Individuals and companies wishing to offer information over the Internet must obtain a website and a web hosting service to display this information to users. The web hosting company provides servers which are used to store website data until it is accessed by an Internet user. There are a wide range of hosting options, ranging from free services to dedicated systems which are used strictly by one business. One option anyone wishing to host a website should consider is making use of a website hosting reseller.
What is a Website Hosting Reseller?
Anyone may choose to become a website hosting reseller as this type of service is nothing more than the client acting as a web host. A reseller may choose to operate a few domains or may opt to make use of a dedicated server strictly for this purpose. Most who choose to offer website hosting services as a reseller offer plans identical to those they get from their host, but they offer their own technical support rather than relying on the support services of their host.
Understanding Reseller Hosting Services
When one chooses to contract with the host, they may be charged by the number of clients added. Others offer the option of choosing from a package and being charged for the package, rather than by the client. Certain features are common to all reseller hosting packages. This includes bandwidth, the ability to manage plans and configure accounts, the ability to brand the hosting company without any branding by the parent host, disk space, domain hosting and features that can be offered to clients through the parent company. This includes additional scripts, e-mail, monitoring tools and more.
Benefits to Consumers of Using Reseller Website Hosting Services
Those who work in this industry may opt to make use of reseller website hosting services, including graphic designers, Internet marketing consultants, web copy writers and more. When those in the industry purchase web space in large quantities, they can pass the savings on to their customers while bundling services. Consumers then only have one company to deal with rather than having separate contacts for each part of their website.
Drawbacks of Using Reseller Website Hosting Services
Some resellers are unable to offer support at the level of major hosting companies and this can lead to delays in getting problems resolved. Outages may be an issue along with higher downtime percentages if the parent company can’t handle the load of the servers it is hosting. Some hosts offer fewer features while charging the same as major hosts while others attempt to prevent customers from moving to a new host. This must be considered when determining if a web host reseller is the right option.
As anyone may become a website host reseller, care must be taken when one chooses to go with this option. Many choose to go into this line of work thinking it will be an easy way to own their own business. When this is the case, and the reseller doesn’t have the necessary skills or experience, his or her clients are the ones who lose out. Reputable resellers are out there. It’s the consumer’s responsibility to ensure he or she finds one.
About the Author
Clint Reeves is an IT professional and the Content Marketing Channel Manager for Midphase, a global web hosting provider. He has several years of experience working in the web hosting industry. You can visit Midphase.com to learn more about reseller hosting and becoming a web hosting reseller.