I provide free web hosting at www.grinhost.com. Since we have just started right now we are sandboxed. . Now, it will take some time before we are listed in google and have competitive rankings for say "free php web hosting". Recently I have been doing a lot of grunt work, geting links for my site. Hmm, we have like say 50 external links. But are these worth the effort I put in. Well since it will be some, erm a lot, time before SE send us some traffic. So am I putting in effort at the wrong place, when I am trying hard to get links. My logs say most of my visitors come from the forums I frequent. Should I let the links develop naturally over time?
There are too many webhosting companies to compete with. The best way to get your site noticed is forums and word of mouth. Someone uses you hosting, its cheap and reliable. They see someone else ask for hosting and they will redirect to your page. Don't worry about external links.
That is what I too was thinking. What do you suggest might be under developed niches in free web hosting which might be exploited. It seems every host offers what I offer(php, mysql, cpanel, ad free).
Dont build links for the sake of building links. There are TONS of free hosting directories that you can submit to or pay your way in that will provide you with enough traffic you will never even have to worry about SEO. Just search for "free hosting directory" or something similiar.
Does anyone really used directories to search? If I wanna anything, I just ask SIr Google. As on now most of my visitors are coming from the forums I frequent.