Shared Hosting Tips in Singapore

In today’s digital age, shared hosting remains a cornerstone for businesses and individuals seeking to establish an online presence. Recently, Ryan Chua, Managing Director of Oryon.net, and Filip Borcov, Incredible at Site.pro, introduced key shared hosting tips tailored specifically for the Singaporean market. These insights shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in this tech-savvy nation, offering practical advice to navigate its competitive hosting landscape.

The Digital Landscape in Singapore

Singapore is renowned for its advanced technological infrastructure and high internet penetration rates. Oryon.net, Singapore’s largest web hosting provider, offers a comprehensive suite of services including domain names, cybersecurity, email solutions, website hosting, and digital marketing. Among its offerings, website hosting, email services, and Microsoft 365 are its bestsellers. With approximately 100,000 email users and 20,000 hosted websites, Oryon.net has established itself as a trusted name in the industry.

The company prides itself on its exceptional support, with response time under 59 seconds. However, shared hosting in Singapore comes at a premium price, averaging around $200 per year. Local bandwidth is quite expensive, making reliability and uptime critical factors for businesses opting for local hosting over international alternatives.

Government Influence and Cybersecurity Standards

The Singapore government plays a significant role in shaping service quality and maintaining high cybersecurity standards. The Cybersecurity Act ensures oversight and maintenance of national cybersecurity, imposing strict requirements on hosting companies. While some countries benefit from minimal government restrictions, Singapore’s regulatory environment ensures robust protection for businesses and consumers alike. This emphasis on quality means that the adage "the cheaper the better" does not hold true in Singapore—businesses prioritise reliability and security over cost savings.

Domain Names and ccTLDs

To purchase a .sg country code top-level domain (ccTLD), identity verification is mandatory. At approximately $45 per year, .com.sg domains are more popular than .sg due to their localised appeal. These domains provide businesses with a professional image while aligning with local branding preferences.

SEO Expectations in Singapore

Singaporeans expect more than just visually appealing websites—they demand strong search engine optimisation (SEO). Site.pro’s website builder offers a range of SEO features, including meta information, tracking tools, robots.txt, .htaccess, HTML, meta tags, SSL, and more. Both internal and outbound SEO require significant attention and effort, as achieving strong SEO worldwide is no small feat.

Filip Borcov emphasises that even small improvements can lead to substantial increases in conversions. For instance, Site.pro introduced Mixpanel to help hosting providers track user behavior, resulting in a 30% increase in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) after optimising the Customer Journey Map (CJM). Additionally, removing the demo version for one of its partners’ clients doubled sales, showcasing the power of strategic adjustments.

Website Builder: A Valuable Upsell Tool

A website builder is often seen as a valuable add-on to hosting packages, usually even outshining hosting itself in the eyes of end users. Unlike hosting, which is perceived as a backend service, a website builder is a front-facing product that directly impacts user experience. To effectively support and upsell a website builder, hosting providers may need trained staff who understand its value and can communicate it to customers.

Monitoring metrics permanently and ensuring statistical significance in tests is crucial for continuous improvement. Tools like Amplitude and Mixpanel are ideal for tracking product analytics, while Ahrefs and SEMrush help monitor user behavior and conversions. Despite its potential, many hosting providers struggle to sell website builders effectively. When done right, however, website builders can significantly improve conversions, retention, Lifetime Value (LTV), and Return on Investment (ROI).

Payment Gateways and Support Languages

Singapore offers a variety of payment gateways, including Co-Pay, PayPal, Stripe, and card payments, catering to diverse customer preferences. Oryon.net provides multilingual support in Chinese, English, and Malay, ensuring accessibility for its multicultural clientele.

Shared Hosting Lifehacks for Singapore

Here are some valuable lifehacks shared by Ryan Chua and Filip Borcov to navigate the shared hosting landscape in Singapore:

Lifehack #1: Put ads on free websites. Monetising free websites through advertisements can create additional revenue streams while increasing brand visibility.

Lifehack #2: Focus on brand visibility. In a competitive market like Singapore, standing out requires consistent branding efforts across all platforms.

Lifehack #3: Even small improvements lead to big conversion changes. Continuous testing and incremental enhancements can yield significant results over time.

Lessons from Oryon.net’s Failures

Oryon.net has experienced its share of setbacks, offering valuable lessons for others in the industry:

Fail #1: Good service at the wrong time. Timing is everything—delivering excellent service without aligning it with customer needs can lead to missed opportunities.

Fail #2: White-label solutions don’t always help grow your brand. While white-label products save costs, they may dilute your brand identity and hinder long-term growth.

Conclusion

Singapore’s shared hosting industry operates within a highly regulated yet innovative environment. By focusing on reliability, security, and customer-centric solutions, hosting providers can thrive in this competitive market. Tools like Site.pro’s website builder offer immense potential for improving customer satisfaction and driving business growth.

As Ryan Chua and Filip Borcov emphasise, understanding your audience, leveraging data-driven insights, and continuously refining your strategies are key to success. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, these shared hosting tips will help you navigate Singapore’s dynamic digital ecosystem effectively.