Cloud computing has shaken up the IT world. Businesses both large and small are eager to make the switch from dedicated servers to the cloud. Cloud computing offers many benefits, both to small and large businesses. Cloud services can be a big money saver for small businesses and give them room to grow while providing larger businesses with the ability to store more data off-site and provide contractors and travelling employees easy access to their work from anywhere in the world. Dedicated servers still have a place in the business world, though. From increased control to more well-defined security standards to faster response times, a dedicated server is still a viable choice in the world of business. More and more businesses will be migrating much of their data and services to the cloud in the coming years, but it will be a long time before dedicated servers are eclipsed in their use by cloud services.
Cloud Hosting

Cloud computing offers many benefits to its users, but the most important is its flexibility. Small businesses just starting out on the web or getting ready to launch a new product or service don’t often have an accurate idea of the amount of storage, bandwidth or processing power they’ll require, making it difficult to prevent overspending on IT services. With cloud hosting, businesses can choose a level of service and quickly scale up their available resources when they experience an increase in load, preventing them from paying for services they may or may not use. Cloud subscribers are often given easy-to-use tools for controlling their servers, reducing the time spent configuring servers. Enterprise clients benefit from additional off-site storage that can be scaled with their needs and the redundancy and distributed network offered by the cloud, giving them greater reliability. Cloud models, particularly Software as a Service, allow businesses to offer external contractors and traveling employees access to their work files, regardless of the computer they’re using. They also provide for real-time file collaboration, allowing everyone involved in a project to immediately see changes to files, without relying on email updates.

Dedicated Servers

While cloud hosting provides many new features that will become indispensable to business, dedicated servers continue to offer many benefits that cloud computing can’t yet match. For starters, dedicated servers offer an unprecedented level of control. Because the user is renting the entire machine, they are allowed complete control over the system, configuring everything down to the operating system. When building and testing new applications, being able to control the environment is a must. Unexpected changes in network speed or server configuration can result in costly losses or productivity. Cloud computing environments share resources among users, resulting in slight delays when accessing servers. For time-critical work, these small delays can add up quickly. Dedicated servers have guaranteed bandwidth rates and data caps, giving users the comfort of knowing that all of their work with the server will occur unimpeded. Having total control over the server and not sharing resources with other users can benefit security, also. There aren’t any industry standard security measures for cloud computing environments at this point, making it hard to determine which hosts offer the best protection. When a company manages its own dedicated server, it can set security protocol on the machine and ensure that only approved, tested measures are used.
Though the number of businesses making use of cloud computing will continue to increase in the coming years, there are some instances in which dedicated servers trump the cloud. Cloud computing gives users the ability to scale their services based on their needs. It also allows businesses to collaborate on projects and give access to remote users easily. Dedicated servers, however, offer benefits in speed, control and, if a company employs proper measures, security. Cloud and dedicated hosting will likely be used to complement one another for years to come.

The market is becoming more and more saturated with products and services every day. Competition increases and customers become less or at least are with limited purchasing power. This situation is known to all, but instead of worrying how you will survive on the market, it is more reasonable to do something different. You can attract and retain the maximum number of customers. This objective is pursued by everyone; most often they advertise low prices, handing out gifts, etc. I suggest a different strategy!

It is a known fact that customers are becoming more cautious in their purchases. Before they take out their wallets and buy, the clients ask themselves: “Why do I need this product / service? Can I do without it? ”

It is no longer just a question of offering the customer a better product at a reasonable price, which means to give them reasons to buy from you rather than the competitors. Nowadays, you first have to persuade the client that they need the product and then you can make them buy it from you.

The questions you need to answer are the questions each customer asks themselves:
• Why do I need this product?
• What makes it different from everything else?
• Why do I need to spend my already limited resources?

Always start with the benefit that customers will get by buying and using your product. If you are convinced of the benefits for the client by using your product / service, then claim them before the customers begin to wonder if they need the product or if they can find it at a better price.

Do not let them think! Grab their attention before they come up with all these “dangerous” questions. If you start wondering and making comparisons they might choose your product, but there is a possibility that your competitor wins them.

Earn a customer by first determining the real value of the product and then showing it to them in an appropriate manner so as to cause them to want the product. If you create an emotional desire for possession of the product, the customer will find a way to buy it. Assuming that your products are having similar characteristics, quality and prices with those of your competitors, the emotion will cause the customer to buy from you. Emotion is a very strong driving engine.

Tell and / or show the customer how your product will change their life, how it will make it easier and funnier. Sell dreams, not just products!

An example of emotional impact is the sale of a pair of subscription plans for mobile phones with a message for you and your loved one. The focus of advertising is that when you buy two subscriptions you pay one fee and have unlimited time to talk with your beloved one.

Find out what is important for the customer group for which your product is intended and offer it to them:

• Entertainment
• Prestige
• Security
• Convenience
• Saving time
• Saving money etc.

Of course it is important that your product gives everything you have promised. Make passion your company’s mission. Do something exciting for your customers. Do not offer just products, offer an experience with them.

Marketing messages are important but insufficient to induce customers to buy. Most companies invest in attractive brochures with messages such as “lowest price”, promises of gifts, etc. Very nice, but if you look around you will see that everyone does it. You need to approach clients differently, and thus induce them to buy from you.

Escape the usual advertisements, which often do not have to do with the actual qualities of the product.
Use clear and simple words and phrases to describe the benefits offered to customers. Affect the senses of the customer – rather than tell them how nice it is to touch the product – enable them to touch it!
Focus the attention of the customer on the most important thing: what is their benefit from getting the product and how the benefit will affect their lifestyle or work.

Identify the most important things for the customer and make them no more than 3-4. Otherwise, there is a danger of forgetting everything, so choose a few things with a strong impact, especially when presenting the product to the customer face to face. You can have a written offer in your brochure or website to give more details, but again do not overdo it.

This material is the core of the idea of emotional impact on the customer. The emotional impact on the client does not prevent you again from emphasizing low prices or whatever else you choose.

If you can get customers to dream about your product, you’ll not only be able to differentiate yourself from your competitors, but you will also be able to sell more.

George Peterson works for one of the leading CRM vendors in Europe – WebCRM. You can find some of his great posts at popular blogs such as Small Business Branding.