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Child prodigy offers to host your website
Gone are the days of lemonade stands and paper routes. Today’s youth are selling domain names and hosting business websites. Enter 16 year old Host-Monkey CEO Will Perkins. Host-Monkey started up on January 1st, 2009 with the aim of providing shared hosting at affordable prices. While I understand the internet is a great equalizer, and ideally age doesn’t matter, I’m still uneasy with the idea of doing business with a 16 year old.
In this day and age, when anyone with a computer can conceivably offer hosting services, is there anything sacred? Can you really put trust in a company that doesn’t catch typos on its own press release? Perhaps this is a tough analysis, because after all, the CEO is a 16 year old. But that’s just the point, his age seems to be the most persuasive argument for and against using Host-Monkey.
Case in point, Host-Monkey doesn’t offer easily accessible contact information, although it boosts 24/7 customer support. A simple oversight? If you neglect to add your contact information, you might as well not even exist as an online brand. A point of contact is essential, especially in the virtual world, where a company’s most valuable offering is a reliable customer service department.
Of course these mistakes are newbie mistakes, but there’s no room for newbie mistakes in the fiercely competitive and over-crowded world of web hosting.
Host-Monkey seeks to differentiate itself from the crowd by providing honest service. There’s something so innocent about youthful idealism. That said, I actually do believe Host-Monkey’s claims. I believe Host-Monkey will provide transparent service at low prices. What I’m not sold on is their ability to rise above the juvenile facade and provide solid hosting to those who are accustomed to quality service. When youth is the main distinguishing component of a web host, one must wonder if it is the only thing worth considering.
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7 comments for “Child prodigy offers to host your website”
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It is interesting to note that while the official press release made the age of this teenage CEO a selling point (obvious PR move), I could not find a single mention of same (that a 16-year old runs the company) on Host-Monster’s “About Us” page. Why not go all the way and tell that to all prospective clients visiting the website?
Does this company have its own servers or is it just reselling hosting space. There are so many guys that do that out there so I am not really overly impressed with this person. I wish however that I had my own little business when I was 16.
I would have responded sooner, although actually looking around for sites that link to us is slightly hard when you release a press release.
Tell me this, why can’t someone who is 16 years old run their own business? I do all of the typical things a 16 year old does, sports, friends, girls, etc… What prevents me from running my own legal business?
On the account we manage multiple servers, NOT reseller packages. We have a good amount of clients, especially for just starting out in January.
My better question is, what’s so different about a 16yr. old then a 20, 30, or even a 40 year old businessman? Age is the only factor I see, and don’t say experience as this isn’t my first business. I’ve been down the road of complete failure and significant success. I may not have not lived as long as some people to see the market as it is today, but the last time I checked time doesn’t go backwards.
I see no reason why age should be a factor, but in todays world a lot of 16 year olds have no idea what their doing when it comes to hosting and it makes it hard to people to find a decent host. Hell, in todays world there are plenty of hosts below the age of 16. I’ve seen plenty of hosts that had a 12,13,14, and 15 year running it.
Also, offering unlimited space and bandwidth is a lie so your lying to your clients. We both know that unlimited space and bandwidth is impossible so why decieve people? Becuase of this, your age means nothing. You have no idea how a true hosting business should be run. Be honest and you will get clients and have a successful future; lie and you will still get clients but your business will end up failing in the end.
you have to give the kid credit for having the determination of starting and operating a business at that age
I too give him kudos for starting so young, but at the same time I agree that there’s a much greater possibility of “certain issues” that you may not have with a more experienced individuals.
Also consider that a 16 year old cannot technically enter into any contract or be held liable legally. Again I give kudos, and think he should continue 🙂 but as I’m sure he already knows, there’s many who won’t become customers just because of his age, regardless of if the service is as good/better than others.
@Romes, although I understand your point, IMO your opinions on overselling “seem” to be based on more than just facts. There are a handful of hosts that oversell, do an excellent job managing it, and provide much greater support & quality than many who do not oversell. Again, I emphasize that’s how it “seems” to me, but your comment suggested to me that your business will fail if you oversell. I don’t see Bluehost of HostGator going anywhere any time soon 🙂
@Will Perkins You are not only running a business but monitor your brand mentions! That’s great!
I truly hope that your web hosting is as good as your PR.
As for me I would prefer to work with someone who is 16 than 60 (like Bob Parsons).