Lunarpages Web Hosting
I recently got a chance to talk with Amy Armitage, the Affiliate Program Manager and Sales and Marketing Manager of the Web hosting company, Lunarpages. Amy had some very interesting views on many different topics inside and out of the world of Web hosting.
Mitch: The first thing I noticed about your Web site was your special offer. “Move your website to Lunarpages from another web host and sign up for a new annual plan. We will add the time remaining from your existing pre-paid web hosting account to your new Lunarpages plan (up to 11 months) and we’ll even transfer your site for you.” How much success have you had with that so far?
Amy: Although this program was only recently established, we’ve seen a lot of success with it. We were looking for a viable solution to allow customers unhappy with their existing host to move to a more positive Lunarpages experience without having to forfeit their investment.
It is unfortunate that so many customers have negative experiences but it is highly rewarding to us that we are able to provide a solution to that. For more information about this program, please go to http://www.lunarpages.com/special_offer.php.
Mitch: I see that Lunarpages has a nice set of forums as well. How important do you think the community aspect of Web hosting is to any Web hosting company out there?
Amy: Lunarpages has a unique, thriving community that is essential to our industry. We rely on this community for support, feedback and referrals. Over 50% of our existing support staff started out as customers contributing in our support forums at http://lunarforums.com and via chat. I can’t think of a better testimonial than that.
Mitch: You are one of the few Web hosts I’ve seen that have job advertisements on the Web site. Are you looking to pick up people from just your location or are you looking to gain talent from anywhere out there?
Amy: We are looking for quality personnel who want to work for an exciting, stable company. We do advertise for employment elsewhere but a large portion of our applicants found out about us by looking for hosting, already have hosting with us or are surfing.
Over 50% of our existing support staff started out as customers contributing in our support forums at http://lunarforums.com and via chat. We have available positions at out La Habra Corporate office, our downtown Los Angeles data center and we also have telecommuting positions available for customer support, sales and system administration.
Mitch: What is your company history exactly with Add2Net Corporation?
Amy: Lunarpages Web Hosting is a property of the privately held corporation, Add2Net, Inc., founded in 2000. For more information regarding Add2Net, Inc., please see http://add2net.com.
Mitch: What aspects of Web hosting does Lunarpages offer than some other Web hosts might not?
Amy: Lunarpages focuses on customer service which is unique to our company. We have implemented extensive systems and processes to ensure our customers have the best possible hosting experience from our first line support through our Quality Assurance.
In addition to our support, our plans include a wealth of easy to use scripts and tools to help the customer build a dynamic, feature rich site. We are also one of the few affordable web hosts that have JSP available.
Mitch: From sign up to finish, how long does it take for the average Web hosting order to go through to where the client has the login information in his or her own hands?
Amy: We verify all new hosting contracts by a variety of means that may include telephone verification. We have staff calling customers seven days per week to ensure a quick turn around time.
The reason we make this security check is to protect our customers and cut down on fraud. The average verification time is a few minutes.
Mitch: Have you thought about adding any RSS (Really Simple Syndication) features to your Web site? As an example, giving your clients and RSS feed so that they know when the company news page has been updated.
Amy: We have released our new Customer Account Page (CAP) that has the ability to add announcements and latest news. We intend to use this as a means of contacting our customer base for security issues, latest upgrades, account specific information, plan changes and server issues.
We will also consider any suggestion our customers have as they are our most valuable resource in determining what features should be added.
Mitch: How important do you think it is for a Web hosting company to get Better Business Bureau certification and why?
Amy: I think it is important for any company to get BBB certification because it lends credibility and shows the company cares about their standing with the public. As a company that prides itself on superior customer support, it is essential we continue to have an A rating with the BBB.
Mitch: What feature or in which direction to you see Lunarpages expanding to in the future?
Amy: We are currently developing many new features as well as new products based on feedback we’ve obtained from our customers. Our latest news section of our site found at http://lunarpages.com/news.php has our newest developments. Also our forums at http://lunarforums.com outlines some of our latest developments.
We do not generally disclose the projects currently under development until they are ready to be released. However, we always welcome feedback as to what our customers would like to see offered. All customers may email feedback@lunarpages.com with their suggestions. These are reviewed daily by upper management.
Mitch: If somebody out there was looking for a new Web host today, why would you say that Lunarpages should be the Web host that they pick?
Amy: We care. We focus on creating a positive hosting experience for our customers. This includes ensuring we have the best technology available for uptime and backup as well as expert personnel to assist our customers. We continually strive to improve our services and support while maintaining affordable packages.
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