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Free Hosting
At first, free hosting sounds like a simple choice, but in reality there are a number of pitfalls that you can expect to encounter. Unlike paid hosting services, free hosting providers usually do not have the resources of top quality service, nor do they enter into a "service level agreement" with their customers; you have therefore no guarantees when it comes to your hosting service. That is why it is important to do research before you make your first, a free host for your site. Some of the factors that must be considered when choosing a free hosting provider reliability, uptime, features, and ease of migration to a new host.
When selecting a free host, it is important to choose one that's been around for a decent amount of time. Typically, the best method is to search Google (or your favorite search engine) for terms such as "free hosting" and "free webhosting". The hosts that are in the top positions for these phrases are usually those who find the test of time have passed. You will also find some free hosting directories like "free Webhosts" and "absolutely free Hosting". These sites are also useful when finding a provider, such as they rate them based on features and reliability. Once you have narrowed your choice to a few free hosting providers, you can search for reviews on these hosts before making a final choice.
You should also consider the features you need to create your new Web site, such as programming languages, databases, and domain names. At a minimum, make sure you point to a host that has PHP and MySQL support, offers like these the most common features needed for building websites these days. Also, if you plan on using your own domain, which you must, make sure the free host allows you to host your own domain. It is best to prevent a host that you are using a subdomain or subdirectory on the basis of their domain name. You need your own domain from the beginning so that you build Pagerank and search engine listings for your own brand search.
Finally, consider your long-term objectives. Probably if your site has reached a certain level that you'll decide to go to a paid hosting provider. Most paid hosting providers are using the control panel "cPanel" for their hosting platforms. Selecting a free host that uses "cPanel" is a good choice, since migrating to a new host is simplified. You just have to create a backup archive using the included tools which you can then upload it to the new host for your site. Once completed you just have your domain point to the new provider and you are done.
After the steps in this article, you should be well on your way to finding a quality free webhost.
When selecting a free host, it is important to choose one that's been around for a decent amount of time. Typically, the best method is to search Google (or your favorite search engine) for terms such as "free hosting" and "free webhosting". The hosts that are in the top positions for these phrases are usually those who find the test of time have passed. You will also find some free hosting directories like "free Webhosts" and "absolutely free Hosting". These sites are also useful when finding a provider, such as they rate them based on features and reliability. Once you have narrowed your choice to a few free hosting providers, you can search for reviews on these hosts before making a final choice.
You should also consider the features you need to create your new Web site, such as programming languages, databases, and domain names. At a minimum, make sure you point to a host that has PHP and MySQL support, offers like these the most common features needed for building websites these days. Also, if you plan on using your own domain, which you must, make sure the free host allows you to host your own domain. It is best to prevent a host that you are using a subdomain or subdirectory on the basis of their domain name. You need your own domain from the beginning so that you build Pagerank and search engine listings for your own brand search.
Finally, consider your long-term objectives. Probably if your site has reached a certain level that you'll decide to go to a paid hosting provider. Most paid hosting providers are using the control panel "cPanel" for their hosting platforms. Selecting a free host that uses "cPanel" is a good choice, since migrating to a new host is simplified. You just have to create a backup archive using the included tools which you can then upload it to the new host for your site. Once completed you just have your domain point to the new provider and you are done.
After the steps in this article, you should be well on your way to finding a quality free webhost.
