I got an e-mail from a Web Hosting Show listener last week who wanted to know if I had any points or tips for web hosts as far as their web site content and layout goes? Looking out there at the market today from web host to web host a lot of the web sites are starting to look the same.
To keep things simple, I thought I’d break this up into two topics. There are the things that web hosts need to do and then you have the things I’d like to see web hosts do as far as their web site layouts go.
Layout Tips Web Hosts Must Do
- Comparison Between Web Hosting Plans
- A History of Your Company and Details About Your Server Locations
- Reviews of Your Web Hosting from Your Clients
Layout Tips Web Hosts Could Do
- Better Support Pages (Maybe Use a CMS like Joomla or WordPress)
- Notifications (via RSS) of Recent Changes, Downtime or Upgrades
- Easy Way to Access Support from the Front Page
All in all hopefully once a web host is done with their web site they can say it stands out from the rest and doesn’t look like “just another template”. Web hosts, if your looking for something different you can do – just try mixing things up a little ‘bit. Look at the competition and don’t do what they are doing. Individuality is an important key to running a web hosting business because without that your just another generic choice to the consumer.
There are a thousands different podcasts out there, why should you listen to this one? Well on today’s show we’ll deliver what the web hosts want, and what the hosting clients need. The Web Hosting Show is on the air.
Love it or hate it, Windows hosting is here to stay.
When it comes to dealing with customers, keeping “customer service” in mind is always a good thing. You want to make sure these people are being taken care of because no mater if your the guy who owns the hosting company or your just the grunt that works at one, good things can always come from having a happy customer.
I pledge allegiance to the web hosts of the.. no wait, that just does not have a good ring to it.
5 Things That Suck About Web Hosting
Web hosting is not a perfect industry – heck, no industry out there is. If we put these topics out there in the spotlight and let them be heard though, maybe we can make these topics known and in turn make the web hosting business better in a whole.
1. The Jargon Sucks!
The phrases like unlimited are greatly ignored these days because web host number one is always trying to play catch up with web host number two.
2. The Press Sucks!
Web hosting news, real news is hard to find. Give me a place that does real reporting and doesn’t just post the same press releases everybody else posts.
3. The Customer Sucks!
Your paying $1.99 a month for web hosting and you expect to get quality service? That alone is enough for my argument there. When your hosting costs as much as a cheap value meal at a fast food joint you know you might be in trouble.
4. The Boss Sucks!
Many web hosting workers (mainly remotes) know they can be let go at any time for any reason. Making your staff parionid is not a good way to make them work harder.
5. The Technology Sucks!
The tools out there for running your web site are made for server admins and not average day to day customers. We need a web host that makes hosting simple – and not a thing you need a college degree to run.