Goodbye Spry, Hello SoftLayer

You asked for it, you took the initiative to push for it, and I delivered it. As I announced earlier on the Forum, all of you are now on my new server @ SoftLayer.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more from Spry; they were great. They have set the bar high for what I expect from a dedicated hosting provider. From when I was just starting out back in January 2007, all the way to July 26th 2007 , they consistently provided fast and friendly support. Their network had 100% uptime as they promised, however, we were growing faster than our Spry server could handle. Our downtime had nothing to do with Spry. I love Spry, and I am sorry that I have to leave them, but I am leaving on a good note, so I wrote them a wonderful testimonial on my way out.

However, now I feel that SoftLayer will push my expectations even higher. Upon extensive research, I found SoftLayer to be the premier company in Dedicated Servers. They provide features that no one else does yet. When I purchased the server, I had total control over everything about the server. I was very impressed by the whole experience. A live salesman even walked me through the process, and addressed all of my concerns. Now get this: I can upgrade ANYTHING in just hours. Hard Drives, RAM, and even the Processor itself!

Here are the current stats of the New Server:

2.4GHz Dual-Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 1216 HE

2GB RAM

200GB Hard Drive

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New eBay Listing

I’d like to tell you all about my new eBay listing. I realize it probably isn’t very exciting news for any of my current customers. But it is good news. Like I said, this blog is my “Good News Outlet.” The content is for the most part the same, but I am trying out a new pricing scheme, that I feel works better for everyone. I am keeping the $9.95 per year plan, with the old listing design, that worked for months. However, I am introducing a new $1.95 per month plan. I am also drastically increasing the frequency of my listings and I have already noticed an increase in new customers.

Any of you who may be interested in switching to the $1.95 per month plan, I will prorate your current year, and refund what you have left of your $9.95 (by dividing $9.95 by 12 and multiplying that by the months you have until renewal.) That way you can be billed each month, without any cancellation penalty (SmartFX never has any cancellation penalties, or contracts.) In fact, if you decide that SmartFX is no longer for you at any time, we will even make sure you make it safely to your new host.

So why is any of this good news? I always like to hear when my vendors are growing, so I thought you would all appreciate good news from me too. We are in this for the long haul with you, and the sky’s the limit. In fact, I even enjoy hearing about my customers’ success! (because that means you will stay with for a while) If you have a company blog, or any blog, stick it into a comment here! I want to read it. In fact, if you’d like and I approve, I’ll put it in my Blogroll. I want to eventually have a blogroll full of my customers’ blogs.

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First Post

Hello Everyone.

I am David Mazza, CEO/President and Founder of SmartFX. This is my first post in the SmartFX Design and Hosting Blog. My object here is to be able make announcements at a more personal level. This is where I will not only tell you what going on, but why it’s happening. So, I’d like to start this blog by doing just that.

If you have looked at my eBay listings recently, you’ll notice some disarray and confusion. Is this the sign of new things to come? Yes it is. I was going to raise the price to $18.95 (for new customers) but it was just too difficult to do in eBay, and I wasn’t getting any bites, so I will be going back to $9.95. However, that isn’t all. I am working hard and a complete redesign.

I will be redesigning both the eBay listing, and SmartFXDesign.com This new design will be bigger, brighter, and better. It is meant to reflect some of my new web designing styles and techniques, as a web designer’s web site is the best representation of his ability. I need to look impeccable. I hope to give more details on the new design soon.

The server is turning over a new leaf as well. You will all notice the new and beautiful cPanel 11. I am one of the first hosts in the world to have it. (although as this post grows older, that statement will become less and less true.) As you know, not too long ago I upgraded to a dedicated server, which brings us into the new world of PHP 5.2.1. Our most recent upgrade (which I am sure none of you will notice) was the kernel, the backbone of the server. As I usually leave you off in the forum, there are many exciting things still to come.

This blog; a large part of our plan to build a strong relation ship with you. We don’t get to interact with you enough. It is like a relationship between a doctor and his patients. You only come to us when you have a problem. That’s no fun. We want to depend on you just as much as you depend on us. We have tried many ways to communicate with you, for all kinds of reasons. We started with email; it’s reliable, it works, it is fast enough, but again, you don’t get to know us, and we don’t get to know you (at least not in a good way). We even had emergency email (and we still do). smartfx.urgent@gmail.com That was nice, but all the emails came in ALL CAPS. I thought you were going to bite my head off at times, that was no fun! We have also always had Live Chat. I like that a lot. I am always the one waiting to talk to you. I like it because it is mostly eager prospective customers that can’t wait to start-up their new website. So, I have met some of you that way. However, not many of you use that for support. It hasn’t worked out like I had hoped, but don’t worry, I’ll still be there, and I always will be. So we have a forum. http://smartfxdesign.com/forum/ The forum is actually starting to work like I had hoped. You guys are starting to help each other out, like a community. That was our goal. Sure, I still answer most of the questions, (like I should be), but when I was down and out for a few days, I saw you guys come together and work with each other, and to my surprise, you defended me! So that is great, but still, only problems are exchanged there. Now, the blog. Now I can connect with you on a personal level What I write here isn’t a press release. It isn’t on behalf of the company. It’s just me. Like what I said? Don’t like it? Tell me right here, right now. Leave a comment for me, and for everyone to read. Hate me? Want to vandalize my blog? You can do that too! (it won’t stay there for long, but you can do it, it will be funny for a day, not so much for me, but go ahead, I can’t stop you.) I am not being paid to write this, you will find no Google ads, banners, pop-ups, Text-Link-Ads, or anything like that. I don’t expect you to subscribe, or digg, or tell all your friends. (although you are more than welcome to do any one of those 3 things). I am not asking for a donation to keep me going (really, I am doing just fine). This is just between you and me. Like a fireside chat that you can respond to. Let’s just talk.

Thanks for reading,

-David Mazza

SmartFXDesign.com

P.S. On that note, do you host a blog here? Host a blog somewhere else? Know of a good blog? Leave a link in a comment, I’ll add your blog to my Blogroll (if I approve). Another way we can get to know each other. I will honestly read your blog.

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Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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