“If people cannot communicate, they go somewhere else”

#SharedHostingTips #WebsiteBuilder #Mexico

When the “Shared Hosting Tips” series just started, the first country we at Site.pro looked into was Mexico. It may seem like not such an obvious place, but hosting markets in Latin America in general and Mexico, in particular, are an untapped resource. And to understand them better, we had a nice conversation with Ali Ramos, the CEO of StreamKairos. He shared with us the specificities of the Mexican market, what customers are looking for, and how to become a successful hosting provider in Mexico. Let’s take a look!

Mexican market is full of opportunities

The Mexican shared hosting market is now going through its best times. Technologies spread, and the Internet is becoming more accessible. Many businesses are just starting to go digital. While before social media platforms were commonly used by businesses as the main way to connect with customers, many companies are starting to pay attention to the importance of having a website.

The shared hosting prices in Mexico are cheaper

When it comes to pricing, when compared to countries in Europe or North America, the services are cheaper. This is mainly because of the purchasing power the consumers have. Many businesses cannot offer a product based on the US or Euro prices, because it will be too expensive for many customers.
However, although the pricing is important, the customers aren’t ready to give up quality. “Businesses are looking for a combination of quality and fair pricing. I think that Site.pro has great tools to build a well-functioning website fast, and that’s what customers need in this market,” mentions Ramos.

Big name brands in Mexico: market actors or not?

Many big-name companies have a virtual presence in Mexico. “I have been in the business for a few years, working also with large companies. During those years, I’ve experienced different types of customer service. The problem is, that these companies think that by arriving and establishing a presence, they become attractive to the customers. But then the problems start, beginning with the speed of support.” This is where the main problems begin, according to Ali. When people are having problems with the product, or need any type of help, they expect a speed of service. Many of the large-name companies are unable to provide quick service, and people leave them. “The large companies coming to Mexico not only need to have a presence in the country, but good sales teams to win the market.”

Understanding the market is critical

In the case of Mexico and the Latin countries in general, understanding the market is critical for success. “Having a presence in the market is not the same as understanding the market. For example, someone in the company may know Spanish, but if they are not local, they won’t know how people think. That’s what makes a difference in the market. That’s how the Latin American market thinks. If people cannot communicate, they go somewhere else.”

Website import: benefits and downsides

“Website import is an amazing feature with a lot of possibilities. However, when importing a website, my advice would be to, instead of entirely copying the website, alternate it when importing. Take the main design as a core, and modify it.”

Future of the Mexican hosting market

In Mexico, brands still learn about the process of going digital, and its many nuances. For StreamKairos, plans include building big sales and support teams that’ll be available for the customers quickly and at all times. “Except for that, in Mexico, there’s the problem of education of the people about websites, hosting, and domains. Many people don’t have domain names, and they don’t understand how that works. We are planning to teach them as much as we can. You can have an outstanding product, but if you don’t educate the customer, the product is just going to stay there, and it’s not going to bring any money. The Hispanic market is big, you just need to know how to penetrate it.”

Wrapping up

Newly-growing markets are often the ones offering the most possibilities, and the Latin market is definitely one of those, at least when it comes to shared hosting. Understanding how the market works, how customers think, and what they expect can give hosting providers an edge, and a great chance to succeed in this vibrant market. We hope that the interview was as insightful for you as it was for us and that you’ll put these tips to use soon enough.