(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — This month, web host Fasthosts Internet Ltd (www.fasthosts.co.uk) launched a brand new range of premium-quality shared web hosting packages that combine huge quotas of web space with new web building and monitoring tools, as well as Fasthosts’ unlimited website traffic.
The company’s new range of Personal Hosting packages comprises the Standard package, with 5GB of web space, and the Premium package with 25GB. Both include all the tools needed to maintain a professional-quality website with free SiteBuilder, blog tool and MatrixStats. The Premium package provides 10 FTP accounts, 10 anti-virus/spam mailboxes (each with 1GB of storage) and one free .UK domain included in the price.
Fasthosts’ new Business Hosting packages are the 25GB Business Standard package, and 50GB Business Premium package, which offers unlimited FTP accounts, up to 10 MYSQL databases and load balancing to maximize website uptime and speed.
In an email interview, Fasthosts chief marketing officer Steve Holford explains how his company is changing its hosting plans to adapt to a changing marketplace, and what it takes to be a leading force in UK web hosting.
The WHIR: With the re-launch of its Standard and Premium hosting packages, Fasthosts made some really massive changes to its shared hosting plans. Why now?
Steve Holford: We not only keep an eye on our competition, but we also monitor what customers tell us about their ambitions for their web projects – we need to ensure that we are growing in line with user requirements. It was the right time to build-in more power and features across the range. For example, we boosted the web space on our entry level package from 2GB to 5GB.
We also took the opportunity to structure the packages by user and solution rather than the traditional way of structuring by raw features. We massively expanded upon our Business hosting, and added some great elements such as eCommerce functionality and unlimited FTP accounts, while making our Personal hosting accounts simpler to use. The most satisfying part for me is our value for money is even better than ever.
The WHIR: When designing the new Fasthosts’ new Standard package, what type of customer did you have in mind? What client do you envisage using the Premium package?
SH: We think in terms of the solution needed rather than a user-profile. For instance, our Standard package is ideal for creating a quality web presence, whether it be for a personal user or a web pro creating a charity website.
It is vital for web hosts like us to cater for those taking their first steps with web hosting. The challenge is to offer a package that provides all the elements for a high performance website at a very affordable price.
Premium packages have a wealth of advanced hosting and development features so are suitable for both web pros and demanding business users alike. Undoubtedly, more experienced users will value high-end features like load-balancing and Microsoft Exchange email.
WHIR: The hosting industry is facing a fair deal of disruption due to competitors in the marketplace that offer cheap or even free services, and at the same time, some organizations are finding value to services like Facebook, which for some basic purposes supplant the need for traditional hosting services. In what ways does Fasthosts remain competitive against such cheap alternatives?
SH: Fasthosts has always worked hard to encourage people to take their businesses or personal interests on to the web. If free services help people take those initial first steps, then that’s a good thing. However, web hosting is a service and quality and reliability will always be key. When users value their work, they will seek a reliable and secure service such as ours. We remain competitive by demonstrating the technical difference that we can deliver. As long as customers can understand the benefits of using a quality service, they will be happy to pay for it.
WHIR: It seems that web hosts are faced with a crucial equation in creating a hosting package, where they must balance features and pricing. What factored into this equation for Fasthosts, and how does the company keep its service offerings profitable?
SH: When we compile our packages, we seek to solve as many needs as possible within an inclusive package. As a leading UK host, we want to raise the bar on allowances. For example, we were really the first large host to offer unlimited traffic. We also seek to increase the functionality of the shared hosting plan – say by adding an eShop into SiteBuilder or MS Exchange as well as standard webmail. With regard to profit, economies of scale and our relationship with vendors like Microsoft undoubtedly helps. Whilst Fasthosts does have special marketing offers, we are most concerned with long-term value for money as well as excellent customer service, so our customers can have ongoing good value & service, and therefore stay with us for longer.
WHIR: Not only do the Standard and Premium packages offer a great deal of storage, they also offer tools to build and manage a professional website. How important is providing these tools on top of the core hosting product?
SH: We’ve been aware for some time that applications make web hosting more accessible to all. Featuring a quality website building tool, or marketing support with SEO advice and advertising vouchers mean that more customers can benefit from a quality website that is promoted out to internet users. After service quality, our hosting customers are most interested in these applications that are included or on offer. For example, building a website using templates, such as our SiteBuilder, is just as popular today as in the past. Our MatrixStats and search engine optimization tools address real business needs and are highly valued by users. The applications we offer allow us to deliver a real edge to Fasthosts customers, and this helps to develop their presence on the web, deriving greater benefit from it. Email can also be a business critical process for SMEs, so we always aim for our webmail platform and service to be best in class.
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