Feb, 2002 : Web Hosts Face Competition in Race for SMBs
📅 - Web hosts targeting the small- and medium-sized enterprise market for hosting services could lose market share to some non-traditionalplayers in the hosting services world, according to a new study releasedtoday by the ebi Group (ebigroup.com).
The ebi Group's study of hosts targeting the small-business audience showsthat the top-ranked provider, based on how effectively it appeals to SMEs,is VeriSign, an authentication services and registry company that onlyrecently launched a suite of Web services for business users.
"Our findings indicate many hosting service providers are unprepared to meetthe expected growth in the SME market for Web services over the next severalyears," said Shirley Siluk Gregory, an analyst with the ebi Group and authorof the SME study.
The study found that computer companies such as Gateway and Dell also ratewell in their efforts to market hosting services to small- and medium-sizedbusiness customers. Traditional hosting providers that deliver strong SMEappeal include EarthLink, Superb Internet, Hostway, NTT/Verio, ValueWeb,Interland and Affinity Internet, which last month merged with ValueWeb.
The study's review of 75 hosting providers shows more than one-third fail toprovide clear, easily accessible information for first-time and newe-commerce hosting customers. More than two-thirds offer little or no how-toguidance or FAQs for e-business newbies.
"When it comes to SME appeal, many Web hosts still need to 'get with theprogram,'" Gregory said. "Too many hosts continue to focus on technologyfeatures rather than on the benefits of basic and e-commerce hosting, whichis what business users are really interested in."
"The SME-Friendly Host: Making the Connection with Small- and Medium-SizedBusiness Customers" is available from the ebi Group for $395 ($149 forfirst-time clients through Feb. 14). For more details, visit the ebi Group'sWeb site.
The ebi Group's study of hosts targeting the small-business audience showsthat the top-ranked provider, based on how effectively it appeals to SMEs,is VeriSign, an authentication services and registry company that onlyrecently launched a suite of Web services for business users.
"Our findings indicate many hosting service providers are unprepared to meetthe expected growth in the SME market for Web services over the next severalyears," said Shirley Siluk Gregory, an analyst with the ebi Group and authorof the SME study.
The study found that computer companies such as Gateway and Dell also ratewell in their efforts to market hosting services to small- and medium-sizedbusiness customers. Traditional hosting providers that deliver strong SMEappeal include EarthLink, Superb Internet, Hostway, NTT/Verio, ValueWeb,Interland and Affinity Internet, which last month merged with ValueWeb.
The study's review of 75 hosting providers shows more than one-third fail toprovide clear, easily accessible information for first-time and newe-commerce hosting customers. More than two-thirds offer little or no how-toguidance or FAQs for e-business newbies.
"When it comes to SME appeal, many Web hosts still need to 'get with theprogram,'" Gregory said. "Too many hosts continue to focus on technologyfeatures rather than on the benefits of basic and e-commerce hosting, whichis what business users are really interested in."
"The SME-Friendly Host: Making the Connection with Small- and Medium-SizedBusiness Customers" is available from the ebi Group for $395 ($149 forfirst-time clients through Feb. 14). For more details, visit the ebi Group'sWeb site.
Reads: 1247 | Category: General | Source: TheWHIR : Web Host Industry Reviews
URL source: http://www.thewhir.com/marketwatch/smb020802.cfm
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