{"id":5460,"date":"2021-03-08T11:49:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T11:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/?p=5460"},"modified":"2026-02-19T16:09:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:09:55","slug":"how-to-sell-virtual-private-servers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/how-to-sell-virtual-private-servers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to sell VPS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you resell <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/web-hosting\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"16\" title=\"web hosting\">web hosting<\/a>, selling virtual private servers (VPS) can be a lucrative new strand to your business.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By selling servers, you get access to new markets: it\u2019s not just about hosting websites. As well as web hosting, VPS can be used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Software development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>App backend hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Software as a service for businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your personal virtual private network (VPN)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>File storage and syncing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gaming<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Voice over IP services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2026or even your own smart home system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s just some of the things that our VPS have been used for \u2013 it&#8217;s a big market. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/reseller-hosting\/discounts-resources\">Every 20i Reseller gets 25% discount<\/a> off our standard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/vps\">Self-Managed VPS<\/a> prices, and 10% off our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\">Managed Cloud Hosting<\/a>. So they\u2019re a great way to get more customers and more profits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to sell VPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/vps\/resell-vps\">resell VPS<\/a> for the first time? Or get some tips on how to sell more servers? Here&#8217;s what I&#8217;ll be covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#explainVPS\">How to explain virtual private servers to your customers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#myths\">VPS myth busting<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#customers\">What your customers want<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#marketing\">Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#presenting\">Presenting your services<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#pricing\">Pricing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s based on the 20i VPS Product Guide \u2013 one of the many helpful guides available with 20i <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/reseller-hosting\">Reseller Hosting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" id=\"explainVPS\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Not-a-VPS.png.webp\" alt=\"People's understanding of a virtual private server\" class=\"wp-image-5470\" title=\"A virtual private server in a restaurant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Not-a-VPS.png.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Not-a-VPS-300x173.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Not-a-VPS-370x213.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Not-a-VPS-270x156.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A normal person&#8217;s understanding of a virtual private server?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explaining virtual private servers to your customers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you work in the tech industry it&#8217;s easy to forget that most people won&#8217;t know what a VPS is! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So first you need to be clear about what you&#8217;re offering. Here&#8217;s some ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dedicated hosting vs VPS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often, it\u2019s easier to explain VPS by comparing them to dedicated hosting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dedicated hosting gives you the resources of a single server or multiple physical servers in a data centre, which you own or hire. That dedicated server space is used exclusively for your sites and apps. You can specify server performance and upgrade the hardware as necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But dedicated servers have their drawbacks: you\u2019re responsible for maintenance and upgrades unless you pay extra. It\u2019s expensive at first, and the hardware will depreciate over time. Unless you upgrade that dedicated hardware regularly \u2013 like we do with our servers \u2013 performance will suffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dedicated hosting comes from a time when single servers were less powerful than they are now. Once, a large site might use all the resources of a single server, but now a single server can host many sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t make financial sense to use a &#8216;dedi&#8217; anymore. There are exceptions: for very large \u2018corporate\u2019 companies, it might be better value for them to own and manage their own servers or even a whole data centre. But exceptions like that are increasingly rare as server performance improves and confidence in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\">managed cloud hosting<\/a> grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/vps\/resell-vps\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses.png.webp\" alt=\"Web servers and clients diagram to understand VPS reseller hosting\" class=\"wp-image-5477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses.png.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses-300x226.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses-370x278.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses-270x203.png.