Is Free Web Hosting Really Free?
Free web hosting vs discount hosting with Yahoo web hosting coupon offers
There are a large number of web hosting companies offering their services for free. That is, they provide space on their servers without charging a fee. Users are able to upload their website content to this space using a relatively simple process. These services are especially attractive to new online businesses which have not yet started to generate profits.
However, although users may not pay a free for this service, the free web hosts retain certain rights which may be detrimental to users. For example, a free web host may impose forced advertising such as banners or pop-ups on a user’s website. In addition, there may be customer service disadvantages resulting from issues such as low bandwidth or lack of clarity in the web host’s terms and conditions. Downtime– the amount of time the server is down– may also be a problem, particularly for online businesses. Because the service is free, technical support may not be a priority for free web hosting companies.
Often, online businesses will find it more advantageous to pay for a reputable web hosting service such as Yahoo. Most web hosting services charge fees ranging from $7 to $13 per month, depending upon the length of time for which the service has been purchased. The fee for a short time such as 3 months will be greater than the fee for a longer time period such as 12 months. Frequently, the fee will include an email address and domain name, in addition to 24/7 support and guaranteed uptime.
Yahoo and other paid web hosting companies often will make their services more affordable using web hosting coupons. These web hosting coupons typically will offer customers three months web hosting services for free or enable them to sign up for a year at a significantly discounted rate. Businesses taking advantage of these deals often find themselves in a better financial position than those using free web hosting services, but who also have suffered losses from extensive downtime or lack of support.