| > | | | | name? |
| Where can I find free web hosting? | | | | How long will it take before you actually own the |
| There are hundreds of free web hosting services | | | | domain name? Even the cheap web hosting |
| on the web. You can type free web | | | | services will require that you stay with the |
| hosting into any major search engine and get | | | | company for thirty to sixty days before you can |
| an expanded list. However, when you sign up for | | | | keep a free domain name. |
| free hosting account, you are basically signing an | | | | What happens if you want to switch to another |
| expanded advertising agreement. | | | | company before the period is up? Sometimes |
| What exactly is free hosting? | | | | there’s a charge to keep the domain name |
| In exchange for free hosting, the company can | | | | or to transfer it. This should be clearly stated in |
| place ads your website. The ads can be placed on | | | | their FAQ's or in the text of the hosting contract |
| the top of the main page, the top of every page, | | | | before you agree to use their service. |
| or on the sides. The ads are usually not targeted. | | | | Do you have enough bandwidth? |
| It is possible that they won’t match the | | | | Many free web hosting services are providing |
| demographics of your web visitors. In addition, | | | | their services in such a way that you will need to |
| they are not customized to match the content on | | | | upgrade your hosting package if your site has any |
| your web page. | | | | degree of minor success. The tipping point is |
| This is a very expensive exchange program if | | | | usually bandwidth. That is a measure of how |
| your goal is to build up an online business. The | | | | much text, pictures, ftps etc. you can send to |
| area above the fold, everything that is visible | | | | your web customers every month. |
| without scrolling, is the most effective advertising | | | | The Bandwidth in your contract is measured on a |
| area on the entire site. This is the area you should | | | | monthly basis. Check the contract to see if there |
| use for your affiliate links, Google Adsense, paid | | | | are any fees for going over your monthly |
| links and expanded site navigation. | | | | amount, or if you will lose your free hosting |
| Some free web hosting contracts go a step | | | | privileges. |
| further and ask for your participation in their email | | | | Free host today, no host tomorrow |
| marketing campaigns. You will receive emails that | | | | There is a very high turnover for free web |
| require a click through to a merchant site, and/or | | | | hosting services that heavily depend on |
| fill out endless surveys. This can be very time | | | | advertising revenue. Even the most successful |
| consuming and annoying. | | | | web companies will find that their advertising |
| Before you sign any free hosting contract ask to | | | | revenue varies on a monthly basis. Will the |
| see sample sites. You want to get a feel for the | | | | company suddenly go out business if they hit a |
| types of ads that are being shown on other | | | | three month slump? |
| website. What do you want to look for? | | | | There should be a written policy on what happens |
| 1.Do you see pop-up ads? What about banners? | | | | to your content if they site suddenly goes out of |
| 2.How large are the ads? | | | | business. Can you still access your files? Is there |
| 3.Are they just off topic or are they | | | | an alternative URL or login site with your |
| inappropriate? | | | | information? How much time do you have? |
| 4.Where are the ads? Are they on every single | | | | You are only as reliable as your hosting service |
| page or on selected pages? | | | | Check out the statistics on the uptime for their |
| Even if the ads are not on every page, watch | | | | servers. This applies to any hosting service, |
| out. It could mean that the hosting service has | | | | whether you are paying or not. If their uptime is |
| figured out which pages bring in the most revenue | | | | in the low 90’s and below, then try to find |
| and they can afford to ignore everything else. | | | | another hosting provider. |
| Guess what? If it brings in lots of revenue for | | | | You are taking a big risk if you use a free web |
| them, it could probably bring in lots of revenue for | | | | hosting services for your business site. The |
| you. | | | | inability to control your advertising, high turnover |
| There’s free and then there’s FREE | | | | rates among the free hosting providers, and |
| If the space is free, what about the domain | | | | variable contracts usually spells disaster for |
| name? | | | | e-commerce sites. |
| If your new site will look like you’re getting | | | | To run a successful online venture, 24-hour live |
| a subdomain for your site. It’s not really | | | | customer service, high uptimes ratios and control |
| your unique domain name. They are simply loaning | | | | of your advertising space is a must. These |
| you a space for your stuff. | | | | features are also the major weaknesses of the |
| This is not a unique domain name that you can | | | | average free hosting provider. |
| use to brand your business. You can’t use | | | | A better option for you company would be to |
| it anywhere except with this particular web | | | | sign up for an affordable or cheap web hosting |
| hosting company. Ditto if the new domain names | | | | provider. You will have many service options in |
| is | | | | this category and can usually avoid the limitations |
| So what if they offer a truly unique domain | | | | of the free hosting companies. |