Shared Hosting Tips in Malaysia

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, shared hosting continues to be a popular choice for businesses and individuals looking to establish an online presence. Recently, Razi Yahaya, CEO of Rocksoft Cloud, and Filip Borcov, Incredible from Site.pro, came together to discuss essential shared hosting tips tailored specifically for the Malaysian market.

The Growing Internet Landscape in Malaysia

Malaysia, with a population of around 34 million people, boasts an internet penetration rate of nearly 100%. This high connectivity has led to significant growth in the number of websites, with approximately 300,000 .com.my domains currently in use which makes domainity in Malasia around 10%. These localised domains, which first appeared back in 2006, offer a wide range of website name options and are more popular due to their local appeal, despite being slightly more expensive than generic .com domains at about $20 per year.

Rocksoft Cloud: A Leading Hosting Provider

Rocksoft Cloud stands out as one of the top hosting companies in Malaysia, catering to both domestic and international markets. Beyond web hosting services, they also offer security solutions powered by cloud technology. Their customer support is bilingual, providing assistance 50% in Bahasa Malaysian and 50% in English, ensuring that all clients receive the help they need.

Payment Gateways and Online Banking

The Malaysian market benefits from numerous payment gateways, making transactions convenient and cost-effective. Global giants like Stripe and PayPal are widely used, while local options such as Billplz, HitPay, GHL, and Bizappay offer additional flexibility. Online banking is highly popular, with low transaction fees further encouraging electronic payments.

Malaysia's Emerging Internet Hub Status

With global brands like Alibaba, Amazon (AWS), and Google establishing data centers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is quickly becoming a major internet hub. MyIX, the country’s largest internet exchange, provides cheap and fast local bandwidth, enhancing the overall hosting experience.

The Importance of Localised Products

Local products instill a sense of trust among customers. This sentiment extends to web hosting services, where providers must offer features that resonate with the local audience. For instance, having a free website builder can serve as a significant upsell opportunity, but free hosting services are not sustainable in the long run.

Shared Hosting Lifehacks

Here are some valuable lifehacks discussed by Razi Yahaya and Filip Borcov:
Lifehack #1: Opt for a cheap hosting plan rather than a free one. As Mr. Yahaya points out, platforms like cPanel and Plesk, though excellent, can become too costly.

Lifehack #2: Boost Monthly Recurring Revenue by streamlining the upgrade process. Simplifying upgrades can lead to a 20% increase in recurring revenue.

Lifehack #3: Freemium services often yield higher lifetime value compared to premium-only offerings. Site.pro tripled its upgrade payments within a month by offering multiple website builder plans, each with unique upgrade features.

Lifehack #4: Provide affordable entry-level services and focus on upgrading customers later. This approach ensures sustainability and customer satisfaction.

Lifehack #5: Invest in education and host open training sessions to empower your customers. According to Filip Borcov, conducting simple UX tests can help identify potential issues and improve the overall user experience. Additionally, tools like Site.pro’s website import feature have gained significant popularity among Rocksoft Cloud customers, demonstrating the value of offering practical, user-friendly solutions that address real customer needs. By focusing on education and usability, hosting providers can build stronger relationships with their clients while enhancing their service offerings.

Conclusion

As Malaysia solidifies its position as a burgeoning internet hub, shared hosting providers must adapt to the unique needs of this dynamic market. By leveraging localised domain names, offering bilingual support, utilising efficient payment gateways, and implementing strategic lifehacks, providers like Rocksoft Cloud can thrive and continue to deliver exceptional service. Whether you’re a small business owner or a global brand, these shared hosting tips will help you navigate the Malaysian digital ecosystem effectively.