Hi,

I'm just wondering if any hosting company here has seen a decrease or increase in their sales since the WTC crash?

Do you think this will change the hosting world? Crash our business or ??? Our economy is taking a hit, stock market took a huge hit last week, but what kind of future do you see for the hosting industry?

Curtis

No Curtis, I don't think this in the end of the World as we know it. I can understand the fears that are being felt in the US, this is the first time that your civilians have been targeted for attack from a foreign enemy.

Sure your going to experience a downturn during the next few months. But life will go on. People will get back to business. If they don't then "they" have won! Don't get too drawn into the every news bulletin, there's a world out there that doesn't revolve around the latest falls in the Dow. People will want a web site regardless of whether their portfolio is doing well or not. They might not buy a new car this year, go on holiday, or move house, but their day to day plans wont change.

It's been quieter I agree. It's only just starting to pick up again now actually. Having said that though, this time of year always sees a lowering of new sales, with people starting to think about X-mas and spending their money on presents or saving for holidays -happens every year from our experience. This year it's just started early

The demographic tends to change too. Less businesses, but a few more home operated sites.

I do pity anyone that went on an ad blitz previous to the 11th

Greg Moore

Our stats arnt supporting a strong downturn. We saw a drop in traffic from the 11th through to the 17th and then things started to pick up again. Since last Thursday we've been back up to around 95% of pre 11th traffic. Sales referrals have also mirrored this recovery. If youve purchased advertising on a quality site, any fall in traffic shouldnt effect your click rates.

e.g if you bought 10,000 impressions and expected a 0.5% click through rate, you should still get the same clicks but the ads might take a little longer to deliver.

Actually I haven't seen a change in our sales, if anything it has increased. I even had someone order our service on Sept 11, kinda strange. Then I got a bunch of orders the next day too. It doesn't look like it will affect us, but you never know.

Curtis

Life will still go on.

Other people have suggested that we do not go very heavy on advertising and marketing at this time, but start putting money back for the chance that we might go into another depression???

Curtis

hmmm, not sure that makes sense? Surely any clients gained now would help sustain you far better than hoarding your money and eating away at it though any downturn?

Its a well known fact that companies that continue advertising throughout a recession gain market share, as a result of their competitors backing out of the market.

That could be true too. Some people think that everyone is staying home more and are getting online, so maybe the Internet is the one thing that will grow.

I'm just wondering if it is smart to put money back for yourself, because you never know if this business will be here next year. You would think, but then again, this industry wasn't here 10 years ago either....

Curtis

I've invested pretty much all that I own into this industry, so I'm hoping its here for at least couple more months.....

Btw, does it cost anything to be one of the companies contacted on that host quote wizard tool?

Curtis