Podcast: Partner PROFIT Program
The netZentry Partner PROFIT Program allows you to offer DDoS protection for your customers at the domain-level while generating additional service revenue
Selecting a Merchant Account
Shopping for a merchant account is a confusing and difficult process. And, unfortunately, many merchants do themselves not a big favor by going shopping without first understanding what they are really shopping for.
Server Monitoring
Monitoring is a very important part of the web hosting business. We are not talking about monitoring log files or so. What we are talking about is monitoring services and uptime and what to do with the information.
Web Hosting Mistakes
Knowing about the mistakes is one thing – but trying to avoid them will not apply to every situation for every web host. The following list shows a couple of mistakes that I made and also a few mistakes I have seen at other businesses.
Blackhole or Fail? - Setting up Your Mail Server
It is unwise to use catch-all email accounts, and spam sent to nonexistent addresses should be discarded. Spam can easily clog up your SMTP server and consume resources like bandwidth and disk space in mailboxes.
Moving a Site Between Servers With Almost No Downtime
Our quick and easy guide will help you to move your site between servers as quick as possible. This guide has been written for CPanel servers but in general the steps described should work similar on other platforms.
Disaster Recovery Planning
You made sure that the important data is being backed up or that you are using redundant systems to keep everything up and running without risking the loss of data. But how are you protecting your actual business that you are running from your home?
Credit Card Processing - the Basics
Imagine a customer ready to buy your services but then not being able to sign up and pay because there is no payment (credit card) processing in place. Don't let this happen.
IPtables Firewall Basic Introduction
IPtables is used to set up, maintain, and inspect the tables of IP packet filter rules in the Linux kernel. This quick tutorial will teach you the basics about building a firewall by using IPtables.
Buying or Selling a Web Hosting Business
Here are a few consideration and recommendations about how to determine what a web hosting business is worth and what people are willing to pay for clients.
How to Fire an Employee
Employees who consistently break the rules, do not perform the functions of their job, or cause difficulties for your business can be a strain on the work environment, your cash flow, and even disrupt your business from thriving and performing as expected.
How to Compete with the Big Guns
Many small business startups fail within the first 2 years of existence. There are several different factors reason for the failure. One reason many entrepreneurs often under estimate the need to find a niche market and to serve it well.
Upgrade To APACHE 2.0 Web Server
This quick tutorial will show you how to upgrade your existing Apache installation to the latest version (2.2.0 as the time of writing this tutorial).
The Web Hosting Competition
What kind of companies are out there? What is your competition like if you are a web host? What to look for, if you are a customer looking for a web host?
Server Build Standards
For a web hosting business the servers are pretty much the foundation of the business from a technical standpoint. If the servers go down the impact for the business can be severe.
Server Hardware Strategy
At one point you will have to decide what kind of server hardware you would like to go with and what specifications to offer your clients. You want 2 CPU's, at least 1 GB of memory and off you go, right? Well, hold on.
What Web Hosting Customers Want
Compared to many other businesses, the Web hosting industry is still in its youth, but already we've seen dramatic changes in the attitudes and priorities of customers.
Introduction to the Reseller Model
The options most usually made available to resellers include "volume discount" reselling, discount per domain, affiliate and private label reselling. Learn more about each.
About Web Hosting Reseller Plans & Options
When it comes to choosing a program type, resellers are faced with a lot of options. Here is a list of some of the more popular types of Web hosting reseller programs, and the benefits of each.
Introduction to Reselling Web Hosting
What is reselling, and how do I get involved? This step-by-step guide will tell you what you need to know before you get started and show you how to take your Web hosting business to the next level.
How to Thrive Reselling Web Hosting
Three fundamental tenets of good business must be observed in order to create a thriving Web hosting company.
The Role of the Web Hosting Reseller
Resellers have emerged as "middle men" in today's Web hosting industry by extending the revenues and reach of higher-tier Web hosts while operating their own efficient businesses as the same time.
Criteria for Evaluating a Host
Not all Web hosts are created equal. Web hosting resellers should therefore investigate the features of each reseller program they are considering very carefully; choosing a program that's not right for you can set your business back considerably.
Scalable Hosting is a Top Priority
Choosing a scalable hosting program that can grow with your business should be a top priority. A scalable program will not only improve your service offerings, but will help you manage growth as well.
How Resellers Ensure Quality of Service
Quality of service can often be the only differentiator between hosting companies in today's competitive environment. Resellers should ensure they are providing the best services possible through Service Level Agreements with their provider.
The Cost of Establishing a Reseller Operation
While reselling typically involves offering the services of a major hosting provider, there are still startup costs involved. Offering hosting services on a reseller basis is still a business, and should be treated as such.
A Web Hosting Reseller's Fundamental Requirements
Although Web hosting is a rapidly growing marketplace, there are a number of essential elements that resellers must consider if they plan to capitalize on it. Resellers must be fully aware of the challenges involved in running a hosting business.
How to Author Customer Service Agreements
Customer service agreements set ground rules applicable to a reseller's clientele, and are an absolute must in order to protect both the customer and the company. Here are a number of considerations to take in to account when authoring one.
Keys to Managing Your Reseller Business
In many respects, managing a Web hosting reseller operation is like operating one's own business: a sound exit strategy, an understanding of legal obligations and full knowledge of basic business principles are still required.
Reducing Customer Support Costs
Technical support is expensive to provide. However, because it is so important to a successful hosting firm, most resellers encourage technical support through inexpensive channels.
How to Implement Billing Solutions
Due to the advantages that a merchant commerce and payment services gateway provides, resellers should opt to use a turnkey e-commerce solutions in order to effectively implement their billing solutions.
The Importance of An SLA
Service Level Agreements are an absolute must for Web hosts that are serious about success. SLAs lay the groundwork for the company-customer relationship, and allow Web hosts to measure their own performance.
How to Evaluate SLA Compliance
Resellers that have purchased Web hosting services under the protection of a Service Level Agreement will obviously want to know if the provisions of the SLA are being met. Here's how to make sure you find out.
How to Provide Order Processing Services
Many Web hosting customers often look for the option to sell products and services when choosing a Web host. For this reason, resellers must ensure they can offer a wide range of processing services to their clients.
Providing Advanced Web Hosting Services
Resellers can benefit by reselling advanced services such as vpn's, cdn's and firewalls to larger organizations in their capacity as an IT consultant.
Increasing Your Margins
Web host resellers can increase their margins by employing intelligent business tactics that lower their overall taxes.
Outsourcing Your Customer Support
Utilizing customer support outsourcing services allows a reseller to provide tech support without the headaches or capital expense of developing, staffing and maintaining an internal help desk.
