I understand the mantra of pay peanuts and get monkeys so not asking for something for nothing), provide a clear statement of what is being provided and have excellent uptime and response times.

In regards the personnel, I would expect a friendly professional attitude with a focus on the issue at hand.

Essentially the service should be like that of a Butler; professional, reliable and trustworthy whilst fulfilling its job.




Am I entered?

hook me up with the girl in your profile pic...?

I really appreciate the information, it's hard as a business to see through the eyes of a client sometime. This type of information is priceless and again really appreciated.

lol Come to Costa Rica and I will find something even better and with less drama

How can you get me away from Certified Hosting Solutions?

Wait for them to close.

1. Almost 0 downtime.
2. They always answer their phone.
3. I almost never have to call.
4. They have all the bells and whistles already on their servers.
5. I rarely have to install anything extra. When I do, see #4 - one click install.

I do have a ref link but this is a freebie.
http://certifiedhosting.com/promo/

lol That's great, but how do you know they always answer the phone if you almost never call. JK

We are at 99.9% uptime still for 2010, one little 20 minute outage in June. less then most monthly routine maintenance.

Glad to hear your happy

I expect from hosting to:

1. provide fucking WHM/CPANEL!!!
2. to provide 24x7 live chat support
3. tickets answered in max. 24hrs
4. icq contact is also advantage
5. to use some modern hardware (P4 is history, only c2d, quads, xeons do count these days)

ok i think i speak for a few fellow webmasters when i say this would get my business in order of importance:

1. Friendly online support, that is the ability to talk to a tech most of the day round, not just 'leave a message' or trouble ticket. ICQ is nicer but a custom solution is okay too.
2. Close to zero downtime, if it goes down, fixed in hours not days.
3. Tech support that knows a little about scripts etc so that they can aid with simple installs / if the shit hits the fan / some backend thing needs fixing they have some insight or ability.
4. Easy to use admin interface
5. Competitive price (doesn't have to be rock bottom, just competitive)

But in order to actually get me off my ass and switch from my host, it would take something special. It is true though that my current host, though in general have been good to me so far, has been worse and worse relating to online customer service and trouble ticket response time.

Anyway to the real point of my advice, I think that if you offered something like first month or two free hosting (obviously within certain bandwidth limits) that might get me to switch, remember its effort to switch so there needs to be some gimmick. Also remember that the client (me) would most likely stay for years and years so therefore giving them a month or two free to start with is offset by this.

Anyway thats my advice hope it helps

Sorry I took so long to answer. All this Epass stuff. I know they always answer their phone because sometimes I get a bug up my ass with a stupid backend question and call tech support at 4 in the morning their time.

They keep me happy.

Just a quick note about your site's table colors ... I found the dark and somewhat lighter shades of grey for the table and then using a black font difficult to read. I'd opt for white and perhaps some soft shade of green that compliments the green you are already using. Slightly larger font on that area would be nice as well.

While we're at it can we get some graphics down the side panels and 20" rims?

cute.

My point is that if a potential client finds the primary information he needs to make a choice difficult to read, he may very well move on to another site.

Good point.

I don't care what their site looks like as long as they can deliver superior service.

But joking aside, another way to weed out bad hosts is to Google " ***insert hosting company*** sucks". You can find out why people don't like a particular host. I try not to search "best hosting companies" because you get all the sales pitches and affiliate sites.

Some have hidden pitfalls. I got dropped by one of my mainstream hosts just for installing Geo-ip. I installed it and as soon as the script kicked in my site was blocked. No warning, nothing in their TOS, Nada. When I called them they said the script was server intensive and they were not reinstating my account.

Now when I look for another host, I call them and ask a million questions before I commit my resources to them.

Thanks, it's so funny how companies design websites to their personal likes. For example what colors they can see easier or stand out better.

It's great to get honest feedback, Really!

;)

@ Chaze
Hey, Is that Dating site yours? I just hit you up on ICQ. Get back to me.

It is, chat there