Free webhosting business

Discussion in 'General Business' started by simon369, May 27, 2007.

  1. #1
    does anybody see any profit to be add by doing a free we hosting service where people either post2host or have adds on the top of their pages

    Whats your opinions

    Thanks
     
    simon369, May 27, 2007 IP
  2. ktutorials

    ktutorials Peon

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    #2
    post 2 host is a good but if it has points.. then it will be better... since points can be transferred... that makes member feel precious for each point they get...
     
    ktutorials, May 27, 2007 IP
  3. 101freehost

    101freehost Peon

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    #3
    I just launched my Free hosting business (www.101freehost.com)
    I just have a small text link at the bottom of users pages going back to my site 101freehost.com . Income is from adsense and an affiliate programme. Its early days but have had lots of signups.

    Dave.
     
    101freehost, May 27, 2007 IP
  4. simon369

    simon369 Active Member

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    #4
    Thaks for your help, also would it be relatively easy to change a forum to add a point structure or would it be ok just chaging the name of the post count to points because i have a script that automatically does the post2host thing and keeps a i on the post count but i think if i didnt use posts and used points it might not work anymore

    and 101freehost where do you actually put the adsense to make money from it.
     
    simon369, May 27, 2007 IP
  5. ktutorials

    ktutorials Peon

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    #5
    no mate.. if u use vB 3.6.4 or before u can use icash for points... it will make point for each post as you provide...:)
     
    ktutorials, May 27, 2007 IP
  6. simon369

    simon369 Active Member

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    #6
    Thanks

    Do you believe it can be profitable

    my plan has 3 ways to make money give people the best variety of options:
    post2host
    forced ads
    pay like a $1 a month and dont have to do anything

    Also do you think theres a problems with overselling loads because most people dont use as much space as you give them and transfer etc
     
    simon369, May 27, 2007 IP
  7. 101freehost

    101freehost Peon

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    #7
    My adsense is in the hosting control panel of each users account. I'm gonna add it to the rest of the site shortly also. there is a lot of competition in this though and I've just launched so not sure revenue wise of how well I'll do.
     
    101freehost, May 27, 2007 IP
  8. xenergy

    xenergy Active Member

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    #8
    A lot of internet newbie will love to try a free host as a start point, so the demand is always there. It just a matter of how you positioning (differentiate) your service in this competitive market. Post2host is using 'point' as it's differentiation in the market.

    So, my opinion is find your own unique differentiation, then you'll be more than just survive :)
     
    xenergy, May 28, 2007 IP
  9. Vizon

    Vizon Well-Known Member

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    #9
    I tried this once, but unless you have a dedi and are willing to pay for it then go for it!
     
    Vizon, May 28, 2007 IP
  10. newrhodes

    newrhodes Active Member

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    #10

    I'd say there's long term profit potential, especially if you have other complementary products (or even paid hosting) to offer the members. Short term, it'll probably just about break even or run a small loss.

    If you have costs covered for the next year, go for it...
     
    newrhodes, May 28, 2007 IP
  11. simon369

    simon369 Active Member

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    #11
    Thanks a lot to everybody for your help, im thinking of getting stuff ready to launchin a week or 2, just designing the website etc

    1 last thing on post2host what would you say is a reasonable amount of posts required per month

    e.g. not to much they dont want to but enough that it keeps the forum busy.

    thanks
     
    simon369, May 28, 2007 IP
  12. eXe

    eXe Notable Member

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    #12
    Post to host run in combination with a paid posting service can turn out to be profitable. You will need to devise a way to only host people who can make quality posts (tailored testing maybe?).

    Large obtrusive ads on top of pages aren't very alluring. Small text links in the footer sound better, and resell those text links...;)

    Be sure to implement some sort of maximum-outgoing-emails-per-hour limit to deter spammers from misusing the service. Or better yet, do not run a mail server at all. See hosted gmail.
     
    eXe, May 28, 2007 IP
  13. simon369

    simon369 Active Member

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    #13
    I agree with the big banner thing but is there much money in small text links

    Also i was planning on not allowing the free accounts to have email and only the paid ones to be allowed email

    Also i have had a traffic building idea and that is that i will run weekly or monthly competitions where i choose the best person from the forum using amount and quality of posts and that person gets a free .com/.net/.org domain name and adless hosting for a year

    that will encourage people not to spam and bring in traffic

    Would you say it will really put people off if i had forced banners at the top of the page but they can opt out of that if they go with the post to host option
     
    simon369, May 28, 2007 IP
  14. eXe

    eXe Notable Member

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    #14
    I think so yes it will put people off as there are too many similar free hosts and there isn't a good reason for them to choose you (just starting) unless you are offering something else which is very tempting.
     
    eXe, May 28, 2007 IP
  15. simon369

    simon369 Active Member

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    #15
    Thanks this is helping loads

    sorry if im being a pain lol

    would a thin bar acros the top advertising the free host and nothing else be ok and then a thicker bar at the bottom with text links or thin banners in be ok cos nobody really minds about the bottom do they?
     
    simon369, May 28, 2007 IP
  16. eXe

    eXe Notable Member

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    #16
    Try it :)
     
    eXe, May 28, 2007 IP
  17. 101freehost

    101freehost Peon

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    #17
    a lot of free webhost have zero advertising, plus a lot of free webhosting directories do not list post2host sites either as a matter of policy.
     
    101freehost, May 28, 2007 IP
  18. me4you

    me4you Well-Known Member

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    #18
    thanks for your Idea, near future i 'll make a business like you !


    thanks a lot !
     
    me4you, May 28, 2007 IP