Free Hosting: Free Hosting or Not?
With each new day, the world of tech is evolving, changing, and progressing at a breakneck speed. Albeit, this much-needed technological progress comes with a hefty price tag – usually in the form of either money or time. Nevertheless, with the evolution of cloud-based computing and content management systems, setting up a blog or a website has become an almost instantaneous process that offers an almost endless array of options and customization.
In the grand scheme of things, creating a blog or a website for your business can cost you money (in terms of software and hosting fees), but it can also save you money in terms of time and effort. In addition to providing you with the all-important online presence that projects your brand, the convenience of having a site that generates revenue in real-time is unmatched. Furthermore, the option to run an uncluttered, streamlined blog or a well-designed, multipurpose website is now just a click away.
So, is free hosting worth it?
Free Versus Paid
Prior to answering this question, it’s important to first establish what exactly we mean by “free hosting.” Most individuals, companies, and organizations that offer web hosting as a service classify the plan as either free or paid, sometimes even offering a “try it free” option that expires after a certain period of time. Essentially, what this means is that the provider offers a low-cost solution (usually in the form of either a free or discounted domain name and web hosting) with the understanding that you, the customer, will have to pay for the service you receive via an affiliate marketing program or some other monetized method.
This type of arrangement is commonly known as “free hosting,” and, as the name would suggest, you’re not actually purchasing anything when you receive this type of service. Instead, you’re renting space on a server that’s owned and operated by the organization or company that provides you with the service. In return, you agree to promote their products and services, usually via a blog or website that you create in their name.
Although this type of hosting is largely considered “free,” it isn’t really all that free. First off, you have to consider the cost of the actual server space rental. In most cases, this will be somewhat expensive. Also, the cost of the domain name is typically considered “free,” but it’s still a one-time expense that will have to be borne by you. The cost of web hosting itself is typically a monthly expense that must be paid for by you regardless of whether you use the service or not.
Paid Versus Free
Now that we’ve cleared up the confusion surrounding what constitutes “free hosting,” it’s time to address the more important question: Is paid hosting better than free hosting? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, the most notable and relevant of which are:
– How much are you willing to spend?
Paid hosting is generally considered to be better than free hosting for those who are looking to create a professional-quality blog or website. The reason being is that professional-quality blogs and websites usually require a fairly high end, expensive piece of equipment (usually in the form of a dedicated server) that can absorb and process a lot of web traffic and still keep up with demand.
On the other hand, shared hosting is suitable for those who are just entering the world of blogging or website creation and are looking for an affordable solution that won’t burden them with intensive hardware requirements.
The bottom line is that you have to consider what’s important to you before choosing between paid and free hosting. If cost is your primary concern, then paid hosting is undoubtedly your best option. However, if you’re looking for an affordable solution that doesn’t require a ton of technical knowledge to setup and run, then shared hosting may be a better fit.
Is Free Hosting Worth It?
So, now that we’ve established the fact that paid hosting is generally considered to be better than free hosting, the question remains: Is free hosting worth it? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, the most notable and relevant of which are:
– Your revenue goals and expectations.
In most cases, those who opt for the free hosting option don’t do so consciously. However, in choosing this option, you’re essentially gambling that others will be able to gain value from the site you create in their name. In most cases, this means that you’re foregoing the payment of royalties and advertsorial fees for the use of your creative work, along with the one-time cost associated with acquiring a quality domain name.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to create a professional-quality blog or website, then paying for the service is something that you have to consider. In most cases, the revenue that you’ll be able to gain from the site will be more than sufficient to recoup your investment. In addition, if you decide to go this route and promote affiliate products and services via a blog or website, you’ll be able to utilize various free and paid tools and tactics to optimize your revenue.
When To Pay For Web Hosting
Another factor that impacts the relative value of paid versus free hosting is when you should pay for web hosting. On the surface, the answer to this question seems rather straightforward: when should you pay for web hosting? The answer, however, is less clear-cut. In most cases, you should pay for web hosting as soon as you’ve settled on a name for your blog or website. In most cases, this will be because at this point you’ll have a good idea of what you’re dealing with in terms of the design and functionality of the site. In other words, paying for web hosting will ensure that you have access to a highly-reliable, professional-grade service that can take the weight of serious traffic and processing power.
On the other hand, if you’ve chosen a name for your blog or website and don’t have a clear idea of what you’re dealing with in terms of the design and functionality of the site, then paying for web hosting may not be the wisest choice. In these situations, it’s usually best to opt for the free hosting option and learn as you go.
Additional Considerations
As we mentioned above, the relative costs and benefits of paid versus free hosting is often a matter of personal preference and, in many cases, comes down to a matter of revenue goals and expectations. Nevertheless, there are a number of additional considerations that you should make in choosing between these two options. These include, but are not limited to:
– The type of content that you’ll be publishing.
One of the primary differences between paid and free hosting that must be mentioned is the fact that paid hosting provides you with the flexibility to choose the kind of content that you’ll be posting. In general, you’ll have the choice between blogging platforms (typically considered to be more flexible and customizable) and CMSes (content management systems).
When it comes to choosing a blog platform, you have to weigh your options carefully. For example, if you decide that WordPress is the platform of choice for you, you’ll need to consider the cost and commitment associated with this decision. In most cases, WordPress offers a free version that you can use for your personal blog or website. However, if you plan on using this platform professionally, you’ll need to consider paying for a premium version.
On the other hand, if you decide that you’d like to go with a CMS, then you have a variety of options to choose from. The most popular and one of the most powerful CMSes is called “WooCommerce.” Similar to WordPress, WooCommerce offers a free version that can be downloaded and used for free. In most cases, opting for a CMS will significantly reduce the cost of web hosting and maintenance.
Final Takeaway
In summary, creating a blog or a website is a useful and valuable tool for any business or individual looking to establish an online presence. In most cases, the decision to go this route is a strategic one that can help you to better connect with customers and position your business favorably in the eyes of potential buyers. Nevertheless, before making this important decision, it’s imperative to weigh the costs and benefits associated with each option.