Deciding to start a business can be an exciting prospect. Making money by being your own boss and doing what you enjoy can be a fantastic career path. In modern times, the concept of web hosting has become a necessary service, and many people have made it their business.
How to Start a Web Hosting Business
Starting a web hosting business can be a lucrative undertaking due to the need for niche web hosts. There is a general web hosting business guide that contains a few key steps to get started:
Step 1: The first step is to obtain a basic knowledge of web design. As a minimum, you should get familiar with HTML, CSS, and PHP. This will allow you to work within the software to create the desired result. If you want to go a step farther and operate your own server, you should learn about object-oriented computer programming.
Step 2: The next step is to define your niche. There are many web hosting businesses already in operation, so it is essential that you find an area that isn’t overpopulated. Starting out specific is the best way to earn money because many web hosts cater to all markets already, and there would be too much competition. Determine your target market and what services you will be offering to them. Large companies such as Facebook or Google contain a great deal of public data, and therefore would not be available on a traditional hosting website.
Step 3: To operate this type of business, you will need to find a server partner to work with. This server provider will need to be consistent, as it will contain all of your clients’ data. Moving the data around to different providers will cause clients to question the dependability of your service.
Step 4: Setting up customer service support should be the next priority. Clients will be choosing your service because you will be taking care of any technical issues for them. This is a big appeal of web hosting, and therefore it should be a key consideration when starting your business. You will need to keep clients’ websites running functionally, or they may move to a different company. Implanting features such as 24/7 tech support and live chat will make it easier to provide help to your clients.
Step 5: The final order of business is to attract clients. When everything has been tested and is functioning perfectly, it is time to start advertising yourself. Spread the word through word of mouth from friends and family. You can post ads on your personal social media accounts and print a piece in the newspaper. For a little more money, you could also put out a banner advertisement on a website that is related to your service or to your niche target market.
How to Make Money with a Web Hosting Business
Now that your web hosting business is set up, it is time to start making money from it. The price that you set to host will be critical here, as it determines how much profit you will be making from each client.
When you are just starting out, keeping clients happy is key. Try charging them just slightly more than what you pay every month. Even if you keep this pricing model as a temporary, promotional deal, it will help gain clients and earn some profit on the side. Once you are more established in your business, you can charge new clients a little more, or end your promotional deal.
Working with a niche target market will work to your advantage, as there will be far less competition. You will not have as many clients as you might have otherwise, but they will be willing to pay for your services because there is less choice for them.
The web hosting industry will only continue to grow, particularly as more companies move towards a virtual-based approach. Business Wire addresses the ‘new normal’ as more and more business transition away from physical office space, and onto the internet.
As your company starts to expand, you need to maintain your business values. Work with clients and come up with a fair solution to satisfy both of you. This includes honouring refund polices and remaining honest about any downtime that the site is facing. Clients will appreciate the honesty, particularly if you show that you are willing to work towards a quick solution.
