Going 100% Cloud Based Services?
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- Gene Page
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 289
- Thanks: 0
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Hi, please read everything below and answer this question: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
Lately I've been thinking about going completely cloud.
I don't really like that term as it's a bit misleading, so I'll explain...
Presently I run my own server on Hostgator (and pay out the wazoo). On that server I install Joomla! sites for clients. On those Joomla! sites I install extensions for all their needs... such as BreezingForms for Forms, and K2Store for Ecommerce, and AcyMail for Email Marketing, Vtiger for CRM, etc.
Keeping my Server Up-To-Date is WORK. Keeping my J! Sites Up-To-Date is WORK. Keeping the Extensions Up-To-Date is WORK. It's to the point where no amount of payment would make it worth it.
So I'm now considering as an alternative...
Sign up as an affiliate for various services, implement them in sites by request, and pass on the work...
For instance...
Hosting = SiteGround
Forms = Wufoo
Ecommerce = Ecwid*
Event Management = Eventbrite
Email Marketing = Mailchimp
CRM = Highrise
Then I build and install websites (which I enjoy) and nothing more.
SiteGround will auto update Joomla, and the extensions are replaced with embedded javascript from the service providers.
I do see the main downsides -> Customers will need to pay these people a monthly fee and all together that could be as many as 7 different bills monthly. More likely it'd be around 3 or 4, but that's still a lot. And that could be a hard sell. Also there's a loss of consolidated control. If for instance Wufoo went out of business (again, unlikely) I'd have some very angry clients.
So, has anyone done this... what are the pros and cons I haven't considered... is this a good idea or a bad idea?
*until Ecwid is responsive, I don't consider it ready for primetime as it doesn't function within responsive Gantry templates, but I think they'll get there soon enough. - Show Support for These Requests...
Automatic K2 Tags for RokSprocket ->
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=16...86380&rb_v=viewtopic
Option for K2 Video instead of Image for RokSprocket (like JoomlaBamboo's ZenTools) ->...
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- steve_k
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 107
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100-150$ a month for the cloud stuff
6 separate sites for you client to log in to and manage
I think you will overwhelm your clients,
how are you going to give your client an integrated site with these cloud companies? are they going to be diverted to the cloud to fill a form in or look at the shop?
you could go on somewhere like Odesk and get yourself an assistant to do the boring stuff you don't want to do, put an add up you will get 100 applicants many of which are highly qualified and will work for 4$-8$ because of there geographical location.
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- Gene Page
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 289
- Thanks: 0
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I've done some more figuring on it since I first posted that...
Wufoo and Mailchimp offer virtually no incentive to refer their service. I might as well create a universal account and extend it to my clients.
So there is no monthly fee for that...
Eventbrite is only for special clients who wish to sell events.
I think on average a client would spend $100 a month, and that's only if they wanted Hosting, CRM, eCommerce, Accounting. That's not too shabby to manage the most important aspects of business (obviously payment gateway would depend on what they made). Plus they won't be paying me for updates, hosting, and other crap I'd rather not mess with anymore.
You're right though. Having them log into all those different accts is a hard sell.
As far as how, that's really simple. I help them set up the accts, link them all together, and embed whatever I need to into the J! site. Wufoo, Ecwid, Eventbrite all have embed code. And I believe it's only a matter of time before Ecwid and Fresh Books come together. Wufoo connects to CRM and Mailchimp.
I know what you mean about service professionals from India and The Philippines being eager to help. I get those emails regularly.
In the end you may be quite right. I may overwhelm my clients. - Show Support for These Requests...
Automatic K2 Tags for RokSprocket ->
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=16...86380&rb_v=viewtopic
Option for K2 Video instead of Image for RokSprocket (like JoomlaBamboo's ZenTools) ->...
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- broren
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 111
- Thanks: 0
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why don't you look at this one I am starting to use it.
