Not Another Web Host
As I keep mentioning there are many web hosts on the internet. So you may ask:
Why am I bothering to compete?
What can I offer that other web hosts can not?
These are valid questions that you need to ask yourself. Here are a few pointers to get customers.
Offering web design services alongside hosting is a good idea if you have confidence in your skills. You will have free time while waiting for orders and support requests and this is a good way to make extra money and fill that time. The benefit is that if you design a website for someone, you can host the website as well. You will not be expected to host it forever for free so a renewal charge can be introduced at the same rate as your hosting plans.
You can target your family and friends businesses and get them online. A tip here is not to charge your family for web design, just explain that there are yearly domain and hosting fees. The experience will allow you to develop your skills at a reasonable pace and not be under as much pressure from family as you may be from an external client.
The next step from this is to show your friends some of the web design work that you have done and offer them and their family’s websites for them and their businesses. I suggest that you charge your friends at mate’s rates that include the hosting fee. After a year is over they will need to renew the hosting and domain fee.
Alongside this it is likely that they will want updates for their website, such as newer content etc. I suggest completing small updates for free and if they need large changes made then charge the appropriate amount.
On your hosting website if you wish to sell your web design skills you can create a portfolio. Explain the skills used on each site that you made and have screen shots of work you have done. Also include a link to the client’s website. This creates more pages on your hosting site that will be indexed by search engines.
