Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

October 06, 2011

Reseller Services – What Else Can You Offer?

Right now, web host resellers need to do whatever they can to get ahead of the game.  This means offering whatever services they can to distinguish themselves from the pack.  Some are obvious, but others may not be so.  Here are some things you can offer that you may not have considered.

Copyright hunter

This is nice service to add just because it's quick and easy, and yet few resellers seem to think to do it.  All that's necessary for this is to once a week or month either go to Google and do a search for key phrases on your customer's web site that are too coincidental to have been randomly conjured by anyone else, or else just go to a site that checks for copyrighted material and check there.  There are more ways these days to check for copied images and other media as well, so keep up on these too.

Networking guru

As much as we talk about behemoths like FaceBook and Twitter, there are countless web sites in existence that people use to connect with one another, and they come and go like the wind.  Keeping up with them alone can be a full time job.  Devoting yourself to keeping an eye on them and making sure that your client has a site on as many of them as possible is a great way to broaden your market penetration, not to mention the benefits of keeping an open dialogue with said communities.

Software librarian

One of the things that web hosts use to attract new customers is a large script library.  You can do the same.  Many resellers will market their proficiency in say, WordPress, but how many of them have even heard of Tribiq, Pixie or Contonti?  Of course, you risk the possibility of diminishing returns by spreading yourself too thin, but remember that often a lot of these are very quietly of higher quality than the most popular packages.  Also, remember the Walmart effect: some customers prefer shopping someplace with a larger selection even if they never look at most of the products.

Server wizard

Most resellers will just settle for whatever server their web host puts their account on, and this isn't so bad.  It's not like they're going to use servers that are ready to keel over and die.  Nevertheless, if you can stay up on computer trends enough to be able to, now and then, make an occasional request of your host based on solid, researched information then you can look really good in the eyes of your clients.  To be fair, this is not something you'll use that often, so it's a little more glamour than substance, but it is still honest, so if that's what gets you an extra customer or two, don't argue.

News tracker

If your client's site is selling, say, tobacco products, then you can do your client a world of good by keeping an eye on news sites that might have information he'd be interested in.  Additionally, if your client's site is popular enough that people are talking about it elsewhere on the web, it might be a good idea to hunt down and find these conversations and, if it seems appropriate, take part.

Don't slack on all of your basics services just to offer some frosting.  If you are trying to get ahead in the reseller market, though, every now and then a little frosting to sweeten the deal might be just what you need.

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