This Month We Interview uplinkearth President, Mike Yablonowitz

As President of a growing Hosting company, what is the one thing that keeps you up at night?

I would say that no one thing keeps me up at night, but there are definitely reoccurring themes. For example, this marketplace is changing, creating pricing pressures as well as other challenges. How uplinkearth can continue to grow in this environment while remaining competitive is at the top of my list.

On the other hand, what is the one thing that makes you jump out of bed in the morning?

Running a small company, everyday is a surprise and a challenge. From HR issues to new business opportunities, I thrive on those day-to-day challenges.

Your company is focused in the competitive Windows Hosting market, how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack?

I cannot stick a pin on a web-hosting map that says this is the one thing that makes the difference. My company’s research shows that flexibility in plans, availability of additional services and technological prowess set it apart from the competition. In essence the uplinkearth “package” is designed to make an appealing offering to the customer, and is unique in the Industry. No long-term contracts, no “pseudo free” offerings and no billing games. uplinkearth is an integral resource to the small to medium sized business looking for a solid long-term business partner.

Do you have plans to broaden your product offerings?

Yes. In fact we add new services all the time. From web tracking tools to website building applications, we constantly expand our offerings to our client. As for what’s on the horizon, stay tuned.

As a follow-up, considering budget hosting, dedicated servers, reselling, windows hosting, co-location servers, etc., where do you see the biggest growth areas in the hosting industry over the next couple years?

If I knew that I would be a billionaire. That said, we have our sites on several offerings. Rather than focusing on the traditional offerings, we like to see ourselves adapting to the needs of the small to medium sized businesses that plan to have a strong Internet and ecommerce strategy. All the things you mention are included in that and we are looking for ways to package those services in a way that complements their business.

What is your company's advertising and marketing focus? Do you advertise most locally or online? Do you target Canada and North America?

We have a mix of online and direct marketing. We do not talk about our marketing strategy beyond that.

What unique skills do you bring as President that has contributed to your fast success?

I think my biggest strength is in identifying an opportunity and seizing it. And even more than that, having the guts/vision/leadership to know which opportunities that make sense and those that don’t.

What’s the most rewarding experience you have had as President of uplinkearth?

When I hired my marketing guy, I really began to see my vision turn in to reality. He was able to take my thoughts and turn them in to words and actions. As a result, ULE has matured in both message and delivery.