Q. 1: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Planethosting.com Inc. has been around since 2001 as a corporation, however, we started in year 2000. We pioneered the “free domain” and “free trial” in the industry. We began as a Windows shared web host. We grew to specialize in Microsoft SQL dedicated servers. We are now all about Microsoft SQL dedicated servers. Our expert tech support and constant up-time has been responsible for our sustainment and growth. We are located in NE Ohio, USA.
Q. 2: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I have a BA degree in communications. I’ve also taken masters degree courses in clinical mental health counseling. Planethosting was launched with the idea that no matter what internet business trends came and went, people would always need an ISP. So, we dedicated ourselves to a full-scale launch. In doing so we changed the industry with our marketing platform (aforementioned free trial/domain name).
Q. 3: What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: Several other internet businesses were tried simultaneously with the hosting, such as selling financial software, however, the web hosting business took off so we ran with it and abandoned the others. Creating a company was always the goal.
Q. 4: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1) Things will always cost three times what you planned. 2) Just because you throw money at something does not mean it will work. 3) Internet business have similar cost overheads as brink-and-mortar companies.
Q. 5: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: 1) Tenacity. 2) Organizational skills. 3) Attention to details.
Q. 6: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Approximately 8-10.
Q. 7: To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Taking risks, having a keen marketing and financial sense, and an extreme desire to persevere.
Q. 8: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: In the beginning it was banner ads, then we switched to SEO.
Q. 9: Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: The business was started from taking loans.
Q. 10: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Gain experience, develop an idea, then work really-hard at launching and sustaining the business.
Q. 11: Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: We intend to a remain Microsoft based ISP with much growth with MS SQL dedicated servers.
Q. 12: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: I think RTIC Coolers (aside from their Yeti co. dispute) and Casper Mattresses have excellent web presences and market positions. Expedient data center’s is also top-notch.