PR ethics for resellers

[Living Media]

I'm a reseller. My provider recently relocated to a new data center, and using this relocation announcement as a press release could be a good way to get some signups - or at least some notice. However, I'm a reseller. I didn't do much more than sit back, handhold a few clients (very active communities, wanted to make sure they didn't lose any posts, all that fun stuff), and try to stay out of the providers' way. The wording of the release I'm writing does not imply that I physically made the moves - in fact I mention the "server team" a few times, even though I don't give the name of the company for whom I'm reselling. What are others' thoughts on submitting a press release on something like this? I plan on checking with my provider before submitting the release to give them a chance to veto it - I prefer working with them instead of around them - but I'd be interested in some feedback from the larger hosting community.

[ljprevo]

I would try working with your provider, if you find they don't want to work with you then they may not be the best choice for you.

I am fairly sure they will work with you though.

[DarktidesNET]

I don't see the problem. All of our resellers are welcomed and encouraged to pass down our newsletters and upcoming events that will directly effect them.

This helps their clients not get mad at them, which in turn helps them not get mad at us for them getting yelled at.

[Chicken]

How did you state where you were before (where your provider was)? It certainly makes sense to announce that your services are provided elsewhere from where they were.

[Living Media]

Here's the opening paragraph:
The move to our new home is complete! Scribehost has changed data centers, with all files being migrated to servers in a move that ended the second week of March 2003. All the servers are newly-purchased, and are owned, not leased as was the case at our previous datacenter. The move to ******** was spurred by a need for better on-site service and for increased uptime for our clients.
I'm third in a chain: the data center, the folks who own and manage the servers, and me (still wearing my hosting training wheels).

[TheGAME1264]

Perhaps you could open with something to the extent of "Scribehost is an authorized redistributor of hosting services for XXX company. Due in large part to the success of the Scribehost community of websites..." and go into your post from there. Anytime I resell any services that I bundle with my design services, I mention whose services they are and how the company can be contacted directly. No one ever bothers to contact the company directly for the most part, and when people ask me why I resell a product that they could get themselves, I tell them in a nice way that if they were to buy it directly from the company I resell for, it wouldn't cost them any less to do so.

In the case of hosting, I'll often find and be able to tell the client that I can resell hosting services to the client, take a cut for myself, and still save them a significant amount of money over what they're paying to have their under construction page 'hosted' by whomever they choose. Be careful with this one though. It has cost me a possible client because some people take their shopping very seriously and hate to be told they're wrong.

[iBiz]

Talk with the company you are reselling for but what you originally posted sounds great and I would have encouraged any of my resellers to put it that way.

One way to look at it is: you are part owner of a server that has in fact moved to a new location and your customers need to be aware of that. Being a part owner of the server is a truth because it is your monthly fee that is paying the owners costs for having that server and you are just sharing a managed server with others.

[Living Media]

Thanks, all! I sent an email to my provider. I'm hoping that we can work out a blanket policy, so that if I ever have press releases again I don't need to go tagging back to them every time. :)