Free Web hosting - is it worth it?

[maxhest]

Free web hosting makes some hosts cringe. But some, it spells $$. What do you think you should consider when opening a free web hosting? Should it be ad free or ad-banners/text links? There are many questions and ideas, how do you all feel about this?

[Plead]

Free hosting is just like any other type of hosting, don't dive in without a plan.

Be PREPARED, read what other hosts have experienced, ask lots of questions. Expect to get to get heaps of users and expect to get a massive influx from China also. (Trust me, once 1 Chinese person finds your hosting, they will post it on Chinese forums and it just escalates massively from there)

I wish luck to anyone who goes into free hosting.

[LP-Trel]

Free webhosting is like asking someone to shove hot needles into your flesh and drive them in with a hammer if you aren't prepared.

As Plead said there will definately be alot of Chinese signups if you don't control it properly. Also another concern is spam from free webhosting accounts and users uploading illegal content. You have to watch all of this very closely.

All in all I think its about the same as a paid provider, you have to be prepared before you open your doors.

[Plead]

Oh yes, automated signup is a horrible idea IMO.

This just leaves you open to people signing up just to spam and upload illegal content.

People like this don't want to wait at all and will also use a fake email, this is better for you so if you get a bounced email you can just delete the account right away.

Sure accepting new users manually can be quite strenuous but it does get easier over time and everyone is generally happier when they aren't on some overloaded server crammed with spammers.

[LP-Trel]

I'd say diabling the mail functions and offering small quotas would solve these problems but, then you run into other issues. Its all about being prepared.

[nick]

Yep - no mail on free hosting, if they want to use email, they should use their ISPs. If you don't want the Chinese, just block their IPs from accessing the server, not that hard... :)

But like Trel said, it's all about being prepared.

[LP-Trel]

Yep - no mail on free hosting, if they want to use email, they should use their ISPs. If you don't want the Chinese, just block their IPs from accessing the server, not that hard... :)

But like Trel said, it's all about being prepared.

Enter into free webhosting without being prepared.. I need a good laugh these days. :D

[nick]

You don't enter into paid hosting without being prepared either...in that manner, it's the same.

[LP-Trel]

You don't enter into paid hosting without being prepared either...in that manner, it's the same.

I'd say free webhosting is a bit more dangerous as there aren't as many ways to check if a user is looking to do bad things. ;)

[Plead]

I wonder how people feel about first starting off offering free hosting (of any kind) just to try out the hosting scene before then going into paid hosting?

Do you think thats a good idea or nay?

[LP-Trel]

I wonder how people feel about first starting off offering free hosting (of any kind) just to try out the hosting scene before then going into paid hosting?

Do you think thats a good idea or nay?

Completely different set of rules, becoming free and then crossing over may provide you with a small paid client base when you convert them over but, you could also run yourself into the ground.

If you want to be paid, go paid to begin with. Thats how I see it at least.

[pixel_fenix]

Depends if you want to launch a free host to advertise your site with and only your site.

[LP-Trel]

Depends if you want to launch a free host to advertise your site with and only your site.

True, it has been tried by some larger providers. I believe I've even seen fdcservers.net get into the act a time or two. :D

[Plead]

I know if I was a big host, I would launch a small free host "trial" type plan to encourage users to try it out.

[LP-Trel]

I know if I was a big host, I would launch a small free host "trial" type plan to encourage users to try it out.

That is sort of the approach that Affordablehost.com takes to it. They give a limited free account away so that users can kick the tires so to speak and then upgrade to paid hosting later. It seems that it works or else Tina wouldn't do it. ;)

[Plead]

That is sort of the approach that Affordablehost.com takes to it. They give a limited free account away so that users can kick the tires so to speak and then upgrade to paid hosting later. It seems that it works or else Tina wouldn't do it. ;)
Of course it works :P

They don't give free food samples in supermarkets for nothing now do they?

[LP-Trel]

Of course it works :P

They don't give free food samples in supermarkets for nothing now do they?

Those sample givers always tell me to go away.. :bawling:

Free samples are good marketing though, I can see how it would work for a paid provider if they implemented it properly.

