Got Host?

[werewe12]

This is my debate... Lets say just for example, I want to start 10 blogs... Should I pay for my own hosting, or go with free hosting? What are the advantages and disadvantages? In my opinion both of them have advantages and disadvantages...

---------------------------------------------
Free Hosting - Advantages
-Free!
-User friendly
-Free advertising within the network

Disadvantages
-limited space/functions

---------------------------------------------

Self-Host- Advantages
-Unlimited space
-you set your own options
-more back-end ability

Disadvantages
-you dont get the support and promotion within the network
-----------------------------------------------

What do you guys think?

[Bloggeries]

I think it all depends on the individual blogger. Someone new needs something easy and cheap / free should go with free hosting. Someone who is experienced on the net and or really serious about making a super blog and sticking with it should go with a self-host route. You can always go to self host from free hosting so I'd say a great place to start is free hosting but if you see it picking up and really go for it; do yourself a favour and get a domain! If you ever need any help we're here for you.

Originally Posted by werewe12

This is my debate... Lets say just for example, I want to start 10 blogs... Should I pay for my own hosting, or go with free hosting? What are the advantages and disadvantages? In my opinion both of them have advantages and disadvantages...

---------------------------------------------
Free Hosting - Advantages
-Free!
-User friendly
-Free advertising within the network

Disadvantages
-limited space/functions

---------------------------------------------

Self-Host- Advantages
-Unlimited space
-you set your own options
-more back-end ability

Disadvantages
-you dont get the support and promotion within the network
-----------------------------------------------

What do you guys think?

[jshaffstall]

A first-time blogger should absolutely go with free hosting. If they don't know whether they're going to like it or stick with it, why spend money on it? I have a three-part series on my blog about setting up Wordpress on JustFree.com, which gives you an experience similar to paid hosting, but for free.

I'm the sort that likes to have complete control over things, though, so I always go for paid hosting.

Jay

[Wordpress_guy]

This is my debate... Lets say just for example, I want to start 10 blogs... Should I pay for my own hosting, or go with free hosting? What are the advantages and disadvantages? In my opinion both of them have advantages and disadvantages...

Firstly decide what you really want? for free hosting, of course you can make money from it. but you can express yourself.
If you have your own domain name, you can make money and can customize whatever you want with your own theme or add plugin.
However, right now there is free hosting offer shared ads ravenue for you make money from blogging. unfortunatelly I forget which hosting is it. I will tell you later when I remember.

[werewe12]

I will be adding an "ad revenue sharing program" to RB pretty soon here.

[epodz]

I own epodz.com, which is a free blog host with fully customizable templates and many features. You can signup and forward your domain over your ePODZ address!

[_xhan]

I never knew about free blog hosting when I started out so I went straight for the hosting option but tbh free sites werent readilyavailable back then any way but hosting was definitely the best option for me!

Theres some really good plans out there. i just prefer having my own space so I have control over it, free hosts don't give you FTP access which is no fun so you can't upload random things!

If you've never everr had a site before go for free to get a feel of things even if you just sign up to wordpress.com or blogger.com and get to know it then progress to hosting.

[jshaffstall]

Originally Posted by _xhan

i just prefer having my own space so I have control over it, free hosts don't give you FTP access which is no fun so you can't upload random things!

JustFree.com is a free host that does allow you FTP access. It's basically like a mini-paid host, but without the fee.

I still prefer paid hosting, though. When the server goes down, I want someone on the other end of a trouble ticket who's being paid to respond quickly.

Jay

[rhyswynne]

I made the switch to fully maintained with MySQL databases and PHP hosting last year.

I can't believe how I survived without it!

[_xhan]

Originally Posted by rhyswynne

I made the switch to fully maintained with MySQL databases and PHP hosting last year.

I can't believe how I survived without it!

It took me long enough to bully you into wordpress!