Marketing and customer retention strategies in the hosting market
Marketing, and customer retention, strategy(ies) in the hosting market, where the market is saturated and the service is perceived to be a commodity, with a race to zero pricing wise.
Panda Travel is Hawaii’s largest wholesaler of travel product. Over the past few years, travel product has become highly commoditized, forcing traditional wholesalers and agencies to diversify their products and services. Small to mid-range travel companies simply cannot compete with direct suppliers (hotels and airlines) or large OTA’s such as Expedia and Travelocity.
In order to remain competitive in the travel industry, I’ve focused Panda’s marketing efforts on service, consumer niches, and the creation of unique travel product you simply can’t buy from anyone else. Panda Travel doesn’t just sell Air/Car/Hotel, we sell a unique Hawaii vacation experience with the support of a local travel agent who can create that once in a lifetime dream package.
Currently, dedicated hosting provides businesses the most flexibility with managed services and server customizations. As the hosting industry evolves, business customers will seek services that will provide a competitive edge, reduce operational and over-head costs.
Hosting companies will provide supplemental services to their clientele beyond typical data center services. These services may include website design, quality assurance, e-commerce support, and community moderation. Customer service will continue to be one of the most important factors when a customer chooses a hosting service. Customers should have quick accessibility to support staff through various channels including phone, chat, email, blogs, or wikis.
Through value add services and long-term contract engagements, a hosting company will be able to provide business customers cost effective dedicated hosting, creative services, and the deliver a positive return on investment.