Archive for October, 2006
Comments Welcome
Posted on October 21, 2006
I’ve noticed that I get to write a bit, and no one really comments on any of the “stuff” I seem to be writing… I urge any readers of this blog to feel free to register and comment on anything they feel important to them. Feel free to tell me that you may or may not agree with me and why. This Web Log isn’t just a venue to disseminate information into the blogsphere.
One of the main draws to a blog is to give the person or persons reading it the opportunity to have a voice in the community that is being heard… As a business person and as a consumer, I am sure there is something I can learn as well from the readers. It will also help me to be an active participant in my own conversations.
Also look out for my new article on Microsites coming in the next several days… Some interesting concepts in marketing your products and services.
Value vs. Volume: Don’t fall into selling Space and Bandwidth
Posted on October 4, 2006
I’ve been traveling again this week visiting hosting companies and ISPs in the Southeastern U.S. I’ve been talking to them about value, stickiness, and growth. One thing is certain, and that is they all have the same concerns… “We’re losing business, and we want to know what to do to stop it.” Or, “We are looking to find new avenues of growth so we are thinking about experimenting with our packages and offers.” These items bring me back to one word for everyone I have spoken to, and that word is value.
If you are a hosting company that is bringing on new business, but losing old clients to churn, you need to examine what you are doing today based on the perceived value of those clients that are leaving. I am going to make a statement that I am sure will make some of you say I am crazy and others agree. That statement is that Value in Web Hosting is NOT disk space, the number of email addresses you offer, or how cheap you are. There are companies out there today making good on cash flow numbers, but having a hard time getting or remaining profitable because they degraded their value proposition to prices, space, and stuff. You know what? The average end user has no clue what the “stuff” is. The average end user just wants a web site that functions the way they need it to. Occasionally you get the end user (and it will be more frequent in the coming months and years) that may require hosted applications, but the average guy, “like my Dad,” just wants to present his business online.
