How to Get Free Web Hosting

Everyone's on the Internet these days--from grandmothers sharing recipes to the kid down the street whose website details her babysitting services. Take the plunge and set up a website of your own--you won't have to pay a cent. Many companies offer free web hosting. Whether you want to promote your business or just stay in touch with friends, getting a free website is just a few clicks away. Read on to learn how to get free web hosting.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check whether your Internet service provider already offers you a free website. Many times the company that connects you to the Internet not only gives you several email addresses with your account, but also gives you web space. If your ISP does offer web hosting, get the specifics of the deal--although there's no extra charge, you might end up with a tough limit on space or a long, clumsy URL.

2. Use popular free web hosting companies like Bravenet, Geocities through Yahoo! and FreeWebs. Before you sign up, get the details on what exactly you're getting for free. Sometimes you'll get a page on the host's massive directory of websites for free, but if you want your own domain name, you'll have to pay. Other times both the domain name and hosting will be free--for a trial period.

3. Open a MySpace or Facebook account if you want free web hosting for personal use. You can customize your profile to contain the information you want to share. If you need a website for professional reasons, stick with free web hosting companies.

4. Compare the options offered by your ISP, free web hosting businesses and websites like MySpace. See which package best fits your needs. Take into account whether your free website includes banner ads, links to advertising or will have a lengthy, hard to remember URL. Choose the program that best suits your needs.

5. Follow directions to set up your website. Many companies offer free design templates as well to make your little slice of the Internet as attractive and easy to navigate as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Free websites often have little or no tech support and might not be as reliable as web hosting companies that require payment.
• You might end up with very low Internet security plus unwanted spam emails as a result of signing up for a free website.

[pastaprize]

on 4/23/2009 While I agree some free web hosts may be poor quality, not all should be lumped into that category. I have been using www.myownfreeweb.com for years and they have always been a great provider. I have my website there and get plenty of space for my files, plenty of bandwidth, free email, a free domain and one click installs on my favorite apps. I would suggest anyone that needs a free web site and a free domain should check them out.