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-uses-80x60.png.webp 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The VPS difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A VPS is a more affordable and better value option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like dedicated hosting, it guarantees you dedicated resources but instead of owning or hiring a physical server, the server is \u2018virtual\u2019. <br><br>It\u2019s \u2018private\u2019 in the sense that although multiple VPS may be on the same server, they can\u2019t affect each other. One VPS could be running at full capacity, but it wouldn\u2019t impact the performance of other VPS on the same physical machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your customers can choose how a VPS performs in terms of processors, RAM and storage. All have unlimited bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A simple explanation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s something short and simple to explain what a VPS is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a virtual machine (VM). It operates just like a discrete computer: it has its own operating system and apps. The only difference is that instead of it being on your table in or in your pocket, it\u2019s in a data centre on a server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/vps\">Self-Managed VPS<\/a>, you can install anything you like and run any kind of programs, if you have the technical ability. You\u2019re responsible for all upgrading, patching and security, while we look after the hardware and network. They tend to be used those who have a good understanding of software and operating systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can only use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\">Managed Hosting<\/a><strong> <\/strong>on a VPS for web hosting, but it\u2019s perfect for that. It can be managed through user friendly and purpose-built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/my20i\">hosting control panel<\/a>. Managed Hosting includes a lot more features &#8211; like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/cdn\">CDN<\/a> &#8211; that aren\u2019t available with an Unmanaged VPS, and software and hardware maintenance is monitored and managed by experts. So you have a safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also allows you access to different hosting providers &#8211; Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, as well as 20iCloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy.png.webp\" alt=\"Housing analogy explaining the difference between VPS and Managed Cloud Hosting \" class=\"wp-image-5531\" title=\"VPS analogy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy.png.webp 601w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy-300x208.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy-370x256.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy-435x300.png.webp 435w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-analogy-270x187.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An analogy for non-technical customers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When talking about web hosting with your customers, a good way to describe it is a &#8216;home&#8217; for your website. So here&#8217;s our analogy for Managed Cloud Hosting on a VPS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cImagine you\u2019re renting an apartment in a residential building. The building is the server, and the apartment is your own private share of that server. Managed Cloud Hosting on a VPS is like an apartment that\u2019s furnished, and has a cleaning and maintenance service. You can just move in and everything\u2019s looked after for you, but you don\u2019t have the freedom to renovate or replace the furniture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This represents that with Managed Cloud Hosting, everything&#8217;s simple to use, and is managed and supported by expert teams, but has limits on how you can use it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For an Unmanaged VPS: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s like an unfurnished apartment: in this case, it\u2019s up to you to furnish and decorate it, and if things go wrong you have to arrange your own repairs. But you have the freedom to decorate the apartment however you like.&#8221; <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This represents the versatility of Self-Managed VPS. For both Managed and Unmanaged:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We maintain the land (cut the grass, fix drainage problems etc.) so you can carry on working in your apartment without worrying about it.&#8221; <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This refers to the way we manage and update our platform and network for all servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" id=\"myths\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/vps\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Myth-busting.png.webp\" alt=\"Myth busting selling VPS Hosting\" class=\"wp-image-5532\" title=\"Myth busting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Myth-busting.png.webp 601w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Myth-busting-300x185.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Myth-busting-370x228.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Myth-busting-270x166.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">VPS myth busting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Myth: \u201cVPS are really difficult to set up.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you lack technical expertise, this could be true. While there are step-by-step guides and tutorials available online, we wouldn\u2019t recommend an Unmanaged VPS to a beginner. They\u2019re for those who are technically-accomplished and willing carry out maintenance and monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It certainly is a myth for Managed Cloud Hosting: if your customer knows the IT basics, then they should have no difficulty using Managed Hosting for their web hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Myth: \u201cVPS are only necessary for large ecommerce sites.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While shared hosting is the best option for some sites, if you have a small site with specialised needs, a VPS might be the best option. You can sell a range of VPS sizes, from those that give you enough resources for a single site, to those for multiple large-scale sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Myth: \u201cYou can\u2019t use cPanel with your hosting.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-Managed VPS are perfect for those who wish to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/support\/reseller-hosting\/reseller-hosting-with-cpanel\">cPanel<\/a>, or any other hosting control panel. It\u2019s up to you what software you\u2019d like to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Myth: \u201cVPS are expensive.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While they are more pricey than single-site packages on shared hosting, you get what you pay for. They can offer much better value: dedicated resources, much more freedom, versatility and dev tools unavailable on shared hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Myth: \u201cSelf-Managed VPS are cheaper than Managed VPS\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At face value, this is true, so not strictly a myth! But there are lots of \u2018hidden\u2019 charges associated with an Self-Managed VPS. Software licences for things like your control panel and security can put an extra premium on the total price. You also need to factor in the cost of your own time managing and updating the VPS. If you\u2019re only using your VPS for web hosting, Managed Cloud Hosting may be better value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\" id=\"customers\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"522\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/corporate-memphis-style-art-showing-customer-needs.png.webp\" alt=\"Consider customer needs when selling servers\" class=\"wp-image-5484\" title=\"What your customers want\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/corporate-memphis-style-art-showing-customer-needs.png.webp 522w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/corporate-memphis-style-art-showing-customer-needs-300x286.