Specialize as a Forums Host?

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Posted by mrjetguy, 07-22-2003, 09:49 PM
I am looking to become a hosting reseller but am aware that targeting a niche is often the best strategy for those not wanting to spend a fortune. I would like to specialize in hosting forums and am not sure if you guys have any special reccomendations. Most forums need a lot of bandwith so I wouldn't mind some reccomendtations on reseller plans with cheap bandwith (NO ADS VIA PM PLEASE). Any other advice you have would be much appreciated. Thank you
Posted by mwalters, 07-22-2003, 09:53 PM
If you're going to go after a niche, then go all out after it and become an expert on it. Offer all the popular forum software you can find along with tutorials on how to install/configure it. Offer configuration as a an added value or something, etc. Just remember if you start advertising yourself as the "forum expert" you need to be able to back it up Good luck with your business.
Posted by sitekeeper, 07-22-2003, 10:05 PM
deleted!
Posted by mrjetguy, 07-22-2003, 10:22 PM
Thank you for the replies. I amreally looking for a reseller plan with dirt cheap bandwith. Right now (non-reseller plan) I am getting like 20gigs and 500mb for $7 a month. Too bad they don't offer reseller services But I would like to spend around $40 a month (little setup fee) and get at least 100 gigs. Is this possible to find?
Posted by Protagonist, 07-22-2003, 10:23 PM
I have a forum and some non-customers ask support from me since they do encounter some problems in installaton. You could offer free support for a period of time or offer customized skins .
Posted by mwalters, 07-22-2003, 10:29 PM
I'm a reseller through Excel Web Hosting, you might want to give them a look-over. I don't remember all of their packages/pricing, but I am extremely happy with them, and you get fantastico v2 with it, which offers some nice auto-install scripts. http://excelwebhosting.com/
Posted by Incognito, 07-22-2003, 10:46 PM
The issue is server performance and server load. You will run short of cpu far before you run short of bandwidth with most plans. This is because you are accessing the database so frequently. Therefore, you need power (as in processor and ram) and you need limited sites on the server.
Posted by mwalters, 07-22-2003, 10:50 PM
excellent point
Posted by Daijoubu, 07-22-2003, 11:30 PM
You may think about finding a way to run multiples boards on the same php files, that way, you can store those script in compiled stat via php accelerator like Turck MMCache and skip the overhead of re-compiling them on every request for all your boards
Posted by rusko, 07-23-2003, 02:25 AM
forum hosting is probably the worst niche you could pick. busy forums eat through cpu and ram like there is no tomorrow and your server has to run silky smooth because every second of downtime hurts the communities. this is of course just an imho and you will probably ignore it anyway =] paul
Posted by mrjetguy, 07-23-2003, 09:47 AM
Someone has to host forums I have run quite a few forums in the past so I am pretty well aware of how taxing they can be. That is why I thought that specializing in this niche might work. But it might be a little more than I can handle right now
Posted by yjack, 07-23-2003, 06:02 PM
Unless you've got your own box you may run into problems. You already understand the strain forums can put on servers plus their potentially high bandwidth requirements. Also, many hosts ban certain forum scripts because they are resource hogs. If you are reselling then you'd be limited by the TOS/AUP of your provider but if you've got your own box you can pretty much allow any software you want. yjack
Posted by rusko, 07-23-2003, 06:46 PM
mrjetguy, if you get a reseller account nothing will prevent your host from booting one of your clients or you if cpu usage gets excessive and starts affecting the other customers. in fact, the better the host, the faster the boot. if you were to go this route, i would suggest getting a dual xeon box and collocating it - you are in total control and you call the shots. however, unless you have a lot of experience in server administration and performance tuning, i would not suggest you go that route just yet. paul
Posted by mrjetguy, 07-23-2003, 07:09 PM
Ok, thank you for all of the advice. I hadn't realized that hosts would just boot their customers like that! Well I have a lot to think about now
Posted by cyansmoker, 07-23-2003, 07:10 PM
Rusko is right. What we usually do, when we want to setup a couple servers for the sheer joy of it, is we sell these servers by huge slices. Typically anywhere between 2 and 4 customers share the server. And guess who our main customers are? Forums, of course. And they are *very* happy. BTW, we specialize in forums hosting and that niche isn't so bad...you just need to know what you're doing even more than in regular hosting (especially with resellers!).

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