freehost vs paid host and domain

[Jake22]

I was thinking about weather or not for SE purposes if I was to have my own domain then I would get much much better rankings for a keyword then if I were to use a freehost domain? Or does it really matter? it just seems like the SE like the xxx.mysite.xxx instead of the xxx.mysite.freehost.xxx???

[Flynn812]

I think in most cases - you are better off with paid host and your own domain. If a free host goes belly-up..you have ZERO!

[Jake22]

Originally Posted by Flynn812

I think in most cases - you are better off with paid host and your own domain. If a free host goes belly-up..you have ZERO!

yeah true, so thats why the SE doesn't put freehosts ahead of too many paid then.

[edhel2005]

It's at least a little harder to get that freehosted blog to rank well in SERPS. I got a keyword1.net domain registered a few weeks ago, put up 3 posts and I was already on the first page for keyword1. I also took a keyword2.subdomain.com and am still fighting to have in rank in the first few pages at least.

And yes the keywords were comparable when it comes to the number of searches and google competition.
Conclusion: subdomains on freehosted sites are good for building backlinks from different urls and sets of ips, or if you don't have the money to go with your own domain

[thebes]

Freehosts are normally not worth what you pay, that is how they make their money.
If (when) they no longer make money, at least their domain has lots of 404 traffic.

I can't say for certain that google et al take this into account with their algorithms, but were I coding them I probably would. Search engines are in the business of helping people find what they are looking for, and 404'd traffic en mass does them no favors.

[Dupont]

free host should never be a thought. Too many traffic leaks

[morphina]

I used a free host when I first started out and I have to say it got annoying. I never had enough space and really could not do what I wanted with my website. So I caved in and bought my own website and hosting and never looked back. Definatly worth investing in your own name and hosting.

[dekaz]

Free host is good for the quick and small, 'I don't care about my bookmarkers as long as I get 1 sale from them' work.

[stfuvt]

you can use free host only as second host for posting galleries to big TGPs, but you should have your own domain and hosting for primary use.
Good Luck

[Head Boy]

The best comment was hidden in a previous post. Use freehosts to link to your main site and drive traffic to it.

[Jake22]

thanks everyone

[born2blog]

Freehosts are BAD for SE and also very unreliable and unpredictable. I do not recommend freehosts to anyone, unless maybe for the purpose that Head Boy mentioned above which is to link to your main sites on paid hosts, but even that I can't see doing much for you. I recommend paid hosts all the way!!

[Way3]

Freehosts are definately not going to give you what you are looking for in SE. Always best to have your own domain and a quality host! Feel free to contact us if Way3 can help you in any way!

[gecko]

Never use free hosting, unless it's sponsor free host

[legend]

What are you trying to do with search engines
If you are trying to do a free site with"adult" good luck
where are you targeting
If it is tgp then who cares the se
What are you trying to achieve
To get the best se get your own site other wise if you are not looking to spend money like i am just build something and point it in 1 direction
Free sites do work
the guys here will tell you they dont but it all depends where your aim is!!
where is your intended market??

[ragnaroknroll]

What about free blogs? They're ok, right? How about compared to paid hosted blogs?