Do you give unlimited features for any of your plans?
I currently do. To date, there have been no problems with this at all; however in the future I may look at changing this.
It also depends on who your clients are. For example, if the majority of your clients are individuals, then they prefer unlimited features - and for them it won't really matter, since they most likely won't use too many anyhow. However, when you target businesses, you should give different limits per account level; as not only are they willing to pay for more, however they then think your services are of a higher quality.
Do you ever think that it might end up bringing down the standard in the future if everyone stats giving unlimited features even if they aren’t really effecting the performance of the server. Users are going to expect unlimited features for less and less every time they see it, I’m not saying its wrong, a lot of hosts do it but I have just been thinking if it will affect the future if we all do this.
Overall, I personally do not think it will affect the standards in any way. The majority of people know how much they need, and as long as the company they go with actually offer what they need, they'll be fine. However... it may actually work better for the hosts that do not offer unlimited, as unlimited is usually, today, thought of as a limit - yet the host doesn't want to tell you the limit. At least when you go with a web host that gives you an actual limit of say 200, you know that you are guaranteed 200; yet when you go with a host that offers unlimited, it often isn't really unlimited at all.
If the majority of web hosts started doing this, it may affect the web hosting industry, however I'm pretty sure it'd only mean more sales for hosts that do not offer unlimited everything.
I think when a business looks at hosting and see's that they are paying for each account rather than paying for unlimited, they will see it as quality over quantity.
Yes, that is very true. Businesses prefer having an actual limit that they can read in black and white, rather than a blanket figure of unlimited. They would always prefer to be told exactly how much they have, rather than just unlimited - as it never really is unlimited.
I think they should be allowed to have unlimited email acconuts, because they have a set amount of space so if they want to use it all up on email that is there choice.
This though does need to be explained very clearly on your website, and in your terms and conditions. There are, surprisingly, quite a few people who see "unlimited e-mail account", and believe they are able to have unlimited e-mail accounts - yet they forget, or do not realise, that they are able to have unlimited e-mail accounts as long as it is within their allocated space.
I dont know anyone thats used more than 50, or even close to 50 on a site.
One of my clients do... however they host other people for free - and therefore give free e-mail addresses to all of their hostees. However, I haven't heard of anyone using 50 e-mail accounts for their own personal use either - 50 is a lot for an individual and the majority of people won't use 50 accounts on their own. Businesses would most likely use about that amount, depending on their size. Then of course there are those people who kindly host others for free, and then also give out free e-mail addresses, and they sometimes would end up using that amount.
I think it just brings down the standard when people see unlimited, then when they see a limit on another host which could offer just as good a service, they are put off it.
It depends the person... if the person would rather go with one host just because they offer unlimited... then that isn't a client you want. They will often, however not always, cause problems and be a hassle throughout their time with you. If the client goes with you based on the quality of your services, and what others have said about you - then that is a client you want.
Its like unlimited bandwidth in some ways, people start to expect more and more bandwidth because they see some offering unlimited.
I think a lot of people are expecting more and more bandwidth now-a-days due to WebHostingTalk.
How many email accounts would you use on a site?
For anyone, I don't think you really need more than ten e-mail accounts if it is a personal website, and you don't give away free e-mail addresses. I cannot really think of why you'd need more than ten e-mail addresses if they are all for you, and not for your staff or friends, etc.
But also... people usually have their own personal e-mail address, and then they have a few e-mail addresses for each website that they own and run. A lot of people do not like giving out their personal e-mail address on their website, and prefer to use an e-mail address such as @theirwebsite.com
I really haven't seen a convincing business case for unlimted space or bandwidth - and frankly, I don't understand how anyone can truly offer unlimited space or bandwidth and still make money.
It's called overselling.
You cannot really have unlimited anything, in fact. It's impossible - unlimited defined by the dictionary as "
not limited; having the greatest possible amount, number or level" (
more info...) - and there is always a limit, regardless whether it be due to the amount of space you have been allocated (in regards to number of e-mail accounts), or any other reason for any other feature.
