Free Web Sites
A Guide to Free Web Hosting Options

Introduction

• Overview of free web sites
• Who qualifies for free web site hosting
• Disadvantages of free web site hosting

Get Yourself a FREE Web Site

• Best Providers of Free Web Sites
• Steps Required for a Free Web Site

Free Web Sites Overview

Free web pages can be easily obtained. It is possible to build and maintain a web site without having to purchase anything; no domain name registration fees, no monthly hosting fee, nothing. Free web hosting takes only minutes to sign up for and the free web pages can be updated with new or fresh information at any time.

Who Qualifies for Free Web Site Hosting?

• Personal
• Family
• Special Occasions or Announcements
• Hobbyist & Special Interest
• Clubs, Organizations and Associations
• Online Business Card

Disadvantages of free web sites and free web site hosting may include all, or some of the following:

• Intrusive banner ads or pop-up windows.
  
  Solution: Search the directories for services that do not require these ads.



• Hidden credit card transaction and merchant account setup fees.
  
  Solution: Ask upfront. Try to find the best deal.



• You may want to create and upload your own site without being forced to use the online point and click tools provided by the free service.
  
  Solution: Search the directories for services that do allow you to upload your own stuff and forego their tools and templates.



• You may want to edit the underlying HTML code in order to fine tune the meta tags for search engine recognition.
  
  Solution: Search the directories for services that do allow you to edit the underlying html.



• You may want to use your own personally selected domain name (e.g., www.yourname.com) instead of a subdomain (e.g., www.freeservice.com/yourname/).
  
  Solution: Search the directories for services that allow you to use your own domain name as the site's address. This will incur the cost of the domain name registration (see DOMAIN REGISTRARS for best price).



• Unreliable tech support.
  
  Solution: Ask ahead of time about the tech support situation. Despite claims, some hosting services are not very responsive. Search the directories for services that provide better tech support ratings.



• Inability to move your website to another hosting service without a hassle particularly if the host's online point and click templates were used to build the website.
  
  Solution: Ask ahead of time if this is going to be a problem.

Best Providers of Free Web Site Hosting

Experts Advice

100 Best Free Web Space Providers
CNET report recommends 100 Best Free Web Space Providers as a top resource for locating the internet's best free web hosting services.

Free Web Site Hosting Directories

thefreecountry.com
Free web site hosting directory sorted according to the features they provide.

FreeWebspace.net
Allows you to search an extensive database of free website hosting services according to various search criteria.

FreeWebSpaceFinder
Allows you to search an extensive database of free website hosting services according to various search criteria.

Special Free Web Site Hosting for Non-Profit Organizations

OrgSites.com
FREE Websites for Nonprofites and Noncommercial Groups. NO banner ads! Free inclusion into The OrgSites Directory!

Steps Required
for a Free Web Hosting Web Site

The HOME page lists the seven (7) steps necessary for the successful creation and management of websites and these apply to free websites as well but with the following considerations:

Step 1 - Design

If you are using point and click tools provided by a free web hosting provider then you can skip this step because your choices are limited to the appearances of the various templates that are being offered.

Step 2 - Requirements Analysis

If you are using point and click tools provided by a free web hosting provider then you can skip this step.

Step 3 - Domain Name

If you are satisfied with the use of a subdomain name which is provided for free by most free web hosting providers (see Domain Names) then you can skip this step.

Step 4 - Host Selection

See Best Providers of Free Web Pages above.

Step 5 - Development

If you are using point and click tools provided by a free web hosting provider then you can skip this step.

Step 6 - Promotion

Promotion concerns are specific to each type of basic website ( Personal, Family, Special Occasion, Hobbyist, Clubs, Organizations, Online Business Card, E-COMMERCE ); refer to their pages for specific instructions.

Step 7 - Management

no change.