As a seasoned WordPress veteran I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways agencies and freelancers build their businesses around WordPress.
There’s this constant dance between providing great service to clients while carving out a sustainable and profitable path.
One thing that’s always been a hot topic is how to manage hosting for clients.
For years I’ve seen the industry move away from the old-school “you manage your own server” model and towards more streamlined solutions. WP Engine with its powerful managed WordPress hosting platform has become a central player in this evolution. But where does that leave us the creators and the agency owners? Well that’s where the concepts of reselling co-selling and referring hosting come into play.
Tired of dealing with hosting headaches? 🤯 Let WP Engine handle it! Get exclusive discounts and grow your agency with their Agency Partner Program! Learn more and join today!
Reselling Hosting: Owning the Whole Package
Tired of dealing with hosting headaches? 🤯 Let WP Engine handle it! Get exclusive discounts and grow your agency with their Agency Partner Program! Learn more and join today!
Imagine this: You’ve designed a stunning website for a client but they’re overwhelmed by the thought of managing hosting backups security and all that technical jazz. You step in become their hero and offer them a managed hosting package. This is the beauty of reselling hosting. You’re not just building a site; you’re providing a complete worry-free solution.
The Benefits of Reselling Hosting
- Recurring Revenue: It’s a steady income stream. Once you’ve secured a client on a hosting plan you’re getting paid month after month. It’s a fantastic way to build a sustainable business model.
- Control: You’re the point of contact for your client’s hosting needs. You can customize packages offer different tiers of support and essentially control the entire hosting experience.
- Value-Added Services: You can bundle in additional services like site maintenance security audits or even custom plugin development. This adds value for your clients and expands your service offerings.
The Challenges of Reselling Hosting
- Management Overhead: You’re responsible for billing managing client accounts and providing support for any issues that arise. It’s not just about selling the hosting; you’re taking on the responsibility of managing it.
- Pricing Strategy: You need to factor in the cost of your hosting and your time as well as your desired profit margin. Setting the right price point can be tricky especially when competing with other agencies or even WP Engine directly.
- Technical Knowledge: While WP Engine takes care of a lot of the heavy lifting you still need a basic understanding of WordPress hosting to troubleshoot issues answer client questions and provide a reliable service.
Co-selling Hosting: Partnering for Success
But what if you’re dealing with a client who demands a custom solution a site with high traffic or specific security needs? This is where co-selling shines. You partner with WP Engine leveraging their expertise and resources to create a tailored hosting solution that meets the client’s unique requirements.
The Advantages of Co-selling Hosting
- Expert Collaboration: You tap into WP Engine’s knowledge and support. Their team can help you identify the optimal hosting configuration handle complex technical issues and ensure a seamless setup.
- Increased Client Confidence: Clients feel reassured knowing they have a trusted hosting partner like WP Engine backing up their website. This can be crucial for high-profile or mission-critical projects.
- Shared Responsibility: The workload is divided. WP Engine handles the hosting infrastructure while you focus on the website’s design development and client communication.
The Considerations of Co-selling Hosting
- Limited Revenue Potential: You’re not directly reselling hosting so you’re not earning a profit margin on the hosting cost itself. Your revenue stream might come from the website development or other services you offer.
- Coordination: Smooth communication and coordination between your team and WP Engine are key to a successful co-selling experience. Clear communication channels and expectations are crucial.
- Less Control: You’re not directly managing the hosting so you’re somewhat limited in how you can customize or adjust the hosting plan. You’ll need to work closely with WP Engine to address any specific client needs.
Referring Hosting: A Simple Streamlined Approach
For some agencies the best solution is simply to refer clients to WP Engine. You recommend them as the trusted hosting provider and WP Engine handles the rest. This is a low-maintenance approach freeing up your time to focus on what you do best: creating amazing WordPress websites.
The Strengths of Referring Hosting
- Easy Revenue Stream: WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program allows you to earn referral commissions for every client you refer. It’s a straightforward way to generate income without the added burden of hosting management.
- Focus on Your Core Business: You can concentrate on design development and client relationships. Leave the complexities of hosting to WP Engine’s expertise.
- Strong Partnership: You’re building a partnership with WP Engine which can open doors to future opportunities like joint marketing initiatives or even co-selling opportunities.
The Limitations of Referring Hosting
- Limited Revenue Potential: While you can earn commissions it’s a one-time payout for each referral. You don’t have the recurring revenue stream that reselling hosting provides.
- No Control over Hosting: You’re not involved in the hosting management so you don’t have any say in the hosting plan upgrades or support.
- Client Relationship: You might need to manage client expectations especially if they have questions or issues related to their hosting.
Choosing the Right Approach: Reselling Co-selling or Referring?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
The best approach depends on your business goals your client base and your level of comfort with hosting management.
- Reselling Hosting: Perfect for agencies who want to manage their own hosting provide a complete package to clients and generate recurring revenue.
- Co-selling Hosting: Ideal for complex projects that require expert collaboration with a reliable hosting provider like WP Engine.
- Referring Hosting: A great option for agencies who want a simple way to earn referral commissions and offload hosting management to a trusted partner.
Beyond Reselling Co-selling and Referring: Exploring the Options
While these three strategies are popular they’re not the only ways to work with WP Engine.
As the WordPress ecosystem continues to evolve you’ll likely see new partnerships and opportunities emerging.
WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program: Your Gateway to Growth
WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program is designed to support your agency’s growth and success.
It’s a valuable resource that offers:
- Referral Commissions: Earn substantial payouts for referring clients to WP Engine.
- Priority Support: Get faster responses and personalized assistance from WP Engine’s technical support team.
- Marketing Resources: Access marketing materials co-branded landing pages and other tools to help you promote WP Engine to your clients.
- Industry-leading Discounts: Benefit from discounted WP Engine plans and special pricing on other products and services.
- Dedicated Partner Success Manager: Get personalized guidance and support from a dedicated account manager who can help you grow your business.
The Final Word
When it comes to WordPress hosting WP Engine offers a range of options that can be tailored to your agency’s unique needs.
Reselling co-selling and referring are just the starting points.
As you gain experience you’ll discover new and innovative ways to leverage WP Engine’s platform to build a successful and thriving business.
Tired of dealing with hosting headaches? 🤯 Let WP Engine handle it! Get exclusive discounts and grow your agency with their Agency Partner Program! Learn more and join today!