Affordable Web Hosting Not Impossible

Affordable web hosting is not impossible, says one businessman who tells how he came to decide to launch a site design business. He begins his story, "At a crossroads in my life... I sat down to plan what I wanted to do in the future, having always had an ambition to run my own business. With a background in sales and marketing and experience in writing and laying out magazines on the computer, combined with the internet starting to catch on, it seemed the logical choice to start my own site design company."

"WNW Design started trading on January 1, 2000, and originally it was just my designer partner David Warley and I. However, we now have several associates and a core team of seven staff with plans to expand further this year. The expansion of the company has resulted from steady organic growth as the client bank and the business has evolved. Site design, search engine optimization, and web hosting are the core services of WNW Design, specializing in ecommerce. I believe as a business owner, it is important to have a strong focus on continual improvement in everything you do, as well as affordable services."

"The world of design has changed enormously over the eight years since the company was established, and we are proud to be thriving in a competitive market. Web hosting has become more affordable, and more available. When we started, anyone who had internet access was on a dial-up connection; today most people have broadband, making websites vital for most businesses and ecommerce central to many. Over the next few years podcasts and video will again drive change in the industry. It is imperative, therefore, for businesses to keep up with the market and diversify and specialize where necessary."

"There will be major milestones for any web hosting and designing company, and receiving our Investors in People Award was important for us. It helped to focus us on how we manage our staff and show our long-term commitment to company

development. The only constant in business is change, particularly in the internet world! Learning how to recruit great staff is also an important lesson for growth. Getting the right support from accountants and banks is vital, so can make your services affordable but still make a profit. Also, using a business mentor gives you unbiased support from someone external. Stepping back to look at the bigger picture and taking a long-term view allows you to really drive the business forward. PR and marketing are important as well."

"Our own site also brings in a substantial amount via the search engines. Something has to drive you to run your own business. Personally, it is the burning desire to build a successful company that has a great reputation for supporting its clients. The tips I would give to new start-ups are to write a detailed business plan, set measurable goals, and get the best professional advisers you can afford, recruit carefully, and give great customer service. There will be highs and lows, but the rewards are great. I get a real buzz watching the business develop; seeing the personal development of my team as they learn new skills and grow as people; supporting clients as their business grows and develops; learning new skills and overcoming the challenges, and of course providing clients with reliable, quality, affordable web hosting and design."