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Frequently Asked
Questions
Why not use a "free" web site?
Because the "cost" of
"free" is too high in our book! We all know there's no
free lunch. So what's you're really asking is, "What's the catch with
a "free" web site?" Well, they are as many and varied
as there are "free" servers out there. Here's a few that we're aware of,
but we're also sure that while we were busy writing this someone came up with a
brand new catch to burn you that's never been thought of before! Most "free" sites require one or more
annoying advertising banners on your site! Many who say "no banners required" are now
employing "pop-under" advertising windows,
so you don't really know what caused them to open! And they are not
required to disclose that since it does not appear on your site! Almost all sell your domain email addresses to bulk
email advertisers, (spammers!). Some capture information from everyone who visits
your site! We recently became aware that one "free" web host, laughingly
named ZeroCatch, (www.0catch.com), actually puts
adware/spyware in the system of every
user who visits one of their customer's "free" sites. Without that
visitors permission,
of course. Do you really want to do that to your customers? Some
only host
sub-domains. So your URL would be a mile
long, like
www.freehost.com/users/personal/yourbusiness.htm. Think you'll get
many site visitors? Some do host
primary domains for "free", and even
graciously offer to register your domain for you. How nice.
Until you decide to change web hosts, and find out you
can't transfer the
domain since it's registered in the "free" host's name.
After all, they paid for it! So, unless you want to buy
back your own domain name, (for big dollars, incidentally), you have to find, register, and familiarize
all your customers with a new
"second choice" domain and business email address in order to
get off their server! And
finally, most every "free" host is deathly slow.
Either too much traffic for their hardware, or not enough bandwidth connecting
them to the internet. But don't take our word for it.
Click here, (and scroll to bottom of page), to have a performance test run
by NetMechanic.com. They'll monitor that "free" server for 8 hours, and
email you the results. Then click here to
compare their server to ours. We earned that "Star Performer" logo at the
top of our pages.
The bottom line is that although no "free" host that
we're aware of is guilty of all the above sins, we're also not aware of any that
are guilty of none! So the question is then, do you really want to put up
with even one of these issues just to avoid $7.95 a month?
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