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/corporate-memphis-style-art-showing-customer-needs-400x382.png.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/corporate-memphis-style-art-showing-customer-needs-150x143.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What your customers want<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What do potential VPS customers look for? Here\u2019s some common features to specify on your product pages or in FAQs to help you sell those servers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A customer with solid technical knowledge wants to know:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All the specs and features of the VPS, from the type of hard drive used to which versions of languages and tools you support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you offer features like \u2018Unlimited email\u2019, what that actually means in practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How much real freedom do you offer? For example, do you get root access?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How your pricing compares to competitors\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What your approach is to resolving issues, and how you communicate with them during the process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For Self-Managed VPS, it\u2019s important that you\u2019re clear about support being limited to the network and hardware &#8211; unless you want to offer your own specialist support of software and operating systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A customer who isn\u2019t familiar with the web industry wants to know that:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your website is easy to navigate and your explanations are clear and straightforward, without technical jargon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have a small product range so they can make a decision easily<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your service is easy to use: so we\u2019d always recommend Managed Cloud Hosting for this type of customer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They can communicate to someone when they have a question, both before and after purchasing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will install or fix things for them (if they don\u2019t have their own developer\/designer)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you\u2019re concerned you won\u2019t look as good as the competition, it pays off to be honest. For example: if you offer support Mon-Fri 9am-6pm and a competitor offers 24\/7 support, be upfront about it. Your customers will appreciate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every customer is different, so they&#8217;ll have different priorities. As you build your client base and answer sales enquiries, you\u2019ll become more aware of what\u2019s most important to prospective customers in your market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve experienced this ourselves: as you get to learn about your VPS prospects, you should adapt and update your marketing. Make sure your website answers the questions they&#8217;re asking; prioritise the features they value the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\" id=\"marketing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-marketing.png.webp\" alt=\"Marketing your VPS\" class=\"wp-image-5523\" style=\"width:452px;height:413px\" title=\"VPS marketing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-marketing.png.webp 602w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-marketing-300x274.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-marketing-370x338.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/VPS-marketing-270x247.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"marketing\">Marketing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with shared web hosting, it can be helpful for someone starting out selling servers to have a \u2018niche\u2019 target market to offer VPS services-to.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don&#8217;t already have a niche it&#8217;s worth trying to find one. This way, you can concentrate your marketing efforts on that niche, saving time and money. You can always broaden your marketing later, once you&#8217;ve gained some traction in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding your niche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What fields and industries are you already familiar with and have contacts in?<\/strong> For example, there\u2019s no point targeting dental practices if you have no links or knowledge of their businesses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How technically minded you want your customers to be?<\/strong> There are pros and cons to both technical and non-technical clients, but having all your customers at roughly the same knowledge level makes life more consistent (and therefore easier) for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Where do you expect to source customers?<\/strong> For example, from search engines, at events, locally, through other services or businesses, via recommendations, etc. Ideally you\u2019ll have a few different channels on the go so you\u2019re not dependent on just one source of customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What language do they speak?<\/strong> Literally <em>and <\/em>figuratively. You should write your marketing copy for the personas of your audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have an idea of your typical customer, you can tailor marketing efforts directly to your target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Managed Cloud Hosting target market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it depends on your niche, VPS customers have some universal attributes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Managed Cloud Hosting, your market could be similar to a shared hosting target market. It can be seen as an upgrade from shared web hosting. Managed Hosting on a VPS might be suitable for those who want dedicated resources and better performance for their website(s), without having to look after a server themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class='code-block code-block-5' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'>\n<hr>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-cloud-servers\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blog-Ad-MCS-1200x625-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Managed Cloud Hosting\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that doesn&#8217;t mean that they&#8217;re only suitable for a non-technical market. A key point about Managed is how they&#8217;re so developer-friendly, compared to shared hosting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some developer-focused tools and software aren\u2019t available on our shared hosting, so that we can provide a stable, performant hosting platform. With a Managed Hosting product, you can market to web developers and designers with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t end there. As there\u2019s more freedom with what you can do on  Managed Cloud Hosting, you might want to create bespoke packages that include certain software installed, permanent processes in place, or even template websites for the niche that you\u2019re focusing on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, you could create a \u2018photographers\u2019 package that included all our free photo-related software and a sample of differently-themed websites, where your customer just needs to add content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brand effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You shouldn&#8217;t overlook the value of Managed Cloud Hosting being able to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\/aws-hosting\">Amazon AWS<\/a>  or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/managed-hosting\/google-cloud-hosting\">Google Cloud Platform.