Web Hosting Interview - Vantage Host at HostSearch.com

HOSTSEARCH: Can you give us a brief self-introduction of yourself and a description of how you got started with Vantage Host?

AARON MORAES: My major in college was computer studies and there I started working with Linux, Unix, Scripting (web) etc and got interested in web hosting and the likes.
At the same time, I was toying with designing and creating websites and I created a database driven photo website and signed up with a local hosting company. My experience with the hosting service was less than pleasant and that sparked me to think of starting a hosting company that puts service as a priority regardless of how big or small the customer is.

HOSTSEARCH: What is Vantage Host�s �101% to you� service agreement all about?

AARON MORAES: We recognise our clients and guests are of prime importance to us as without them, we would never have had this chance to be interviewed by Host Search in the first place. We believe in providing quality service to everyone. Whenever there is any request for support or a query, it is our policy to answer them meaningfully or to provide that support within 24 hours. We don't just acknowledge our client's request within 24 hours; we get the issue resolved within 24 hours. Our service agreement is to keep our clients content and to minimise any disruptions to the running of their websites. Vantage Host gives our best to our clients: it's 101% from us to our clients and our guests.

HOSTSEARCH: What makes you different from other web hosting companies?

AARON MORAES: Our service differentiates us from other web hosting companies. By just saying that we provide 24 hour support to our customers defeats the purpose of our service agreement of 101% to our customers, if our servers are not running efficiently. To give a 101% to our customers, first and foremost is to ensure that our customers websites are up and running. To date, our servers have not experienced any downtime which is our 99.9% uptime guarantee. Service and uptime guarantees are the core of Vantage Host, which translates into what we feel is the core of web hosting. We mean what we say and Vantage Host keeps to its word of guarantee.

We stand out, as some people would say is that our plans are pegged slightly above the global market price. However, that difference in pricing is actually worth paying for. It comes back to our service agreement, '101% to you'.

HOSTSEARCH: How does your free domain name promotion work?

AARON MORAES: Vantage Host aims to make signing up for new domains as easy and as smooth as possible for anyone, especially those who are registering a new domain for the first time. We will absorb the cost of the domain registration for a year and they will also receive 2 months of free hosting, if they sign up and make payment through PayPal. In return, all that Vantage Host requires is for the client to stay with us for at least 3 months for the free domain name promotion.

HOSTSEARCH: In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of working in the web hosting industry? How do you cope with this?

AARON MORAES: Web hosting is a competitive industry and with so many new web hosting companies coming up so often, the challenge is to differentiate ourselves from them. We conduct monthly surveys with the general public and our clients to keep up with the trends for example in terms of pricing and quality of services, to find new target markets, and we also hold monthly promotions that is offer plans with extra freebies (Anti DDoS, IP Flooguard etc.) to stay competitive.

HOSTSEARCH: You don�t accept adult websites, why?

AARON MORAES: As adult websites generate too much spam, this might affect the overall server and service efficiency.

HOSTSEARCH: Your home office is located in Singapore while your servers are in Detroit. What advantages does this offer your company over a US-only company?

AARON MORAES: We are looking to cater to customers all over the world not just from Singapore and other Asian countries. Singapore-based server connections are slower when compared to the overseas connection, as the former concentrates on local connections. In order to have optimum connection for global customers, that can serve not only the US market but as well as Singapore-based and Asian companies, we decided to look for servers outside Singapore.

Being in Singapore, we are at the centre of a growing IT industry. As we understand the Asian social and cultural mores, we are better positioned to help Asian customers to bring their establish their web presence.

HOSTSEARCH: The web hosting industry is packed with low-cost hosts. How does Vantage Host differentiate itself and stay competitive?

AARON MORAES: As discerning customers, at the end of the day it would be the service and uptime guarantees that a web hosting company can offer that matters most. We have a range of packages, which are reasonably priced, to meet the needs of various customers. We also provide customized solutions for clients who have very different requirements from our standard packages.

HOSTSEARCH: What is the best selling product/service?

AARON MORAES: Our VH2 plans. With only $15.99/month, customers get 1.5GB disk space and 50GB monthly data transfer.