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Are Free Websites a Good Idea?

by steveweber
20 replies
Maybe it's the economy, but I am seeing more and more beginners attempting to use "free" sites for their Internet marketing business. Although one of the things I like about Internet marketing is its low start-up costs, there still are some areas that require some investment.

If you are new and thinking about (or already are) using free sites, I have a blog post here which might help you decide if it's a good idea or not.

Build a Website For Free?
#free #good #idea #websites
  • Profile picture of the author JohnnyGax
    You really should've done some research before writing that. You can find free hosts that don't require you to put any ads on your site, allow all the scripting a newbie or intermediate webmaster could possibly need and don't prevent you from making money with them. Don't assume geocities or freewebhosts are the only type of free sites you can get.
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    • Profile picture of the author steveweber
      Honestly, I have tried those free sites you speak of. From my experience, they are not good to host your core site with. I tried several in the past and they did not have superior up time or good tech support when needed. I'd rather pay 3 or 4 dollars a month (for shared hosting) with an established and reputable host for my main sites.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnnyGax
        Originally Posted by steveweber View Post

        Honestly, I have tried those free sites you speak of.
        And yet you don't mention them in your article at all.

        From my experience, they are not good to host your core site with. I tried several in the past and they did not have superior up time or good tech support when needed. I'd rather pay 3 or 4 dollars a month (for shared hosting) with an established and reputable host for my main sites.

        The one I'm using right now has excellent up time. Never been in a position to need tech support though, everything that goes wrong is usually just sloppy coding on my part, so for all I know you're right on that one. However, you can have the same (or worse) issues with paid hosting too. Paid does not automatically mean quality.
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      • Profile picture of the author CmdrStidd
        You scare me. Seriously, dude, you scare me big time. What you are in essence saying is that if you are living on a rent subsidy and only getting food stamps then you should not be looking to succeed at the IM world. The thing is that I am proof that is not true. I know of others who have come from small beginnings and used the free websites to make a few bucks so they could expand and grow.

        Your statement that you must be ready to pay money first is bogus and misleading. Sure, you may not get as many sales starting off but you will still get sales. Then you can turn that money around and use it to make more money but it all has to start somewhere. For many of us in this messed up economy it had to start with free websites. If done right, they can work. I know because I did it on a free website. What it really takes isn't money for the website and domain, it takes determination and you need that regardless if you are using a free web host or paying $1200 a month for hosting and $50 a year for a domain name.
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        • Profile picture of the author steveweber
          Originally Posted by CmdrStidd View Post

          You scare me. Seriously, dude, you scare me big time.
          I scare you "big time" because I suggest it's a good idea to invest a few dollars a month for hosting??
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          • Profile picture of the author CmdrStidd
            Originally Posted by steveweber View Post

            I scare you "big time" because I suggest it's a good idea to invest a few dollars a month for hosting??
            You scare me because you are implying that I should not be successful at IM because I could not afford the hosting and domain name when I got started. You are promoting a defeatist attitude when what it really takes to make it is determination and a stick-to-itness that is sometimes lacking.

            You make it seem like the only reason people fail is because they are using free web hosting or can't afford the domain name. The real truth is that most people fail because they do not have the fortitude to stick with it until it does work, or they are more interested in money than they are in helping others. Neither of these is listed anywhere in your article. If your purpose is to scare away others from the IM world, then I am certain your blog post will do its job nicely, but remember that the person your scaring away by your comments could be the one that becomes an overnight success and would have had you to thank for it, except you scared them away.
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            • Profile picture of the author raylm123
              Originally Posted by CmdrStidd View Post

              You make it seem like the only reason people fail is because they are using free web hosting or can't afford the domain name.
              Did you read the same article I did??? It doesn't imply that at all.
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            • Profile picture of the author steveweber
              Originally Posted by CmdrStidd View Post

              If your purpose is to scare away others from the IM world,

              You sure read a lot into things I didn't even say....

              man, take it easy. I just suggested one should use a $3 or $4 dollar a month host...that's all.
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          • Profile picture of the author ss442
            "Darn it Steve", some days you shake the tree get apples and some days you just get bonked on the head.

            I've heard both sides of the argument and frankly, I'm not sure what to think. I have a couple sites up but they took me forever and day to get up. Anything is easy, once you know how to do it.

            So, I think there is value in both methods.

            I've talked to Steve on the phone a couple times and he has been very generous with help and advice.

            "Steve's one of the good guys, guys".

