In the ever-increasing industry of web hosting, it takes more than an established domain name to get and keep customers. It takes providing the customer with added value. Enter Netfirms. Netfirms was created in 1998 as a domain registrar and web host, and currently serves the US and Canada markets. Unlike common gimmicks of the “unlimited bandwidth” variety, this successful web host fulfills a need that most customers have – advertising.

This month, Netfirms teamed up with Facebook, a very popular social networking site, to offer an advertising package to their customers. With hosting packages that start at $4.95 per month, a customer can receive up to $100 in Facebook ad credits. Facebook offers Netfirms’ customers the potential of reaching an audience of a 150 million people. Facebook ads can target specific demographics, including age, gender, political views, location, and relationship status. Facebook can also target users who enter in certain keywords that correlate with the ad.

Of course, Facebook does this in a very Minority Report type way, with serious criticisms about its privacy policy. Facebook users, however, agree to these terms of use when they sign up for the free service. It is a totally ethical model that most advertisers use. The edge that Facebook’s advertising has is its ability to get super specific with its audience.

Now, all Netfirms customers will have this same edge. As it stands now, Netfirms is the only web host to offer this type of advertising as part of a hosting package. In addition to Facebook ads, Netfirms customers can also receive up to $125 in Google Adwords credit, inclusive in the package. Over 80% of internet traffic filters through Google, so how can you go wrong?

Simply put, there are no wrong turns with this Netfirms offer. This scheme certainly differentiates Netfirms from its competitors, but I have a feeling that many other hosts will be following suit.