Sponsorship — reach buyers who are deciding now.
HostDir readers are webmasters, sysadmins, hosting resellers and infra engineers researching specific hosting and infrastructure decisions. We don't run interstitials, pop-ups, or pre-rolls. Sponsorship is clearly labelled, never blended into editorial, and never affects the ranking algorithm.
- Webmasters
- Developers
- Hosting resellers
- IT operators
Sponsored listing
Boosted position in the directory with a clearly marked "Sponsored" badge. The editorial ranking model still runs underneath; we never quietly demote unsponsored providers.
- Boosted directory placement
- Sponsored badge
- Featured in category landing pages
Homepage feature
Most chosenSlot above the fold on the homepage masthead. Limited inventory: at most three providers featured concurrently. Rotates daily.
- Homepage masthead inclusion
- All sponsored listing perks
- Logo in the daily newsletter
Display ad placement
Sidebar banner ad across the entire site. We host the creative on first-party DNS, no third-party tracker network, no IAB cookies. Disclosure label inline.
- Site-wide sidebar banner
- First-party hosting
- Your own creative or templated
Toolkit listing
One-time fee to list a hosting tool or open-source project in the Toolkit directory. Permanent listing with community ratings.
- Permanent toolkit entry
- Community reviews
- Editorial review on submission
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01
Audience that converts
Visitors arrive on the site mid-decision, not mid-scroll. They came from a hosting-related query or directly from a comparison page. The intent signal is roughly an order of magnitude higher than display-network averages.
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02
Transparent pricing
Rate card is on this page. No volume discounts, no quiet upgrades, no quarterly negotiations. Same rate for everyone, same rate next year.
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03
Editorial firewall
The ranking algorithm is described in plain English at the foot of every country and category page. Sponsored placement is shown with explicit labels and never quietly elevates a provider in the editorial rankings.
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04
Community standing
Sponsorship is presented as commercial, never as editorial. Readers can tell which is which, which makes the commercial endorsement actually mean something.
All sponsored content is labelled. Sponsored providers receive visibility, never algorithmic preference. The editorial ranking model is open and documented at the foot of every country and category page. If you'd rather skip the sponsored slot, you can list as a standard provider for a one-time $15.
Start with a sponsored listing
Goes live the same day. Full editorial control of your description. Talk to us for custom packages.