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Free Web Hosting?

by edrogers
22 replies
I see a lot of free web hosting sites available (such as weebly). What are your thoughts on these? What major thing(s) am I losing when I go with a free web hosting account instead of a paid one?

Also, would there by chance be any free web hosting that works good with wordpress (which weebly does not)?

Sorry to be so cheap, bank account is running on empty.

Thanks.
#free #hosting #web
  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    Why not use free sites like wordpress.com, blogger, squidoo, etc.? Those have a proven track record (or at least better than free hosts)
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    • Profile picture of the author Margo Tuul
      Ye, wordpress and blogger are good also.


      Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

      Why not use free sites like wordpress.com, blogger, squidoo, etc.? Those have a proven track record (or at least better than free hosts)
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  • Profile picture of the author Margo Tuul
    If you are serious with internet marketing, then get a proper hosting. Hostgator baby plan gives you unlimited option, and its only $9 per month. I might be wrong..maybe even less.
    Hostgator has wordpress installation too (fantastico).

    I recommend that you should get proper hosting. It doesn't cost so much. Save on something....cut down few burgers (if you eat them). Or few drinks (if you drink - coke, wine etc.)
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  • Profile picture of the author JVManna
    Free web hosts usually get the job done, but in return they often advertise on your site and that doesn't have a professional look. The benefit of using a paid host is the ability to run scripts and the support you pay for.

    I personally use Dreamhost and they're pretty affordable and flexible.
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  • Profile picture of the author edrogers
    dvduval, primarily for domain name purposes.

    Margo24, I figured that'd be the answer, but had to ask. Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rashell
      You can check byethost.com

      I just set up a WP Blog on their server. It's not as "simple" to use as hostgator. But it's not as limiting as sites like blogger, wordpress.com, yola, weebly, etc.

      Personally, if I were super strapped for cash I'd start with byethost and as the money began to flow again I'd switch to hostgator and have them transfer my sites & databases over (which they will do for you)

      Rashell
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      • Profile picture of the author Viewcaster
        Lots of other areas you could and should save $$ when starting out. Hosting has gotten so inexpensive that the benefits of paid hosting FAR outweigh the savings you'll realize from a free host.
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        • Profile picture of the author Donna Hamer
          Hi edrogers,

          Lots of people are strapped for cash, free options like Blogger and Wordpress are great alternatives for when you first start out. They are also a good way to test the market.

          Later if you decide you then want to continue with your theme you can move over to your own paid hosting. These sites can then be small sites that link back to your main site.

          Good luck and I hope some cash comes your way - very soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author TashaTymchuk
    You asked what major things you would be losing? The biggest thing is having others (especially other marketers) take you seriously. Not all, but some. It's kind of like-"she/he isn't even taking their business serious enough to set up a "proper" site..."

    That's not my opinion, as I understand about the money shortage some people face, however it is the opinion of others.

    Good luck ;D
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    • Profile picture of the author kakaboo
      Originally Posted by TashaTymchuk View Post

      You asked what major things you would be losing? The biggest thing is having others (especially other marketers) take you seriously. Not all, but some. It's kind of like-"she/he isn't even taking their business serious enough to set up a "proper" site..."

      That's not my opinion, as I understand about the money shortage some people face, however it is the opinion of others.

      Good luck ;D

      For most people starting out, a lot of people would think like the OP..it's like you would feel that you are wasting your money when there is a bill of $10 coming in every month for your web hosting as you feel that you are not utilizing that service to its fullest extent.

      I used to feel that way too, but after that I feel amazed at how I can just spend a few bucks on a MacDonald meal or an expensive ticket to somewhere (when there were cheaper alternatives) without feeling that way..

      Well, it's just something that we have to get over with..internet marketing is still a business after all and all businesses come with small investments just that in IM the money and time are interchangable sometimes.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by kakaboo View Post

        For most people starting out, a lot of people would think like the OP..it's like you would feel that you are wasting your money when there is a bill of $10 coming in every month for your web hosting as you feel that you are not utilizing that service to its fullest extent.

