Should I use a free host

Free host or paid hosting and real domain.

[Andrea]

Hi,

Can you tell me if it's allright to start a website business with free web hosting and then eventually upgrade to paid hosting with a domain name? If I do take this direction, should I get my own domain name from the start or can I get one later on? What do you think I should do?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Andrea

[txbakers]

Domain names are very inexpensive. They are your store name. If you want to establish a retail business, you'd spend the money to put up a sign with your name on it and not rely on someone elses name.

Spend the money, invest in your self.

Even paid hosting is very reasonable these days. You can start out "right" without spending a lot of money. You won't regret it.

But starting a business, even a web business, requires an investment. You can minimize it, but there are no free rides.

[stapel]

Hosting really doesn't cost that much. If you're hoping your site gets big, it could even be counter-productive to start with freebie hosting, because, by the time you get recognition and in-links and search-engine listings, your freebie host will kick you off because of excessive bandwidth. (Trust me: I've gone through this.) So make a clean start with your own domain name. You'll be grateful, in the long run.

Eliz.

[Rolozo]

but be careful in selecting web host.
Because there are big number of dull and silly web hosts.
So be careful.
<snip>

[edited by: mack at 9:03 pm (utc) on Aug. 29, 2005]
[edit reason] Lets keep it in the forums. [/edit]

[etechsupport]

Free webhost is not good in long run, however if you've thought to shift to paid one later it can be good.
You can select a free webhosting company through searching in webhostdir.com or in google.

[ultimasurf]

To start a business you need capital.
To start e-business("website business") you need a domain name. That is the first thing you need to have. After that you need a web server to host your site, etc. No one is willing to do business with you if you do not have your own domain name and web site. Ask yourself: Are you willing to do business with www.geocities.com(or freewebhosting.com)/tomdickandharrywebbusinessincorporation?

Furthermore, many free web hosting companies out there do not allow you to use their free services to do business. You need to check their terms of service. Also, you do not have control over the advertisements they placed at your site. What if they place an advertisement of your competitors?

Domain name can be bought under US$10 per year and you can also host your site under US$10 per month. So, make sure that these are included in your budget. What if the businees name you used for your online business is taken by someone later after he or she saw your success? Imagine that Amazon hosted their site at Geocities. Don't you think that someone out there might have grabbed that domain name from Jeff Bezos? I hope you get the picture.

May you have success with your online business.

[adwatson]

Get a cheap domain name and a cheap host (I've heard that <snip> is good, never tried them as we have our own server) - total cost up front will probably be well under $20 I would guess. Hosting is cheap cheap cheap these days :)

[edited by: mack at 8:56 pm (utc) on Sep. 12, 2005]
[edit reason] No specifics please. [/edit]

[mack]

The biggest problem I can see with any free service it it might be here today, but will it be here, tomorrow or next week. If you intend to base your business around your website then you really need to think about getting a propper domain name and a paid web hostign account.

Never rely on anythign thats free.

Mack.

[BradleyT]

Like others have said - don't use a free host. I would never buy something from "tripod.com/somecheesysite".

The only thing I would keep in mind for hosting is what type of shopping cart software you'll use in the future. Some require windows hosting, some require linux hosting.

For windows I'd recommend <snip>. My company has over 90 websites hosted there and we rarely have problems and when we do they get resolved pretty fast. Discountasp.net is also pretty good. Stay away from Interland.

Can't help you with linux hosting as we're a Micro$oft only shop where I work.

[edited by: mack at 8:55 pm (utc) on Sep. 12, 2005]
[edit reason] No specifics please ;-) [/edit]

[chopin2256]

Can you tell me if it's allright to start a website business with free web hosting and then eventually upgrade to paid hosting with a domain name?

It is impossible to transfer your success to your new domain name on someone elses website (the free host's). The free host is actually benefitting from your success (they have ads). You cannot take that success and put it onto your new domain if you do well. Be prepared to stay on geocities if you are doing well.