Alphamail
09-12-2005, 02:57 AM
Here is one for the end-users visiting this forum…
I have for a long time wondered whether there is a mismatch between the services most web hosts offer and the perception of web hosts in the market. It seems to me that most web hosts are pretty much fixed into a role that they should provide options (such as downloadable forums) and a platform for web sites and nothing else. This means that although a package might offer a forum and a database, it is up to the end-user to configure both to ensure they work properly. Likewise, although a host might offer email forms, adapting them for a particular use or design is a programming requirement that rests with the end-user.
From my experience, there seem to be two groups of people who create web sites. The first is interested in the technology and what it will do – HTML, .asp, asp.net… the works. For these people configuring a forum and setting up email forms is part of the pleasure of owing a website. There are though a growing number of people, often small business owners and entrepreneurs, who see web sites as merely a means to commerce and revenue – the technical aspects of web sites hold no importance to this group and in fact cause a hindrance to their plans.
Although businesspeople have the more driving need to develop a web site, they are probably the most excluded. A small businessperson with a web site would have to employ a programmer to be able to create the web site he/she believes would make money. Aside from prohibitive costs, a businessperson would not be in a position to properly evaluate whether a programmer were worth his/her salt. This then seems to be a flaw in what is offered; hosts offer the platform and the options but not the programming support to get things going.
Having been involved with hosting for 5 years as an end user (one who is competent enough to deal with everything myself) I have met countless people with a business idea who genuinely believe that although it’s a designer’s job to design a web site, it is a web host’s role to ensure everything is working. I have met a number of disappointed people who eventually drop their schemes because they can’t easily get them off the ground.
I was talking to the CEO of a web hosting company about this issue the other day, and he suggested that the issue was pricing. His point of view was that with low-cost hosting being the bulk of the market, people would not be interested in a company charging $80 an hour for a programmer to set up their web forms, etc. for them when their monthly hosting cost substantially less. My point of view is completely the opposite – if a form costs $80 when it could potentially earn millions than it will be money well spent.
So, my questions are these: Who is right? Is the hosting business missing out on a revenue making opportunity, or should hosting companies just stick to hosting?
I very much look forward to your answers.
Alphamail
I have for a long time wondered whether there is a mismatch between the services most web hosts offer and the perception of web hosts in the market. It seems to me that most web hosts are pretty much fixed into a role that they should provide options (such as downloadable forums) and a platform for web sites and nothing else. This means that although a package might offer a forum and a database, it is up to the end-user to configure both to ensure they work properly. Likewise, although a host might offer email forms, adapting them for a particular use or design is a programming requirement that rests with the end-user.
From my experience, there seem to be two groups of people who create web sites. The first is interested in the technology and what it will do – HTML, .asp, asp.net… the works. For these people configuring a forum and setting up email forms is part of the pleasure of owing a website. There are though a growing number of people, often small business owners and entrepreneurs, who see web sites as merely a means to commerce and revenue – the technical aspects of web sites hold no importance to this group and in fact cause a hindrance to their plans.
Although businesspeople have the more driving need to develop a web site, they are probably the most excluded. A small businessperson with a web site would have to employ a programmer to be able to create the web site he/she believes would make money. Aside from prohibitive costs, a businessperson would not be in a position to properly evaluate whether a programmer were worth his/her salt. This then seems to be a flaw in what is offered; hosts offer the platform and the options but not the programming support to get things going.
Having been involved with hosting for 5 years as an end user (one who is competent enough to deal with everything myself) I have met countless people with a business idea who genuinely believe that although it’s a designer’s job to design a web site, it is a web host’s role to ensure everything is working. I have met a number of disappointed people who eventually drop their schemes because they can’t easily get them off the ground.
I was talking to the CEO of a web hosting company about this issue the other day, and he suggested that the issue was pricing. His point of view was that with low-cost hosting being the bulk of the market, people would not be interested in a company charging $80 an hour for a programmer to set up their web forms, etc. for them when their monthly hosting cost substantially less. My point of view is completely the opposite – if a form costs $80 when it could potentially earn millions than it will be money well spent.
So, my questions are these: Who is right? Is the hosting business missing out on a revenue making opportunity, or should hosting companies just stick to hosting?
I very much look forward to your answers.
Alphamail