        I used to feel that way too, but after that I feel amazed at how I can just spend a few bucks on a MacDonald meal or an expensive ticket to somewhere (when there were cheaper alternatives) without feeling that way..

        Well, it's just something that we have to get over with..internet marketing is still a business after all and all businesses come with small investments just that in IM the money and time are interchangable sometimes.
        My thoughts exactly, when you get right down to it $10 a month or less is really not a lot, and if you're really tight just skip eating out for one or two meals (or perhaps forgo a movie), and you have already covered your hosting cost for the month. If you want to run a real business on the internet, my opinion is that you need to have a domain and hosting at the very least!

        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author ocd
    limedomains.com charges you $7.99 for a domain and nothing for hosting. They offer several different apps of your choice.

    The only game they play is when you first sign up, about 2 seconds after you hit enter, they call you and try to upsell you on a monthly program for $4.50 a month.
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  • Profile picture of the author greenowl123
    My first free site I created was with 110mb.com. I also created free sites on thumblogger.com, blogspot, weebly and bravehost.com

    Hubpages are good for getting noticed and are also free. As are articles written for EZA or ArticlesBase.

    Eventually, you will want to buy you own domain. Even if it is only an .info

    There is a thread today about getting a .com domain for only 1 dollar with godaddy using a discount code. I just bought another domain using the discount code.

    Nothing beats a .com for a buck !

    Gonna have some lunch and then come back and set up my new site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
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    The first problem with free web hosting solutions is that they control your site, not you. Meaning they can delete it whenever they feel like you're taking up too much space.

    The other problem with free web hosts (the ones that mimic hostgator and the like), is that they are a pain to get set up.

    Honestly, you're better off using a paid host.

    Otherwise, just use blogger. It's a good place to start if you're strapped for cash.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamjar919
    I use 000a. It has no ads and has a fantastico installer. Whenever someone asks for a free webhost i always give them this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hviews
    It is much better to have a paid web host. I have used free web hosts before and some of them have been great, but they never make enough money to keep operating so they end up shutting down causing me to lose my sites.

    $10/month = 33 cents a day. Just find a way to save 33 cents a day and that is money for your web host right there.
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  • Profile picture of the author danish_123
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrea Wilson
    byethost.com is a great alternative for no-money starters like me. You can host it with them ad-free. I am quite contented with them but I will be switching on to hostgator in the future as I think that is the best thing to do to give me some peace of mind.
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  • Profile picture of the author diyakapoor
    If you want to start a business website, then free hosting is not a good option, because there are many restriction in free hosting. For a personal website or blog, free hosting can be taken.
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  • Profile picture of the author alextuder
    Originally Posted by edrogers View Post

    I see a lot of free web hosting sites available (such as weebly). What are your thoughts on these? What major thing(s) am I losing when I go with a free web hosting account instead of a paid one?

    Also, would there by chance be any free web hosting that works good with wordpress (which weebly does not)?

    Sorry to be so cheap, bank account is running on empty.

    Thanks.
    For a starter, I think web 2.0 sites (free sites) are the best option to start with. You get plenty of experience and also you get to read "amazing" content. Of course these free hosting sites are not fine if u are a long term thinker.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randy Daugherty
    you can check out piehosting..
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Originally Posted by edrogers View Post

    I see a lot of free web hosting sites available (such as weebly). What are your thoughts on these? What major thing(s) am I losing when I go with a free web hosting account instead of a paid one?

    Also, would there by chance be any free web hosting that works good with wordpress (which weebly does not)?

    Sorry to be so cheap, bank account is running on empty.

    Thanks.
    I also forgot to mention that the free websites with site builder tools like weebly and the others have a paid option that gives you additional perks, and removes the weebly footer at the bottom (I imagine it'd be the same for the others as well).

    If you're just using the free version of weebly and other similar sites, it looks really unprofessional in my opinion to have the footer proudly displaying the fact that it is a free website provided by "so and so".

    Paul
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