Thoughts & Suggestions

**Sarahlee** · Jan 18th, 2009, 2:21 pm

I was just curious to know the thoughts and suggestions about the offering of free webhosting in exchange for links back/ads. We're thinking about doing this again but with more organization for it this time around. Should we or should we not?

**grim** · Jan 18th, 2009, 3:10 pm

So risky IMO

**GordyMac** · Jan 18th, 2009, 3:37 pm

It can be worth it depending on the sites you host for free and their visitors.. can be very beneficial.. but overall I think it would be hard to get anything going to be really worth while.

**allout** · Jan 18th, 2009, 3:50 pm

I say no. Free hosting even with requirements builds a rep as being inferior. It is hard to go from free to paid after you give away so much free.

I run the other way when I see hosting for free anymore. I have been burnt more than once on free. It cost me nothing in money but a headache in downtimes and trying to transfer out. Those who are looking for free hosting usually are not the best clients to have.

**GordyMac** · Jan 18th, 2009, 3:58 pm

Originally Posted by allout

Those who are looking for free hosting usually are not the best clients to have.

I don't know how much I agree, I guess like the old saying goes tho.. only takes a couple bad ones to ruin it all.

**grim** · Jan 18th, 2009, 4:04 pm

Originally Posted by GordyMac

I don't know how much I agree, I guess like the old saying goes tho.. only takes a couple bad ones to ruin it all.

I fully agree with what he said. I gave hosting away in the past, every time I've had problems. Once 1 spammer caused so much havoc that my own account got axed.

**Autumn** · Jan 18th, 2009, 4:17 pm

There are many still looking for free hosting but I wouldn't make it too publicly known or else you could be open to abuse. There is a Chinese site owner who combs the free hosting forums and when a new URL is posted, it gets added to his site and then all his followers sign up in droves and the host gets so overwhelmed, he shuts up shop quick..

**Sarahlee** · Jan 18th, 2009, 9:12 pm

Alright guys, thank you for all your thoughs n such. I will probably not do it or if I do - limit the hell out of it and keeps tabs on all freebie accounts. Just not sure yet. I mean it seems good to offer it to be nice but like ya'll pointed out - it can be abused easily.

**Autumn** · Jan 19th, 2009, 5:58 pm

You might get a few choice free clients if you limit the offer to say 200MB space and 1GB bandwidth. That's more than enough for a lot of people.

**MikeDVB** · Jan 22nd, 2009, 1:49 am

There are already a lot of free hosts out there that offer fully functional hosting without ads or backlinks. Reference: FreeWebHostingTalk - Powered by vBulletin

Personally I'd stay away from free hosting - it used to be a good thing but spammers/fraudsters have since ruined any real chances at free hosting being useful.

If I were going to personally offer free hosting I would manually screen every account and I would *never* have an account set up automatically.

Good luck!

**grim** · Jan 22nd, 2009, 6:21 am

Originally Posted by MikeDVB

If I were going to personally offer free hosting I would manually screen every account and I would *never* have an account set up automatically.

Good luck!

Good advice, if it was a few trusted individuals it may be 'ok' just not so sure on the reward.

I also definitely would not run it on the same server as my business, as you simply do not know.

**MikeDVB** · Jan 22nd, 2009, 5:43 pm

Originally Posted by grim

I also definitely would not run it on the same server as my business, as you simply do not know.

This is probably one of the best pieces of advice so far beyond simply "don't do it"

**rackedsolutions** · Jan 30th, 2009, 4:33 pm

Id recommend offering free hosting to projects/charities ect because they are "good sites" and wont abuse your space, also usually these sites hold good weight in google