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brand recognition is marketing gold, and a key to selling servers. The reason why people are happy to buy costly brand-name groceries over generic versions &#8211; even though they\u2019re often made by the same companies &#8211; is that brands have spent a lot of time and money promoting them. You can take advantage of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brand stories that Amazon and Google tell are all about innovation in web tech, so it\u2019s understandable that your customer might want choose them over your brand. Even if it will cost them more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look at this way: if your website is using the \u2018same\u2019 servers as the two biggest internet giants in the world, it\u2019s only natural to believe that you\u2019ve got the \u2018best\u2019 &#8211; a comforting thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Related is the &#8216;halo effect&#8217; of selling servers from the &#8216;web giants&#8217;. By showing that your company is partnered with these successful corporations, some of these established brands&#8217; authority is transferred for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Self-Managed VPS target market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self-Managed VPS can be promoted to a more technically-minded market, who appreciate the freedom it gives them. For web hosting, they can install their choice of control panel, and use whatever security and backup options they wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where Self Managed VPS are very different is in all their other potential use cases, beyond web hosting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As you can install any kind of software, they have infinite potential. It depends on your niche. You could create packages that are focused on one use case &#8211; like gaming for example &#8211; or go for a more general audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\" id=\"presenting\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"1023\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Presenting-your-services.png.webp\" alt=\"VPS product catalogue example\" class=\"wp-image-5488\" style=\"width:300px;height:512px\" title=\"Presenting your services\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Presenting-your-services.png.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Presenting-your-services-176x300.png.webp 176w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Presenting-your-services-370x631.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Presenting-your-services-270x460.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Presenting your services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like with our shared hosting, it\u2019s possible to limit features that Managed Cloud Hosting has access-to. So, although our standard VPS sizes are fixed at six different options (based around cores, RAM and storage), you can create many different packages with varied features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While we don\u2019t recommend making too many &#8211; customers could become \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.washington.edu\/jdb\/345\/345%20Articles\/Iyengar%20&amp;%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">paralysed by choice<\/a>\u2019 &#8211; you may want to offer a range of different options, dependent on your market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a web designer, developer or agency, you could create an \u2018Even More Managed\u2019 Managed Hosting package. Your package could be a \u2018one stop shop\u2019 for a website or websites: web design, content updates, bug fixing, SEO, PPC etc., all packaged in to single package (or packages) on cloud VPS hosting that you manage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This kind of package would be ideal for a small business owner who has little interest in online marketing and wants a simple, \u2018set and forget\u2019 option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking for more inspiration? You can see how we present our Self Managed VPS and Managed Cloud Hosting. There are many other companies to take inspiration from: we\u2019re just one example and not intended for replication. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;d like somewhere to start, a Reseller account at 20i includes &#8216;white-label&#8217; marketing copy that you&#8217;ve free to use. We\u2019d recommend that you edit this to suit your brand, products and target market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\" id=\"pricing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing.png.webp\" alt=\"Pricing your VPS and Managed Cloud Hosting in HostShop\" class=\"wp-image-5498\" style=\"width:552px;height:552px\" title=\"Pricing your VPS\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing.png.webp 552w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing-300x300.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing-150x150.png.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing-370x370.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Pricing-270x270.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Setting prices in HostShop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pricing your VPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a 20i Reseller, you discounted \u2018wholesale rates\u2019 on virtual machines, so there are profits to be made. If you create packages with different bundles of features, you can present a range of different options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should present virtual private servers &#8211; especially Managed Cloud Hosting &#8211; as \u2018premium\u2019 products. They give your customers an extra step on the upgrade path. If they have a growing site, VPS are a way to ensure that they continue to host with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018Reassuringly expensive\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s true that a VPS might not be best value for all sites. For example, a small blog with low traffic may not get a huge benefit from being on a VPS. However, that doesn\u2019t mean that you shouldn\u2019t present it to a potential client as an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For one, it may help your customer appreciate the value of your shared hosting. It\u2019s better to make a sale than no sale, even if it\u2019s not a VPS sale!