10 - Reasonable Prices, not the cheapest you can find, but very reasonable. At under $ 5 a month for plenty of space it's a good deal.
9 - Unmetered Bandwidth, you never have to worry about having your site shut down on the 25th of the month because you've reached your bandwidth limit for the month. Yes, it really does happen. (It happended to me in my prior life as a newbie.)
8 - I can carry on a conversation in fairly good English.
7 - I virtually always reply to emails within a matter of several hours.
6 - FREE SHOPPING CARTS, installed free!
5 - You can talk to me (email preferred) about anything. Unlike most hosting companies, I'll talk about more than just the server and related problems. You can pick up the phone and talk to me. Or, we can talk on MSN. Again, in fairly fluent English.
4 - You are dealing with someone you know. A fellow forum member who firmly believes in reciprocity. "What goes around, comes around" is one of the mainstays of my life. It's said in many ways (one hand washes the other), but it boils down to helping each other out, to the benefit of all.
3 - When is the last time someone from HostGator or GoDaddy or any other large hosting company came to a forum to offer advice on any number of things? I'll discuss shopping carts or hosting anytime, anywhere, anyhow!
2 - You get me included in every hosting package. Advice on just about anything business related. Truly Priceless!
1 - Many of your fellow members here do host with me. Not a one that I can recall ever just clicked my signature link and ordered hosting. Virtually every one of them carried on a several day to several week long email conversation with me before actually ordering. For many it started out "I'm new to this, what do you suggest?" You don't get that with HostGater, or most any hosting companies. (See Number 2)
BONUS - As a "one man show" so to speak, there is plenty of backup. I have several family members in my home who are familiar with the business that I sort of promote as "mine" in acting as the front man. In addition, the server company I work with will handle problems directly, if I ask. I can literally have them take over with a flip of a switch. (They also speak English as a first language.) And finally, should I decide to die or retire there are a number of other hosting companues, including some on this forum, who ask me from time to time to sell out to them.
I mention all of this because there are hosting companies, both large and small who simply disappear. In the case of TWF, most are aware of the loss of 4 months of activity. That was not a "mom and pop" kind of company. On another forum a one man shop just stopped answering calls and email. Such things happen, I think I have it covered.
Linear Mode
March 2010
