Is everything free a bad idea?

So far as I can see, professional websites pay for their hosting / domain / software. But there are quite a few no-ads free hosts etc. Why don't people "in the know" use free things?

Some friends have "volunteered" me to do "the technical bits" about setting up a new forum for local garden enthusiasts. It probably will never get very big.

First thoughts were to do it all for free.

a) Free ad-free webhosting from x10hosting.com, or from byethost.com or hostcell.net.
b) Domain name from co.cc or .tk for free.
c) Forum software from MyBB or phpBB is free.

But if free is a good idea, why don't the "grown ups" (like this forum) do it?

[Join us @ facebook]

I guess mostly because you can't have high expectations from something you get for free, but open source software is another story

Well, that can be true. But (and I am not being argumentative for the sake of it) I remember doing some paid-for work just good enough to satisfy the boss, but some things I did for free I took real pride in. Same thing as in some open-source software beats some commercial.

No other replies?

Was this the wrong forum to ask these questions?

[Join us @ facebook]

Open source is a whole different thing than a free service. A free service is provided by a company which - obviously - has to cut costs and probably the service level in order to keep providing for free something that their competitors probably offer it for a price tag.

On the other hand open source is a community effort where several people from around the community contribute in any way they can in order to make a product better. In many cases this can even compete with serious business and there are many examples. For instance in the server market linux, apache, mysql, php and other open source products are more successful than their proprietary competitors.

Well... that is a compelling point. People who contribute to open source software are just giving time. People who offer free hosting are paying for the services that they are giving away.

However, are they paying so much that it is beyond a hobbyist or enthusiast or someone who just wants to help the community? Perhaps advertising revenue, from members visiting the host forum for support and advice etc, would cover this.

It strikes me that the biggest overhead of paid-for hosting is that they may have to pay people to provide professional 24/7 support. With free hosting, you can let members make-do with help from volunteer moderators.

Another argument is that free hosting can be a worthwhile loss-leader to get members to upgrade to a premium service when their sites get bigger and they need more resouces and professional support.

Any more replies?

I've asked the same question elsewhere, and I plan to post back with a summary of all the best points made. (It may help other new users, I hope!)

In my experience "you get what you pay for"

In my experience "you get what you pay for"

Not always!

In my time I've sold superb stuff at bargain prices. Another time I've sold near-rubbish at exorbitant prices.

In this place we got only good idea for business, news and updates. So.............

In this place we got only good idea for business, news and updates. So.............

Many thanks for spamming my thread.

Just my two cents: Open Source does not mean "Open Service". These two are really separate things. Open Source software may be good, better and even the best - because his authors may make money in other ways (courses, teaching how to use this software and so on). On the other hand authors can hardly make money from their "Open Service" - and that's why free hostings are most often given only with ads and are not perfect.

Hi,

In my opinion, there are many aspect that have to be considered. But the most important one is to realize that what is offered as free often isn't exactly free.

Everything has a price in this world. The best "free" services are going to be the one that are not free in the way most people think about it.

This isn't very clear, so I'll try with an example:

Gmail is a "free" service offered by google.

But it's only part of the truth, because even if you are not paying anything to use Gmail, it still has a price... the content of your emails are scanned for keywords, wich later are used to display targeted ads right in gmail and google (try and send a dummy email using keywords such as "vacation on the beach for the week-end" and you'll start seing lots of ads related to your keywords showing up in gmail). Your privacy might seems like a very small price to pay in order to use a service such as gmail, but this shows you that even if things seem to be "free" they might not be.

The free stuff that does in reality cost you something is the most reliable free stuff you can use simply because the companies do have an interest in having their services as reliable and secure as possible.

In my opinion, "free" can be used, as long as you know what it really does cost to you (privacy, reliability, etc...) and if it will not hold you back from reaching your objectives. In many cases, people spend money in things because if you are serious about what you are doing, you want the people you work with and rely on to be as serious as you are... which isn't always the case with free stuff.

I understand this does not help much answer your question but at least if shows that free stuff  isn't always free and that some free services are going to be more reliable than other simply because of their business model.

I'll follow this thread as I'm looking forward to reading the summary of all the best points made.

... Gmail, it still has a price... the content of your emails are scanned for keywords, wich later are used to display targeted ads right in gmail and google...

I'm surprised that that is not more widely known!

[Just Visit...]

... Gmail, it still has a price... the content of your emails are scanned for keywords, wich later are used to display targeted ads right in gmail and google...

I'm surprised that that is not more widely known!

Yes, most free e-mail programs even yahoo use bots to scrape contents to allow a more user targeted advertising. You may also notice that like yahoo, some of your e-mail words are automatically linked to an advert.

As far as free goes, like with me for example, customers pay for premium design, but they do get free domains and hosting for a year for example. So not all things free are bad.

If you prefer free hosting method, well it's not that bad when you plan to use it for something light or plan to practice managing your server. I have tried that before, the "all free" route, and have since outgrown it.

As for open source stuff, which is as we term "free" then it's a whole new topic. Like for example WordPress, using it is free, but people make money off it designing, theme and modifying it like I do.

I wont mind getting something for free or giving out something for free, just understand that although you dont pay or receive a monetary exchange in the process, you still have something worth for both parties not in a more tangible form, like for example link and advertising.

So to summarize, if you argue between free domain provider, and free web hosting provider. They do get some exchange from you in a non-monetary form due to this "free" service.  But in the long run, if you really plan on growing a website, it's better you get the best of what you can afford...

In my experience "you get what you pay for"

I second that but the internet is unique in that it does offer many free resources that are actually very useful. Free hosting would concern me though. If they do not have a means to generate revenue through ads or the like then how can you trust that they will still be operable by the end of the day. If you have a serious business you are starting or is established already do you really want to put it in a situation like that. For me paying for hosting with a reputable company is one expense you cannot afford to skimp on.

Any more replies? I would have thought that a lot more members would have experiences to contribute.

Sorry if I am rude but everything for free is a folly act..!!
According to me .. If you are best in something do not do it for free..!!

If you did so (free) the value for the service would be zero.. for sure..!!

.
Good luck mate..!!

If you did so (free) the value for the service would be zero.. for sure..!!

Linux, Apache, PHP, MySQL. All free, therefore all zero value, you say?

You caught me wrong..!!

Come on, I am just saying in terms of marketing only.. !! Even though your list is free .. Does all plug-ins comes free check out..!!

.
.

[Guest]

[62.886]

Googlebot, Msnbot, Yahoo crawler