Interview with Mitch Keeler of mitchkeeler.com

[kooshin.com]

About Mitch Keeler

Mitch Keeler is a guy who likes to help people out in
his own charismatic and odd way. Instead of showing
somebody how to do something, he much more enjoys
having people see the problem and the solution through
his own eyes. Mitch has worked as an article and
content writer for various Web sites around the globeHis Web sites include:
http://www.mitchkeeler.com
http://mitch.lockergnome.net


1. What inspired you to enter the world of Web
hosting?

The day I entered the wacky world of Web hosting has
been over a year now. Then, it just happened that my
current Web hosting company was looking for a few
extra staff members to handle live support and help
desk tickets. I needed the money, because at the time
I was dirt poor. However, I have always had an gotten
a joy out of helping others with their problems, and
once entering the Web hosting world I was able to do
just that.


2. Do you believe the Web hosting business is friendly or more of a cut-throat one?


It can really be both at times. I have known some
really ruthless people, and I have known the nice ones
as well. It really comes down to the type of company
you work for and the sort of people you wish to keep
around you. In my humble opinion I believe folks
should look at competition as healthy rather than an
annoyance. From the consumer standpoint, the more
competition there is, the better the services will
get. Competition breeds excellence. I wish more Web
hosts had that frame of mind rather than thinking they
are the ayatollah of the Web hosting world.

3. Where would you like to see your Web hosting
business ten years down the line?

Hopefully it will grow into a world filled with even
more options than there are today. The good thing
about the Web hosting industry is that you do not need
to be a millionaire to run a successful business. I
have a feeling there will be more companies popping up
in the future and giving the larger companies a run
for their money. I am always one to cheer for the
underdog in any fight.

4. There are thousands of Web hosting companies Online
today, what makes your company different? What sets it
out apart from the others?
Do not really consider myself a company, but I do
believe what I do offers something different to the
Web hosting world. Through my articles, columns, and
tutorials I have tried to give the power back to the
consumer. It is never nice to be the guy that doesn't
know anything. In all reality, if I can help somebody
understand or learn more about something they didn't
know much about before, then my job is done.
Currently my article work is carried by over a dozen
different Web hosting help sites and I hope by this
time next year to be carried by a dozen more. There
is one thing that will never go the way of the
dinosaur, and that is helping people understand what
they do not already know.

5. Which do you believe is more reliable, in-house or
out sourced support?

I would have to say out sourced support is really the
way to go. That does have it's limitations though.
There has been a trend over the last few years to out
source more support to third world countries or to
places like China or India. The only problem with
this practice is it is bad for the Web hosting workers
here in the USA. While the Indians and Chinese can
afford to be paid two cents for each question
answered, us folks in the United States couldn't go to
far on it. The advantage of out sourced support is it
allows you to have a more diverse group of people
working for you, that you might not be able to find in
your local area. So yes, out sourced support.. as
long as you buy American.

6. In which area of Web hosting do you believe you
serve your customers the best?

I believe I was put in the Web hosting world for those
new folks who have their first Web site. The people
who do not know their data center from their server,
and just need some help. I'm not here to through
technical jargon at a person till their head turns
blue. Instead I want to break it down and explain it
in a way anybody can understand it.

7 . If there was one improvement to your services you
could do which is outside of your financial range
right now, what would it be and why?
I would like someday to start up an entire Web hosting
help site. Something that any Web host could send
their customers to get more information or support.
There are lots of these out there today, but none are
really based at helping you learn what you need to
know about the Web hosting world.


8. Describe the support services that you provide?

I'm the answer man. I get dozens of E-mails a day
from people who might have read one of my articles
wanting to know more, or how to find out more.
Usually I'll send them in the right direction, or
thank them for giving me one more good article idea.

9.Where do you see the hosting industry 4-5 years from
now?

I think it will pretty much stay the way it is. There
really haven't been too many great innovations to the
Web hosting world in the past few years. If it isn't
broke, then don't fix it. However with the growth in
popularity of blogs, I think more Web hosting
companies will have to find a way of accommodating
those customers.


10. Why did you enter the hosting business?
For the glory! No, no... I have just always been a
nut for learning the ins and outs of a system and Web
hosting just seemed like an interesting place to get
started in. There are unique characters, good people,
and plenty of fun to go around if you look at the
right places.

[kooshin.com]

11. What is the best moment of owning a hosting
company?

The best moment for me, as far as my article writing
goes, is to get an E-mail back from a thankful person.
That really helps to put all the hard work and
dedication into perspective.

12. What do you enjoy most about hosting?

The people are great. When working for a former Web
host, I used to talk to hundreds of people on a daily
basis, and they all had the same questions. However
though, they were all asking in a different way. I
like the diversity of the customers we serve in the
Web hosting world.

13. What do you offer your clients which other people
do not?

I believe most Web hosting companies have given up on
creating good support documentation for themselves and
their customers. With so many resources Online, they
just leave it to pointing people at Google. I was
always taught though that you do whatever you can to
make a customer or client happy.

14. Do you have a partner or any "head" staff member?

I do have an Andre the Giant figure next to my desk
here. When the tough gets tougher, I go to him with
my questions. Funny enough though, he doesn't answer
many of them.

15. What operating system do you use, and prefer?

I'll probably get kicked for it, but I use Windows XP
Home Edition. Before that, I used Windows ME. Send
the hate mail now!

16. What control panel do you use and prefer?

Cpanel all the way. It just provides everything a Web
hosting client would need. Plus it is one of the more
stable control panels out there today.

17. Where do you see your company in five years time?

Hopefully I will have written that Web hosting book by
then.

18. Where is the future of web hosting going?

I believe that the world of Web hosting is going to
have to follow the trends of the Internet itself.
Syndication is becoming big, and Web hosts need to get
in on it while it is still young. RSS feeds and
dynamic content are a must these days and so easy to
set up and manage. This way your clients and
customers can stay better informed on what is going on
with yourself and the company you run.

19. What do you enjoy about hosting?

I honestly have to say the people we serve. If you
are in the Web hosting world you have to realize
sooner or later you are not the boss. Even if you are
running your own company, you are not the boss. The
ones in control are those clients and customers that
pay you for your services. They can make you, or they
can break you, so it is always good to keep that in
mind. When I first entered this business I heard many
horror stories about how bad and evil customers are.
Sure, I have run into a few of them. Honestly though,
99.8 percent of them are nice and friendly people who
just want the most bang for their buck.

Thanks to Mitch for taking time to answer to those questions.

[silverfreak]

Looks good! Thanks to kooshin for the great questions!

[kooshin.com]

Yeah Mitch that was a great interview and a long one also

[cheaperforyou]

Its good to see Mitch kicking butt and taking names in this forum as well as others. I've always enjoyed his articles, and interviews. Very informative and entertaining

[silverfreak]

Haha, thank you! Thank you!

[Tris]

nice interview