| When it comes to web hosting, there are a lot of | | | | grow your business online. For example, if you |
| options available. With so many alternatives to | | | | select a free service, you may have limited or no |
| choose from, you might be tempted to consider | | | | access to email, FTP accounts, content |
| one of the many free web hosting services out | | | | management systems or ecommerce options. |
| there. However, there are some common pitfalls | | | | 4. Lack of Portability. When you pay to register |
| related to that approach that can end up costing | | | | and host your own domain, you have the option |
| you and your business a lot of money down the | | | | to transfer it. With free hosting services, this is |
| road. Therefore, it is important to know what | | | | usually not the case. So, if you spend a year or |
| these red flags are so you can avoid them. | | | | two building up your site and driving traffic to it |
| Here are 6 great reasons to avoid free web | | | | before realizing how beneficial it would be to have |
| hosting: | | | | your own domain name, your hard work may be |
| | | | out the window. |
| 1. Lost Credibility. Your web site will often be the | | | | 5. Overcrowded Servers. This leads to slow load |
| first impression your potential customers have of | | | | time for pages and increased downtime for your |
| your business. With free hosting, you may be | | | | site. Of course, both of these issues can have a |
| stuck with a very long domain name such as A | | | | serious negative impact on the growth and |
| domain name like this is an instant signal to your | | | | profitability of your business. |
| prospects that your business is still in the minor | | | | 6. Poor Customer Service. Another major issue |
| leagues. It is very difficult to build trust and | | | | with free hosting services is that they offer little |
| credibility when your web presence appears to be | | | | to nothing in the way of customer support. If |
| fly-by-night. | | | | there is a problem with your site, you will have a |
| 2. Banner Ads. The main reason these services | | | | very hard time contacting anyone to help resolve |
| are free is because you agree to allow banner | | | | it. Every minute your site is down carries with it a |
| ads on your site. So you invest the time, money | | | | huge opportunity cost in terms of frustrated |
| and energy into driving traffic to your site and the | | | | customers and lost sales. |
| free hosting service profits by directing that | | | | Based on this list, you can see that "you get what |
| traffic away from you. Clearly not the best way | | | | you pay for" with free hosting services. Instead, |
| to build a successful, long-term business. | | | | consider quality web hosting an important |
| 3. Limited Features. Free hosts usually offer a | | | | investment into your business - one that will |
| limited number of services. This lack of flexibility | | | | continue to yield positive results for your business |
| can seriously hinder your ability to conduct and | | | | long into the future. |