Ask HN: Why do SaaS companies display their hosting company's logo?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4483484

by kintamanimatt • 14 years ago

9 13 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I've seen this frequently, particularly if the company is hosted with Rackspace. What's going on here? Why are Saas companies advertising their hosting provider?

For example: http://i.imgur.com/2rjbA.png

olalonde• 14 years ago

I once heard that some of them get a discount on hosting if they display the Rackspace logo.

mforsberg• 14 years ago

In some cases, because everyone is doing it.

Otherwise I am pretty sure they have some kind of partnership that are built on foundation of hosting for advertising.

lmg643• 14 years ago

Referral fees would be an easy explanation. Another reason is that SaaS companies, particularly in the enterprise space, need to reassure their customers about the quality of their infrastructure, reliability and redundancy. So if the servers are hosted in Equinix instead of under a developer's desk, it conveys a level of security and competence that the company's brand should benefit from. I have never seen a Rackspace facility, so I don't actually know what they are like, but the Equinix datacenters I have been to are better than any major corporate setup I've seen.

whichdan• 14 years ago

I agree with the trust aspect, even if most consumers wouldn't recognize the RackSpace brand.

Another explanation could be: it's an easy way to fill up some whitespace in the footer.

kdavis4• 14 years ago

We http://www.forty.to as part of winning a place in the Rackspace startup program, receive $2000 dollars of Rackspace services per month for a year. But, as part of the deal, we display the Rackspace logo on our home page. From our point of view, it's a great deal.

kintamanimatt5• 14 years ago

How do you enter/win that? I did a quick google and found some cursory information about it, but nothing about entering or applying.

kdavis4• 14 years ago

Open the page...

http://www.rackspacestartups.com/

Click on any one of the links, say "500 Startups". Fill out the application form, and you're off to the races.

Good luck!

kintamanimatt5• 14 years ago

I emailed FreshBooks and asked why they do it. I got the following reply:

Hey Matt,

I can't really speak to why everyone does it, but Rackspace has provided us with amazing service so I think its something of a hat tip in recognition.

Have a great day Matt,

- John

Ask HN: Why do SaaS companies display their hosting company's logo?

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