They say that we are living in 'hard economic times'.
But everyone has bills to pay which are a priority; for those goods and services that we need to run our business, right? We're sensible people. We know that if we don't pay the power company, they'll cut off our services. We know that if we don't pay the phone bill, our service will be what they call 'interrupted'. Water bills, cable bills, alarm service bills, internet provider bills, gas bills - if we don't pay them, we lose the service until the invoice is settled. It's always been that way and no doubt always will.
But something that the grumpy old woman really wonders is why people think it's unfair if their website is taken down if they don't pay their hosting bills? Are we a charity? Some people seem to think so.
The world would be a wonderful place for us business owners if electricity, phones, internet, water and so on were all a God-given right - and came free of charge. But this is the real world, I'm afraid.
And let's think for a minute. A couple of years ago, TSDG was forced to increase the annual cost of hosting a website to $199.40. This was an increase from the previous figure of $149.40 - which it had been since 1999.
And yes, times move on an now the annual fee is an enormous, colossal, huge, $249.40. Wow.
That's just a few cents over $20 per month, and ..... a mere 68 cents a day. For what?
For your website hosting - your website which is available to anyone in the world twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. A permanent ad for your company, even if you're not using it properly. If you ARE using it properly, it generates inquiries, gives people your latest up-to-date information, teaches people about your business, gives customers directions to your premises, showcases your products, tells customers about your special offers, gives your business credibility ... you know I could go on.
For your email service - more or less as many email addresses as you like, a webmail service that you can use when you're traveling, THE modern way of communication from a professional email address (rather than a grim, unprofessional AOL or Hotmail address!) which brands your company and keeps your company name in mind with every email you send or receive.
For SIXTY EIGHT CENTS A DAY? That has to be a real bargain. It would still be a bargain at ten times the annual fee.
So, the grumpy old woman has made a decision. I'm going to be like FPL, Bell South, the water people, the cable people and all those other services who 'interrupt' your services if bills aren't paid. Why not?
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