Free web hosting, as with so many things in life that looks good from far but is actually far from good, is not something any serious marketer can bank on to achieve online success.

Many people search the internet looking for a free domain name and web site hosting, hoping to find a company that will host their websites for free and provide them with all the tools they need as well as offer them good service at the same time. And they want it all for free...

Most free web hosting companies will give you exactly what you paid for using their services - Nothing!
 

The Eight Main Problems with Free Web Hosting are:

1. Sponsored Advertising

In return for free web hosting some service providers will place banner ads on your site. Would you feel like buying from a site that has a huge banner saying "This site is hosted for free thanks to..."? No, didn't think so.

2. Lack of Credibility

3. Inadequate Featutes

Most hosting service providers will provide you with a comparison chart indicating the features of each package. You will notice that a free web hosting account will normally only have a very small number of features compared with paid hosting plans.

4. Long & Unsightly Domain Name

Some companies do not even give you the opportunity of using your own domain name. Instead you get an address such as freebyhost/sucker.com
where "freebyhost" is the name of the host and "sucker" is your domain!

5. Slow Speed

It has been proven that most people expect a web page to open in under seven seconds. Any longer than that and they click elseware... Free web hosting services do not exactly have an excellent reputation for using fast
and efficient servers.

6. Poor Support

Have a problem with your account? No problem, just go and stand in the back of the line while the paid members get looked after first. Don't expect world class service when you are not prepared to pay a dime for it.

7. Server Problems

Getting traffic to your site is not always easy. Imagine spending a lot of time (and often money as well) getting traffic and when they get to your site the server is down for maintenance or something more serious.

8. Unfavorable Terms & Conditions

Some of the better free web hosting companies such as Doteasy.com offer a good very hosting option but you have to buy a domain name through them or transfer an existing name or account to them.

Often the domain name will cost you more than you can buy it elseware, such as Godaddy, and it is not cheap to transfer an existing domain name or hosting account to them.

However, if you want to make use of a free web hosting then Doteasy is probably your best choice by far, especially if you buy the domain name through them and do not need to transfer anything to them.

Are there any advantages to using free web hosting services?

It all depends on what you need.

To be frank, hosting has become so cheap in recent years that you can find excellent hosting packages for only a couple of dollars per month. By the way, many companies will even host several domains for you on one package at no extra cost.

However, I do understand that many new marketers simply do not have any money to start out with and that a couple of dollars a month can add up over a year.

If this is the case then I suggest you sign up with Doteasy. Last time I looked they charged USD 18 per year to register a domain name of your choice and will provide you with a good free hosting package. You can always upgrade your package to a paid hosting account with more features when you start making money.   

I do however suggest that you have a look at some paid hosting services as well. Draw up your own comparison chart. Choosing a host is a very
important decision. Take your time and make sure you make the right choice. By the way, please let me know if you find a better free hosting service than the one offered by Doteasy...   

O.K. I think that covers free web hosting. If you have not already signed up for my newsletter please take a couple of seconds to sign up below. You will receive an email from me every three days as well as a monthly newsletter full of practical tips and advice.