Captain Tycoon

I am thinking of starting a host, but i don't know which type, either Free or Paid? The paid market is quite saturated now and i personally think it would be hard for all new hosts to get customers for the first 6 months?

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bizwiz

I think you should go with free. Once you have enough members you can stat charging for money.

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Hunter1

If it is a Safe and Secure FREE server then why not!! I would make sure that you have access to your database though as I know of a few companies that DO NOT allow you to have that access unless you pay$$$$

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puffin

There is a huge competition and unless you get customers directly it would be really hard. Its same for free hosting too. even if you gonna do hosting of posting type it will take months before you start earn something. Those things are long term stuff.

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daredevil

if you are on the verge of starting your career,then first try a free host,when you have become a little experienced then go for the paid one

Captain Tycoon

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm thinking of providing a small free hosting package and the rest of the packages will be paid. Is that a better idea?

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sunken

The best advice is for you to analyze your business model and make sure that it is solid enough. Consider all things, including what happens when things break. Customer service is a big part of what makes or breaks a company and even on free hosts, they are customers that will potentially be paid hopefully in the future if they are treated right.

ketum

How can you earn money by giving free hosting?

Maybe you will try a "post-to-host" system? Or will you put forced ads which is pretty bad for many websites?

Probably you want to show your hosting by free customers and then you will try paid membership? This could be nice. But directly paid systems need much more "trust" and there are many big hosting services for paid and trusted

karthikeyan

You should not charge for the Free users you may start charging for new customers :)

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The Technology Guide

john

Any thing you do i will suggest you to be honest with users and resources that you offer. Do not offer things that in the long run you may not be able to offer. If you do free hosting do not overload your server coz if get members they will soon leave. Ads on pages don't work since nobody wants ads on his page. Host for post seems a good idea.. if you can afford it.

cnedy2

I think you should make it free for 2 first mothns, and if they like it they would need to pay for more months to use your host. It is only my opinion but do what you think is better.

tbl

I think you should offer free and paid, though it may be more difficult to run.

Captain Tycoon

Why is that? I think that the free hosting service could be more automated.

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AHA7

If you want my advice, then stay away from the web hosting market. It's too competitive and chances for you to succeed in it are the least, unless you have an amaging marketing idea.

bizwiz

You could try an innovative marketing idea that even if you offer paid hosting people will still flock to you.

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mntor

Initially few months of free hosting and then you can ask them to pay little or bring some new customers.

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rashas8

At first try free :)

Neusha G.

I think you should start up with Paid and Free.

The way I see it, is that many people will start up with the free, then if they see the service is good, and they need more space/bandwidth, they will upgrade.

The company that I am with for free, Awardspace. I have had many accounts with them, Free and paid. They got my attention from their offer of having a free account.

Later on if you think that your traffic and business has grown, and made a good name for yourself, then you can discontinue the free account offers to new customers only.

Just my opnion. :D

mountlaurel

i agree with you totally... for newbie webmasters like me.. i better go on free and then after earning more.. i will go now for paid.

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domainer50

The hosting market has been saturated for years. I personally wouldnt go into it unless you have some serious capital behind it.