Even the most un-savvy internet user will have become accustomed to price comparison websites over the years, with these transforming the way in which we pay for day-to-day essentials.
Anything from home insurance to energy bills can be slashed in an instant, with consumers having a wealth of stats which point them exactly in the cheapest direction.
The success of the initial comparison websites prompted an explosion of services. Insurance was initially the main service that was compared, but this soon spread to anything and everything that one could imagine around the house.
Now, things have taken a change once again. Some sites have started to target specific niches, in a bid to grab the lion’s share of that particular market. One of these examples is www.cybercompare.net, which has hit the market with the premise of comparing anything related to cyber services. In other words, broadband, domain names and website hosting are all scrutinised.
It means that consumers now have a go-to site for some services which can be difficult to grasp. For example, when it comes to broadband, most people struggle with the simple plug and play devices that ISPs send over so attempting to mull over technical jargon in the buying process is purely out of the question. Instead, Cyber Compare decipher all of the buying options in simple format, allowing consumers to ponder over the different service providers and make an informed choice based on the information that is readily available.
However, the inclusion of website-related services is perhaps the most impressive, and perhaps the area which can benefit the average consumer even more.
While the internet has certainly become more mainstream over the years, few users would openly admit that they are able to register and setup a new website. Considering the fact that this is the prerequisite for any new business, this presents a problem – and a potentially expensive one for anyone who decides to contact a professional company who offer website services.
The general consensus amongst those users who are not familiar with website development is that domain names and website hosting cost an arm and a leg. However, by simply pinging in two options into the Cyber Compare tool, it’s possible to see that the former can cost just 99p per year. Immediately, significant savings have been made.
In relation to website hosting, it would be fair to say that the process is a little more long-winded, which is to be expected considering the various options that need to be decided on. For example, some users may require WordPress hosting, while others may just need a basic package. Regardless, the fact that an extensive guide accompanies the tool is hugely beneficial to the average user who has never signed up to a service before, as is the case that a monthly budget can be entered as well.
Of course, it’s not just website novices that these tools are targeting. Any experienced web developer knows how vast the web hosting field is, with umpteen companies vying for everyone’s attention. It means that it’s difficult to dissect all of the different deals, and reputations, from the companies that do exist. As Cyber Compare just specialises in the “cyber” industry, they are able to quickly supply information that even an advanced web user might struggle to find. In other words, if nothing else for the web developer, they can prove to be a time saver.
It will now be interesting to see just how many other industries follow suit in other niches, and jump onto the phenomenon’s that price comparison sites have become.