Web Hosting - to Pay or Not to Pay!
by Hemant Mehta
Pay for Web Hosting or Use the Free Web Hosting Portals?
If you are in the process of finding an appropriate host for your site, you must ask yourself “Why should I pay for web hosting when I can get it for free? " The answer of course depends on the business nature of your site. A paid web hosting plan is essential for some sites; while for others, free web hosting might offer all the facilities you need. But which should you choose?
What is Your Objective for Web Hosting?
For those in business, whether they're selling online or simply wish to present a professional "pre-selling" presence, paid hosting is the only option worth considering. In most cases, a paid web hosting plan provides a significantly better service than free hosts. Free web hosting might be ideal for personal homepages. These are sites that do not depend on online advertising or sales revenues. The old saying could not be truer: You get what you pay for!
Web Hosting and Known Pitfalls!
Probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of free web hosting is the proliferation of unwanted ads on all your pages! Most of the free web hosting portals relies solely on ads to earn money and consequently very few offer services that are free of such advertising. Visitors to your site see banner ads on each of your pages or they encounter a pop-up/pop-under banner after each click-through. Whatever the case, these web hosting ads can severely reduce the professionalism of well designed business oriented pages.
Therefore, if you are developing web pages for profitable business, chances are that you are considering paid web hosting. As an experienced business person, you are probably familiar with the frustrations of web hosting your site on a free server.
Consider Web Hosting As a Residential Rented Accommodation!
As you begin your web career, the first step you take is building a web site. Once this is accomplished, you search for ways to promote yourself to the World Wide Web. In the beginning, you may not be too sure of your venture especially if it is introduction of a new product or service. Fair enough! The initial thought is to take a test run for the contemplated business and a free web hosting plan would ideally suit your purpose.
As you experience your target audience accepting your offers, you realize the importance of providing advanced services. This is where paid web hosting scores well above the free web hosting portals.
This is akin to staying with a friend or relative as you begin your working career and once you feel confident and secure, looking for an accommodation of your own! A web hosting is no different! This is where you live your net business and more control you have over the web hosting company, more profits you can reap from your business. To have things free is fine for introductory phases, but professionalism emerges from only a give and take principle!