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there\u2019s another important psychological aspect to this: we all like to have \u2018the best\u2019. A \u00a3 100 meal tastes better than a \u00a3 10 one, even if it&#8217;s the same ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of us will buy the most highly-specked product, even though it may be far more than we actually \u2018need\u2019. Consumer goods like premium phones or performance cars are good examples of this. It\u2019s reassuring to have the \u2018best available\u2019 even if you\u2019re rarely going to use the product to its full potential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Selling web hosting is a lot about providing reassurance: that their site won\u2019t go down, that it won\u2019t be hacked, that it will load quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, by offering a VPS or cloud hosting you\u2019re fulfilling a need we all have: to feel that we\u2019ve got the best-possible product. That we haven\u2019t \u2018cut corners\u2019 and bought something just because it was \u2018cheap\u2019. We&#8217;ve chosen the best options out of all available: it&#8217;s reassuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So we&#8217;d recommend that you avoid pricing your VPS products too low. While this is possible with the discounts we give you, it can backfire if people think your prices are \u2018too cheap\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chasing the lowest pricing can be damaging to your business. Not only do people sometimes associate &#8216;cheap&#8217; with &#8216;bad&#8217;, there will always be someone who can under-cut you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re planning to offer a high-quality service and develop good relationships with your customers, moderate pricing means that you don\u2019t need as many customers to profit.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class='code-block code-block-2' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'>\n\n<div class='ai-rotate ai-unprocessed ai-rotate-2-75868209' data-shares='WzUwLDEwMF0=' style='position: relative;'>\n<div class=\"ai-rotate-option\" data-index=\"1\" data-name=\"UmVzZWxsZXIgSG9zdGluZw==\" data-code=\"Cjxocj4KPGJyIC8+CjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LjIwaS5jb20vcmVzZWxsZXItaG9zdGluZyIgdGFyZ2V0PSJfYmxhbmsiPjxpbWcgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy4yMGkuY29tL2Jsb2cvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjYvMDMvQmxvZy1BZC1SZXNlbGxlci0xMjAweDYyNS0xLnBuZyIgbG9hZGluZz0ibGF6eSIgYWx0PSJVbmxpbWl0ZWQgUmVzZWxsZXIgSG9zdGluZyI+PC9hPgoK\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-rotate-option\" data-index=\"2\" data-name=\"MjBpIFlvdVR1YmU=\" data-code=\"Cjxocj4KPGJyIC8+CjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL0AyMGlob3N0aW5nP3N1Yl9jb25maXJtYXRpb249MSIgdGFyZ2V0PSJfYmxhbmsiPjxpbWcgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy4yMGkuY29tL2Jsb2cvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjYvMDUvMjBpLVlvdVR1YmUtMTIwMHg2MjUtMS5wbmciIGxvYWRpbmc9ImxhenkiIGFsdD0iMjBpIFlvdVR1YmUiPjwvYT4=\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script>if (typeof ai_js_code == 'boolean') {var ai_block_div = document.querySelector ('.ai-rotate-2-75868209'); ai_process_rotation (ai_block_div); ai_block_div.classList.remove ('ai-rotate-2-75868209');};<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Show your hosting prices?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One way in which we distinguish ourselves from competitors is to show clear, honest pricing. You don&#8217;t have to call us to buy a VPS. Some other VPS providers profess to offer \u2018tailored packages\u2019 which include a range of expensive add-ons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reality is: in the end, most of their customers are put on to the same \u2018standard\u2019 VPS anyway&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By being clear and upfront about your pricing and features, your customers can simply buy a VPS in a click. Instead of having a long-winded conversation with a salesperson and ending-up on a VPS comparable to yours &#8211; but at a much higher price &#8211; they can make a simple choice based on their needs and start using the VPS right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Call-centre-salespeople.png.webp\" alt=\"Call centre salespeople\" class=\"wp-image-5500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Call-centre-salespeople.png.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Call-centre-salespeople-300x94.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Call-centre-salespeople-370x116.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2021\/03\/Call-centre-salespeople-270x85.png.webp 270w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We&#8217;re here to <em>help<\/em>, honest&#8230;    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, you could argue that by going through that \u2018long winded sales conversation\u2019 where you create a \u2018bespoke package\u2019, there are more opportunities for profit\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Over to you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re a reseller &#8211; or planning to become one &#8211; of VPS or Managed Cloud Hosting, we hope these recommendations have helped. They&#8217;re based on our experience of selling servers &#8211; but that&#8217;s not to say that aren&#8217;t alternative ways to do it! We&#8217;d love to hear any sales tips you might have in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s because, in the end, every business is different. What works for us may not work as well for you. There\u2019s no right or wrong way to do things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test, adapt, then test, test again!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What&#8217;s probably most important is to keep trying alternatives. Not only things like the design of your website, but sales ideas too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s worth testing pricing options &#8211; and promotions like sales, introductory offers and the discount codes you can create in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/reseller-hosting\/hostshop\">HostShop<\/a> &#8211; to see what gets the most interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make small changes, monitor their results, and learn what works best for your business. Good luck with reselling VPS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"http:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Webpage\",\n  \"name\": \"Reseller Hosting\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/reseller-hosting\",\n  \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/reseller-hosting#webpage\"\n \n}\n<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"http:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n  \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/free-web-hosting-icons\/#webpage\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/free-web-hosting-icons\/\",\n  \"inLanguage\": \"en-gb\",\n  \"name\": \"How to sell VPS\",\n  \"description\": \"Business tips for selling VPS and Managed Cloud Hosting. 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