14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Free Sites?

by James Liberty
12 replies
Anyone happen to know what some of the disadvantages are to using free websites (for your blog) such as those provided by Wordpress and Blogger?
#disadvantages #free #sites
  • Profile picture of the author dreamtab
    The BIGGEST disadvantage is that never consider that you are the owner of the site because they may delete your account anytime.

    I would recommend to spend some $$$ and get your own domain name and hosting.
    If you need something for personal use then free sites rocks.

    Hope that helps
    Signature
    Website Setup $250 only
    Full-Time VA Available. 13 years IM, SEO, WordPress, Customer Support experience.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100724].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author David Raybould
      Hi James,

      Yes, that's exactly right - if you use a free site expect it to disappear from the search engines with no warning at all. May even find that it's not there one day when you try and login in.

      The paid versions are much better, and if you use wordpress you can get a serious legup with SEO because of all the plugins, which you can't use on the free version.

      Hope that helps

      David
      Signature
      Killer Emails. Cash-spewing VSLs. Turbocharged Landing Pages.

      Whatever you need, my high converting copy puts more money in your pocket. PM for details. 10 years experience and 9 figure revenues.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100726].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author grumpyjacksa
        i speak from personal experience. i had a blog at blogger, and they struck tech hitches that went on for months. eventually i deleted it and went to another free host.

        i built my blog up to a PR 3, with a good load of content, and a 141 backlinks. then i started getting problems posting, with posts reverting back to drafts after a few minutes, and timestamped posts not appearing.

        every time i complained, they "ran tests" on their side, and "everything was ok".

        eventually i got sick of seeing my traffic dwindle, and got my own domain + host. within three weeks of moving my blog, the traffic is back up, although the PR is 0, technorati authority is 0, and backlinks are only 14.

        my advice to anyone would be to get their own domain, at least. that way you can move the physical location without losing anything. you can still use a free host - blogger allows your own domain - , and at 000 webhosting you can get free hosting with fantastico to install wordpress.
        but you will be in control. personally i would suggest WP, because you can export, or back up your whole blog as an xml file. that's how i moved mine.

        to top it all, i am now building something i own, so i have a physical item i could sell if i wanted.
        Signature
        Ex-ghostwriter now writing exclusive PLR ebooks - Limited PLR Club
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100764].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Angela V. Edwards
    It doesn't seem to be as much a problem with free blogs, but free websites often have issues with SEO. Geocities, I know for sure, gets all the backlink credit gained from every free site they host. The site itself doesn't get credit for the backlinks, Geocities.com does. Some of the other "free sites" out there might have the same issue.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100784].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author James Turner
    1. It's never yours to own
    2. You don't have complete control
    3. It can have a detrimental effect on your image
    4. You have limited ability to alter the design, layout
    5. You are building links to someone else's domain
    6. The blog host is getting your traffic
    7. It isn't always easy to add optin boxes, popups, etc to your blog

    James
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100826].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author johnymartin11
    Worst thing is they will banned you even without telling you the reason. Your whole labour, link building. PR and your article all will be gone.

    I have burnt my hand earlier and lost almost 6 blogs at a time. Boy that was really painful and they even not bother to tell me what was my fault.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100841].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sparrow
    For all of the above reasons

    I had perfectly good blogs deleted and could not get anyone to respond so I understood what went wrong

    use them as a short term goal but not for long range work

    Ed
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[100948].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author peteinoz
    wow.. free site bashing thread

    The question is, are they good for what you use them for?

    If you rely on them 100% for your income, then your in for a world of misery

    Though If you use them to provide you quality relevant backlinks then they are absolute gold.. They cost you nothing and sit there for years gaining power in the Serps.. You can go back to them at any time and add more content, articles, links, whatever..

    So the answer is, depends on what you want them for..

    Tip, put your money sites on domains you own.. send some link love to these sites from networks of free sites you setup for this purpose..

    check my sig for more info

    Pete
    Signature
    HangoutMillionaire.com World Premeire Automated Video Marketing Software, Streams YouTube Live and Google Hangouts. Special Offer Link!
    Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/peterdrew
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[101074].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Amy Bass
      It is worth it to have 100% complete control and ownership over your own blogs. Sure, you can use the free ones for some quick cash, but if you are building a long term business, you need your own.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[101122].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
      Originally Posted by peteinoz View Post

      wow.. free site bashing thread
      Pete,

      I guess that's what happens when people answer the original
      question.. what are the disadvantages?

      John
      Signature
      John's Internet Marketing News, Views & Reviews: John Taylor Online
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[101129].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author peteinoz
        Originally Posted by John Taylor View Post

        Pete,

        I guess that's what happens when people answer the original
        question.. what are the disadvantages?

        John
        Yep, good point John,

        though I thought if he needed to ask the question, he could benefit from seeing the other side of using free sites aswell..

        Cheers

        Pete
        Signature
        HangoutMillionaire.com World Premeire Automated Video Marketing Software, Streams YouTube Live and Google Hangouts. Special Offer Link!
        Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/peterdrew
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[101138].message }}

Trending Topics