            Ed
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            Ed Sunderland

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    • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
      Originally Posted by JohnnyGax View Post

      You really should've done some research before writing that. You can find free hosts that don't require you to put any ads on your site, allow all the scripting a newbie or intermediate webmaster could possibly need and don't prevent you from making money with them. Don't assume geocities or freewebhosts are the only type of free sites you can get.
      Until those hosts disappear in the middle of the night, or worse: change affiliate links, steal costumer information, insert invisible spam into your domain and other little schemes I've saw them doing. Hey, they have to recover their money.

      Stick with well known blog service providers or get real hosting. Not worth the trouble to save a couple bucks a month.

      Tyrus
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      • Profile picture of the author CmdrStidd
        Originally Posted by Tyrus Antas View Post

        Until those hosts disappear in the middle of the night, or worse: change affiliate links, steal costumer information, insert invisible spam into your domain and other little schemes I've saw them doing. Hey, they have to recover their money.

        Stick with well known blog service providers or get real hosting. Not worth the trouble to save a couple bucks a month.

        Tyrus
        The one I was using did none of that. They had a basic service and then if you wanted "extras" they would charge you for them. They made their money off of the extras they sold. I was still able to run my business site from them without any unwanted ads or spam or anything like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author jakesellers
    To me, doing business online is still doing business, and one of the cheapest and best ways to establish your business' online presence is to get your own domain and hosting account. Relying on free sites makes a number of online endeavors difficult or impossible.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Kelsall
      I love the "free sites" - I use them every single day and they are a BIG part of my SEO plan. They are the reason that for a lot of keywords, we own almost the whole first page of Google and in some cases MSN because of them.

      I don't use them because I can't afford to use a "real site" I use them because they work and work well for funneling traffic.
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      • Profile picture of the author steveweber
        Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall View Post

        I love the "free sites" - I use them every single day and they are a BIG part of my SEO plan.
        Yes, I did address that very issue in my blog post. I agree with you on that issue. I am talking about your core and long term site
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        • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Kelsall
          I think if you don't know how to or cant afford hosting, then the free sites are fine.

          I went almost a year using nothing but free sites, not because I couldn't afford to use real ones, but because I didn't know how to make them and it was easier to use the free ones.

          Doing so, I was able to make several thousand dollars each month with no real problems.

          Ultimately, should you use "real sites"? Sure, but the free ones are in many cases so much easier to rank and start to profit from quickly. So, I think anyone starting out without much money or knowledge should use the as much as they can.
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          • Profile picture of the author leadsandtraffic4free
            Originally Posted by Jeremy Kelsall View Post

            I think if you don't know how to or cant afford hosting, then the free sites are fine.

            I went almost a year using nothing but free sites, not because I couldn't afford to use real ones, but because I didn't know how to make them and it was easier to use the free ones.

            Doing so, I was able to make several thousand dollars each month with no real problems.

            Ultimately, should you use "real sites"? Sure, but the free ones are in many cases so much easier to rank and start to profit from quickly. So, I think anyone starting out without much money or knowledge should use the as much as they can.
            I'm in this dilemma. Can you please share with me the strategies you used to make money off your Free sites.

            I would really like to know!

            Thanks,
            LeadsandTraffic4Free
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  • Profile picture of the author peter gibson
    Free sites definitely have their place in our world. However I can certainly see every point made in Steve's post. The fact is they are extremely limiting, and selling from these sites is harder than from your own domain. Not to mention you are at the mercy of the companies TOS and sometimes strange policy corrections. Plus some people just don't like trusting/buying from a site that has the domain name "blogspot" or "wordpress".

    Using them as feeders is not only fine, but anyone that doesn't utilize them for that purpose is wasting free SEO and traffic help. I'll tell you this however, once a free site becomes too popular I will always move it to my own domain.

    Sure they have their place, but having your core site on a free platform? I would shake my head and pray to the internet Gods for the man trusting that much hard work on another company.
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  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    It depends on the money making model you use. If you're selling products and building a list then having your own domain is important. If you're building niche advertising/affiliate sites, using Blogger and other free blogs/sites works just fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author steveweber
      Sure, the free sites are fine for such things. I use them myself like that...such as Squiddo, HubPages, etc. But for my core sites and important sales pages, I wouldn't use a free host.

      And we haven't even talked about add-on domains for your lower level sites. Heck, even add-on domains are far better than messing with the free hosts out there.

      With an add-on hosting account you can host unlimited domains for $7 or $8 dollars a month...and you'll still have real hosting support and quality up time. Maybe I'm out of touch, but even those who are on hard times can afford to begin their business with that small investment. If they can't, I don't see how they can even pay their ISP for Internet access. In the long run, having a real host it's just a much better way to go.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDawson
    Banned
    I have used blogger blogs and free wordpress blogs for a LONG time, I like hosting domains on wordpress but I like the simplicity of blogger. The truth is that it does not matter about using free or hosted domains, good content makes all the difference.
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