I thought I would bring up this topic since so many people start this way in business.

So ...

... What's wrong with using Free Hosting Sites?

Let's point out some of the things you get first.

• free account
• page designer
• stats counter
• picture upload area
• back office with many 'cool' tools
• create your own name for the account
• maybe even an email box
• guestbook
• some offer more than this

Ok, since it's FREE it looks like a great deal and many will jump for it. Let's walk through some steps to see how great of a deal it is.

First, we need to sign up. Create a login name and password. Hmmmm..... Now I wonder if my login is part of my url or is that separate? I'll be safe if I use a login as the name of the business I want. I'll name it Widget4Free.

Oh. It askes for an email address to send a confirmation. I'll use my AOL address. Now it wants my personal info; address and phone. Ok.

Now I have to go get the confirmation email. did that and confirmed the account. Now back to the account.

Need to design the pages. Cool editor tools but it won't allow me to place this over here. Need to rethink of a layout ...

 ... you get the picture. We all have been there. So what is wrong with this?

Let's start with the url. You don't own the domain name. Your business will look cheap just from this alone.

Examples:

www.freehots.com/Widget4Free/

www.Widget4Free.freehots.com

www.freehots.com?=Widget4Free

Now, does this look like a business you would buy from?

The next point is you are promoting another business for free and making their name popular; freehots . com. You are mixed in with several thousand others with your one name and 1000's of your host. You are being drowned out on the 'net'.

If you do get a visitor and they have a question they need to email you and they have to send it to your AOL account (or whatever service you use). Do you see Walmart with an AOL email address? No.

You have limited space to design and stuch with your pages following the hosts guidelines. Limited storage space and the type of files you can store. you are limited and you are doing free advertising for your host. Your are working for them and losing - hours and money. What? You say it's free but what is your time worth? And why are you not being paid to advertise them? Oh, that's right, You have the free account and that's the pay.

Eventually, you dump it and what happens. Most people don't cancel the account. It stays up and that's still free advertising for the host. "We have 26 million accounts active." So, it looks good for them and makes them a powerhouse on the web. All the while, you are still struggling trying to get your name known. You did your part to help them become a success.

Plan on buying a domain name that is yours. Less than $10.00 a year. You spend more at McDonald's in a week!

Hosting service $5.95/ mo.+/- depending on the service you use. Again, you spend more at McDonald's in a week.

So, do you want 'YOU' to be known or your hosting? It's your choice.

 

Happy blogging.

__________

Kenneth R Sword Jr
Co-CEO - Bizzy Blogz
http://www.bizzyblogz.com

Adland's Community Bulletin
http://tinyurl.com/meotg/

Sponsor of the ABA Basketball 'Streetball' group
"Nothing But Net Entertainment"
http://www.bizzyblogz.com/NBNE/

New! Bizzy Blogz Community - like MySpace
http://www.bizzyblogz.biz

An Advertising Traffic Machine
http://www.megatraffic.us/

http://www.frappr.com/bizzyblogzcommunity 

I agree totally Kenneth.  Alot of the free sites also have banner adson YOUR site too....   UGH!!

We once tried to build a business with the Siteblast website builders (MLM), and that went absolutely nowhere, but I still use the templated sites for our personal info like http://www.TimAndLinda.INFO   Your prices there are MUCH better than we paid tho, so people really should check yours out!!

I have about 28 different Domain names and go to http://www.GoDaddy.com  They have MANY times over paid for their value!!

Have an AWESOME rest of the week!!!!


Linda/CMAS, BS, RN
http://www.SwitchStores.INFO
biznurse@satx.rr.com

I started my sites at Freewebs.com and found their service excellent. No popups, no banners, just a tiny freewebs at the bottom. Got my own domain as you suggested and have kept my accounts although I have paidfor upgraded services since then. So there are some good free web hosts out there.

Just wanted you to know that!!

Have an awesome day, God bless,

I have spent good money, I have joined as many safelist as possible, I have joined as many ad agency's as possible and none of them have been worth a hoot until I found AdlandPro, it is not perfect either as to notifincing you of hits on your web sites, 

Finding the right MLM, EMM, Binary or any other product that is a paying site is the answer to any success.  Product, Product, Product is the same as Location, Location, Location.

http://NordacoVesting.com is a web site of opportunities and very few have taken the advantage of the programs that I have going. They are losing a lot of money and time by not coming in.

Ralph Coppley

 

Hi Ken,

I agree with most of what you said.

Starting out with the free sites is the only option for many folks, you see. And, while they do put alot of ads on the site you build; pop ups, pop unders, and top sponsor ads, its still the best way to get your feet wet, so to speak. I mean it takes time to learn to use your Web sites effectivly, why pay out cash when you are learning and can't expect much in the way of results. I experimented with tripod, geocities, and a couple more. Once I had learned how to use the editors and had tweaked the copy and code until I got good page ranking from the major 3 SEs, and made a number of sales, I purchased my own domain and hosting (yours is a good deal!) I thought it would be easy from there to dominate my particular niche. But I was really surprised. You see, I still get more sales from those free websites, better search engine results, and the site builders are easy to use, especially Tripod(worst about putting thier ads all over my site). I can't argue with results and I don't think you will either, though I know you are trying to make sales and I am considering taking you up on it. C-panel, which is what most of the web hosts offer is complicated and requires a learning curve I just don't have time for.

And most importantly: having a number of related sites using a common theme and reciprocal linking makes the sites score much better with SEs. So, even if one has his own domain, it is wise to use the free builders to increase your respectability.

Having that domain that says-ME.com is not that important for SEs, you know. But it does look good on a business card or signature.