KISS Internet Marketing Advice

What is the difference between shared (paid) web hosting and free web hosting? This is an important question for those who are interested in setting up web sites. Whether just for blogging or promoting a cause, or trying to make money with a business, the type of hosting you choose can make a big difference in your site and the reaction of your visitors. Just setting up shop on a free social site like Facebook isn’t always a great idea.

On the social sites, whatever content you submit is theirs. If the site decides some day to change the rules, or go offline altogether, all of your effort can be wasted. It is so much better when you own your own domain and have your own hosting. If you own your site, your content is yours and you own it (except for copyrighted material, of course).

If you choose to register a domain and create your own site, you have a choice between traditional paid web hosting and free web hosting. Paid hosting is a bargain these days, with many hosts charging $10 for less a month for just about everything you need. Most hosting plans in this price range include enough disk space to host several different websites, or one big site, depending on how much content you create over time.

Free web hosting, nonetheless, is still popular despite the low cost of superior paid hosting options. For anyone putting up a website as a hobby, or just as a pastime that isn’t a big deal, free hosting might be okay. You would never want to put up a commercial site of any type – free hosting just isn’t right for any business or commercial application.

On the up side, free web hosting is indeed free. No strings attached, usually. Nonetheless, there are drawbacks and reasons that the hosting is free.

Free hosting setups almost always require ads on your site. These are set by the host, and while they won’t necessarily be right in the middle of your page, they will definitely be a distraction to your otherwise nice work.

Visitors to your site will also be treated to pop ups and pop unders, which are additional advertisements that the free web host places there.

Free hosting is for small sites that don’t get a lot of traffic, and don’t use a lot of video or file transfers. Don’t plan on having more than a small, simple site with these hosts.

You can’t use your own domain with free hosting. Typically, your web address will be something along the lines of: bobjones.freehostingprovidername.com. This might be okay, but lacks a personal flair if that’s what you want.

Remember that free hosts are counting on making money from the ads on your site. They hope you’ll bring in traffic that will click the ads and buy something. They then make money from the click, or from the sale. It’s a great deal. Problem is, if it doesn’t go well, the host can shut down at anytime and all your work and effort is gone forever.

My advice is to avoid all free web hosting services, unless you simply don’t have the money or don’t want to commit to a few dollars a month for a regular host. The bottom line is, never put anything up on a free host that you really don’t want to lose. It is definitely a risk.

Getting your own website up and running is exciting. When trying to decide on a web hosting provider, you have many different choices. Find out if free web hosting is a worthwhile option for you to consider.