Your Business Philosophy?

**CrazyTech** · 05-16-2004 07:53 PM

What's your philosophy for an online business?

**Moondancer** · 05-16-2004 08:04 PM

Offer the best possible service, at the best possible price, while maintaining a straightforward, honest approach to people. I guess that's about as short as it can get and still make sense, :-).

reann · 06-08-2004 08:27 AM

[quote author=Moondancer link=topic=30.msg88#msg88 date=1084734259]
Offer the best possible service, at the best possible price, while maintaining a straightforward, honest approach to people. I guess that's about as short as it can get and still make sense, :-).
[/quote]

Agree. That's what i maintain. :)

**CrazyTech** · 06-11-2004 06:40 AM

I meant just a little more in depth than that, I suppose I should have specified. Do you believe in quick growth or do you favor a company who builds itself over time and grows? Do you favor the higher end situations or do you shoot for the cheap budget system, etc.?

**Moondancer** · 06-13-2004 01:20 PM

I think slow growth is the best way to maintain cutomer retention. We've been in business almost 2 years now and while still small, only 1 customer has left us(we were glad he did), even the monthly payers have stayed with us. We don't believe in treating any of our customers differently than any other, small sites, large sites.. they are just as important to us.

If you grow too quickly, you don't learn who your customers are. Some can't even describe accurately what their problems or questions might be but if you take the time to know them, you can learn their brand of internet talk and decipher their questions. Plus you run the risk of poor customer service, overselling your servers, and having customers leave because the experience wasn't a good one.

As far as higher end services versus budget.... well, while we tend toward the lower end, we aren't the lowest you can find and I say that honestly. Our prices are set where they are to build enough profit from one server to insure that customer service doesn't suffer.. while the high end services... I think they need to reevaluate their companies.. prices of servers have gone down drastically as has everything else to run them.. they need to stop thinking in the 90's.

Is that better?

**SoaringUSAEagle** · 06-15-2004 03:44 AM

[quote author=CrazyTech link=topic=30.msg87#msg87 date=1084733595]
What's your philosophy for an online business?
[/quote]

Well, I will show you when I get back from basic training.  I plan to open up my web site, http://www.SoaringUSAEagle.com/ and have web graphics, web page templates  (design) and possibly hosting for sale.  I will ask you guys what ya think and see if I can meet the general publics wants/needs.

I am excited about getting that going, but right now, 100% of my attention is focused on basic training and knowing I can get through it.  It's going to be tough, I am going to hate it at times, but its all in the mind.. and I am getting it set.

**Moondancer** · 06-15-2004 12:19 PM

SoaringEagle.. if you don't do the hosting bit of it, we are looking for web designers to link with since we are going to phase out basic web design over time and concentrate on CMS work instead.. at least for a few years.. we could sure use a good referral list and I've seen a bit of your work on here. Maybe we can work out a link exchange?

As far as basic.. well, my son was not a physically active person before he joined.. he wasn't overweight or anything but he didn't do sports, except for leisure swimming, stuff like that.. he made it through, :-).  What you have to do when the times get tough and you want to quit, think of all the reasons why you are doing it. You'll be just fine, :-)

**SoaringUSAEagle** · 06-15-2004 04:36 PM

Ok, Moon... I will definitely keep that in mind.  I was thinking about buying my own server when I get home from basic, but then I have to get a friggin cPanel license and those suckers arent cheap... around $600.  I think I may just stick with my friend, as he has a reseller deal, but it is rather expensive... $125 for the first year, and $100 for each of the following years.  I will have to work that part of it out, but I really would like to work on web graphics and do web templates (design -- whatever).

Yea, as far as basic goes.... I am basically your son... I dont swim tho lol.  I used to be in sports and stuff -- I'm not too worried because I am still pretty fit, and for being at 6,000 feet.... Sea level will be so much easier to breathe and thats what gives me troubles. haha

**CrazyTech** · 06-15-2004 09:55 PM

Well Soaring I can provide you with a little bit of experience in the realm of webhosting. I'd recommend that you start out as a reseller and hit the local markets up for hosting. You'd be amazed by how many think it costs and arm and a leg to get online with an international presence. They're shocked when they find it often costs them less to get on the internet than it does to buy a good yellow pages ad.

When you do move along to servers, you can often go to some of the larger dc's and other companies that bundle cPanel/Ensim/Plesk/etc control panels with their various packages. When you buy the server you already have the license provided via the company.

Anyways, that's just a few quick points. Feel free to chat with me more once you get ready, I'd be happy to help you out.

**Moondancer** · 06-16-2004 12:17 AM

Yup, he's right SoaringEagle.. best way to start out is a reseller plan. There are some good ones out there to choose from.. some will even do a monthly charge instead of yearly... but if you can get one for $125/year and you know the service will be reliable.. that's really not a bad price.. I can't beat it.