When it comes to our clients, we really get a mixed bag out of the whole design experience. Don’t get us wrong, though—we don’t mean that in the sense that some of our clients are crotchety while others are really awesome to deal with.  But rather, we instead mean that they tend to run the gamut when it comes to tech knowledge. Some of them really know what they’re doing, while others could’t move a line of code around to save their life. So what do you do when a client asks you for a good web hosting solution for the site you’ve just designed? If you’re in a pickle, here’s the guide you need to get out.

  1. Do They Have Web Hosting? If the client already has a web hosting account, seriously ask them to consider whether or not they’re happy with their existing service. If they are, pressure them to stick with that provider. Why? Because it’s much, much easier for you, that’s why! You need only the information for their FTP account, and away the whole thing goes. You don’t have to touch a knob, save uploading the finished site and tying it all off with an ice, pretty ribbon.
  2. Offer it Yourself: Web hosting reseller accounts are really cheap these days. For about twenty bucks a month you can start your very own micro edition of a web host to get things going. If you’re interested in doing this, it’s a neat way to make a few extra dollars, and it also looks good on your services list. Offering this fluidity (design to instant hosting) you can rest assured that your clients will be satisfied. And really that’s what we’re aiming for.
  3. Suggest and Help With a Host: The last option is to keep the hosting third-party, but to suggest an option for your client. If you want to go this route, setup a referral account with a solid web host. Using this, you can get a kickback from the money they spend on the web hosting, and you’ll also get better service to help them out with. This also looks good, though not quite as good as the option above. Still, offering this sort of fluid framework goes a long way toward setting you apart from the rest of the herd.