NOTE: Removed affiliate link
Its cheap and with a business plan you can actually sell domain names and web hosting pretty cheap
Every extra domain you add into the cloud cost you 5 $ if you add 95 to your clients you have a pretty good margin. - All the best
Åge
www.areemax.biz
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- Jason Kopacko
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 653
- Thanks: 1
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I have thought very hard about trying to minimize the administrative overhead but have yet to come up with a clean, single sign-on, cloud based solution. I believe in the end, you will hurt your customers more than help them.
One thing I do is offer an "optional" maintenance plan. That basically covers the cost the cost of me, checking Joomla versions, extension updates, etc. I make it a use it or lose it so they can't bank the time. - Thank you,
Jason
Server #1: 4-Cores @ 2.3Ghz | 8GB RAM | Plesk Control Panel v11.0.9 | Apache/2.2.3-65.el5 | mySQL: 5.5.23 | PHP: 5.3.10
Server #2: 8-Cores @ 2.5Ghz | 16GB RAM | Plesk Control Panel v11.0.9 | Apache/2.2.15-15.el6 | mySQL: 5.5.25 | PHP: 5.4.4
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- Gene Page
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 289
- Thanks: 0
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broren wrote:
why don't you look at this one I am starting to use it.
www.cloudaccess.net/
Looks great! Definitely interested. Still need to figure somethings out, but I'll use this link if I go that route.
I really appreciate all comments on this...
@Jason...
I currently offer what I call an "Annual Site Maintenance Plan"
That's 12 Months Hosting, Core Updates (no version migrations), Backups and Storage, and Basic Security Audits.
This plan does not cover management. I explain this perfectly. And yet, I always end up managing things for clients which goes well beyond the limitations of their maintenance plan.
I'm tired...
Answering questions, solving problems, running maintenance, managing sites... it takes me away from finding new business, building new websites, and being successful (in general). Worst of all, none of my clients see what a value they are receiving. If they don't value, I don't think I should offer it. - Show Support for These Requests...
Automatic K2 Tags for RokSprocket ->
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=16...86380&rb_v=viewtopic
Option for K2 Video instead of Image for RokSprocket (like JoomlaBamboo's ZenTools) ->...
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- Jeffrey Schweitzer
- Newbie
- Posts: 16
- Thanks: 0
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Great question and definitely the right path to consider. Ultimately, the customer needs someone that can translate their business into an online strategy grounded by design, extended with the features, bells and whistles and integrated into how they do their business. It needs backed up and supported by world class providers while still being at a price point that doesn't break the bank.
I think the concept is feasible, could be front-ended by a big brand actually be a practical trend setting approach well ahead of the direction business today is evolving...leveraging massively scalable automated configurations with utility billing and ala cart customization drives down overall costs; freeing up capital for the creative talent needed to structure the customers vision into a product that does their brand justice while accomplishing their fundamental objectives.
I encourage you to consider pursuing the idea...have been doing the same as well. But think a bit bigger at first...maybe medium business clients who are just not up on the times yet. Good targets are older companies with boomer leadership. Boomers have been generally slower to adopt, conservative in their budgets and test the waters first before going all in. But once they're in...it is for keeps. Gives you to build the trusted advisor relationship and be their long haul partner while still getting to focus on what you enjoy most!
Good luck! - Jeffrey Schweitzer
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- Gene Page
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 289
- Thanks: 0
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Thanks for the encouragement.
I think I might give this a go now. Seems like the time is right to relaunch under this model. If it fails, it fails. - Show Support for These Requests...
Automatic K2 Tags for RokSprocket ->
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=16...86380&rb_v=viewtopic
Option for K2 Video instead of Image for RokSprocket (like JoomlaBamboo's ZenTools) ->...
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- Jeffrey Schweitzer
- Newbie
- Posts: 16
- Thanks: 0
- I couldn't agree more. More important to start and actually try that to contemplate and do nothing. Start small, control costs, keep an open mind and give it a whirl! You never know what you might actually end up creating! Good luck!
- Jeffrey Schweitzer
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