[Plead]

Those sample givers always tell me to go away.. :bawling:

Free samples are good marketing though, I can see how it would work for a paid provider if they implemented it properly.
Lol, why do they always tell you to go away? :P

I love the free samples :D I never buy the product though lol

[LP-Trel]

Lol, why do they always tell you to go away? :P

I love the free samples :D I never buy the product though lol

After I eat a tray or two they say I have to leave.. :bawling: Meanies.

That is good marketing though, I get addicted to it and have to go buy some.

[Plead]

After I eat a tray or two they say I have to leave.. :bawling: Meanies.

That is good marketing though, I get addicted to it and have to go buy some.
ROFL, a tray or 2?

That is kind of being a little bit greedy :D

Wait, no its not lol, its being resourceful!

[Jamesc]

You have to remeber that with free hosting most of the people that sign up are after paid hosting quality and support. No mail services is a good idea, this will help reduce the risk of spammer signing up :cool:.


Jamesc :ukflag:

[LP-Trel]

You have to remeber that with free hosting most of the people that sign up are after paid hosting quality and support. No mail services is a good idea, this will help reduce the risk of spammer signing up :cool:.


Jamesc :ukflag:

I agree totally. With the recent revolution in free webhosting it isn't hard to get paid quality services and support for no money at all.

[Gen-T]

As an 'individual', I have provided free hosting (and webmaster services) to some non profit sites. I get nothing in return but the satisfaction of knowing I'm helping a good cause. I place no banner ads and I don't make a penny. I even try to promote them (in my signature for example) because they are deserving.

However, if I was going to do that on a much larger scale I would obviously need to find a way to make an income, and perhaps limit the resources (such as mail which has been mentioned).

Free hosting definitely has a place in the industry, but there are a lot of potential hazards involved.

[Gen-T]

BTW, something that bothers me, is when some free hosting providers try to make it seem they are just in the business to do good deeds. Most of the 'companies' that offer free hosting are not doing it out of the goodness of their heart. They place banner ads, and have several other ways of making money off the sites they host. So it's aggravating when somebody says they offer free hosting just to help poor people. If you are placing ads or making a buck in any way, then you are not just trying to help the poor people who can't afford hosting, so please don't insult our intelligence. You are trying to help yourself. There is nothing wrong with that, but call it what it is: a business for profit, like most every hosting company.

[The Dude]

Alot of free hosters like to plaster peeps with ads and stuff like that and alot of them wont give you 100% support cause they say "Its free,what do you expect????"

Im not saying this bout all free hosters,but i have seen this in some of them......Offer them $$$ and WHOA!!!!!! It changes everything!!!

At least it seems like this.........

[LP-Trel]

BTW, something that bothers me, is when some free hosting providers try to make it seem they are just in the business to do good deeds. Most of the 'companies' that offer free hosting are not doing it out of the goodness of their heart. They place banner ads, and have several other ways of making money off the sites they host. So it's aggravating when somebody says they offer free hosting just to help poor people. If you are placing ads or making a buck in any way, then you are not just trying to help the poor people who can't afford hosting, so please don't insult our intelligence. You are trying to help yourself. There is nothing wrong with that, but call it what it is: a business for profit, like most every hosting company.

Some of us aren't solely in it for the money and some are, hard to say which is which. In reality if we were in it for pure profit we sure picked a hell of a hard way to make it. :D

Paid hosting may have its perils too but, it seems alot easier than this sometimes.

[Gen-T]

In reality if we were in it for pure profit we sure picked a hell of a hard way to make it. :D

Hehe... I can't really argue that one too much. :)

[Mike_FWT]

Alot of free hosters like to plaster peeps with ads and stuff like that and alot of them wont give you 100% support cause they say "Its free,what do you expect????"

Im not saying this bout all free hosters,but i have seen this in some of them......Offer them $$$ and WHOA!!!!!! It changes everything!!!

At least it seems like this.........

So you bring up an interesting question:

How much support should one expect with a free webhosting account?

[LP-Trel]

So you bring up an interesting question:

How much support should one expect with a free webhosting account?

As much support as is needed to run a website. ;)

[freerackspace.org]

A few rules of thumb:

1. Get a seperate server for your free clients.
2. Have very clear TOS and AUP.
3. Block a lot of bad IP's
4. Manually accept new accounts, dont enable automated signups.
5. Ban .mp3

[freerackspace.org]

Also, definetely DO NOT give email to customers. Bad Bad Bad idea.