How to Provide Online Backup Storage
- 1). Purchase a domain name for your backup storage company. A domain name is the address your customers will type into their web browser to access your website. For example, "Youronlinebackupstoragewebsitename.com" would be a domain name. Godaddy.com and other domain registrars can help you set up a domain name. The costs can be as low as $1 to more than $14 per year to maintain your domain name.
- 2). Hire a web hosting company that will provide the hosting service for your website. Web hosts provide the servers that store your website content and manage all the traffic that comes to your website. Web hosting typically costs $3 a month and up. Determine if the web host also offers online backup reseller accounts. You will be able to create the pricing you want for your backup service and use your web host to provide the software and interface for your customers to access in order to back up their content. Your customers will not know that they are going through your web host, Everything will take place within your website.
- 3). Design your website. If you are not familiar with website design, hire a freelance web designer. Websites like Elance.com, Getafreelancer.com, or Guru.com can help you design the site.
- 4). Determine how you will receive payment for your services. Consider opening a merchant account at your local bank. Merchant accounts allow you to accept credit cards from your customers from merchant processors that will charge a transaction fee and percentage of each sale. Consider using third-party processors like PayPal or Google Checkout to accept payments.
- 5). Generate traffic to your website. In order to find customers who need backup services, create banner ads, use Google Adwords, search engine optimization, and place advertisements in online magazines. Consider hiring a graphic designer (Guru.com and Getafreelancer.com are options) to not only design your marketing materials, but also assists you in search engine optimization, which can move your company to the top of various search engines.
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