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Feb 13, 2025 • 3 min read

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Client Story: Unlocking Business Opportunities by Hosting 40+ Client Websites with SiteGround 

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The right web hosting choice can bind your business and success as thick as thieves, especially for web developers building websites for clients. For David Chastain, the brains behind 10,000 Things, SiteGround has been a game-changer, allowing him to effortlessly support small businesses online while bootstrapping his own.

The Beginning

David Chastain launched 10,000 Things in 2010, initially focusing on building websites for small corporations which for many years were his primary clients. This was his “bread and butter” until the COVID-19 pandemic. With the lockdowns, these clients started to dry up, and it was no longer profitable, so David pivoted towards smaller businesses and personal projects who were looking for new ways of making money and migrating online like artists, musicians, architects, etc.

“I enjoy working with smaller businesses; they’re more fun and, oddly enough, pay more promptly than corporations. That was when I began using SiteGround more frequently to offer hosting to my existing clients, while also exploring its potential further.”

Discovering SiteGround: David’s Trustworthy Ally in Web Development 

David first tried SiteGround around 2018, and it turned out to be a game-changer for his business. He found that by offering his clients hosting through SiteGround, he could easily add in WordPress updates and maintenance, making life simpler for everyone while also building a steady income. SiteGround’s reliability was a breath of fresh air compared to the headaches he faced with other hosting companies, where he often spent too much time sorting out issues.

“A lot of the websites that I get for rebuilding are hosted with terrible companies, it’s just harder to work with them, and I spend a lot of time on customer support, trying to resolve things that I should be able to do easily myself. So whenever I can get a client onto my hosting through SiteGround, it just makes everything easier and it helps me build my revenue streams.”

The Art of Simple WordPress Management

Initially hesitant about managed WordPress hosting, David found SiteGround’s platform to be super user-friendly and efficient. The one-click WordPress install and superior control panel made managing websites a breeze, especially when dealing with multiple clients. 

“I use SiteGround’s Site Tools to do manual backups and updates for all my clients. It’s easy and saves me time.”

Unlike other managed WordPress hosting services he found restrictive, SiteGround offers the flexibility he needs, with one-click website optimizations, caching, and CDN capabilities that ensure fast-loading sites. He appreciates SiteGround’s ease of use, finding SiteGround’s Site Tools control panel superior to the mass-market cPanel, allowing him to complete more tasks more efficiently. 

“I get my work done more quickly! For example, when in the process of updating to PHP 8.2 I could go and test every site – that’s quicker with Site Tools than it would have been with cPanel.”

Speed Optimization with SiteGround

David has always been on the lookout for the best tools to enhance website performance, experimenting with various speed optimization plugins over the years. Yet, it was SiteGround’s Speed Optimizer that truly impressed him with its effectiveness and simplicity.

“I’ve tried a lot of speed optimization plugins from the WordPress repository. But I’ve had the best luck with the Speed Optimizer plugin – it’s free, but has a lot of features from paid plugins, and a lot of advanced features like image optimization and next-generation image formats that you should pay for with other plugins!“

What sets SiteGround’s Speed Optimizer apart for David is its versatility. He finds it so reliable that he even uses it on sites hosted elsewhere, consistently achieving excellent results with minimal effort.

“I even use SiteGround’s Speed Optimizer on sites hosted elsewhere. It’s easy to set up and it works effectively.”

Advice for Aspiring Web Developers

David Chastain’s journey is a treasure trove of insights for those stepping into the world of web development. His key piece of advice? Start by leveraging your strengths – if your background is in marketing, build from there; if it’s in development and programming, let that be your foundation. 

“Decide who you can connect with and who your clients might be. But above all focus on customer service – listening to your clients and fixing problems is what brings return clients. All of my business is referrals and repeat customers.” 

As for the future, David sees it as a time of big changes, where despite some uncertainties, there’s a lot of hope and excitement. People and small businesses are coming up with new ways to work and connect, using the technology that’s available to us. 

“People and small businesses are thinking of new ways to make a living, new ways to work, new ways to interact and technology is giving us the tools to do that. “

David Chastain’s journey shows how SiteGround helps web developers and small businesses succeed online. With our reliable and easy-to-use tools, David continues to innovate and expand his portfolio.

Ready to enhance your online presence too?

Svetoslava Ivanova

Digital Marketer

Enthusiastic about adopting new ways of storytelling Gen Z-er who lives and breathes digital marketing.

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