Free Web Hosting
B efore you choose a free host, you'll need some idea on whether you need or want Front Page Support, FTP access (by far the easiest way to get your site files up to the internet), the amount of bandwidth you're needing (if you have music files, or lots of things folk can download, you need a lot of bandwidth available) how many email accounts you'll need ... some of these provide only one or none.

Personally, I won't build sites anymore on freebie webspace. Too often the ads are intrusive or mess up java applets and special effects, or they say you can have FTP access, and then after awhile they take that away and make it available under a paid hosting plan, or worse yet ... they just disappear, and so does your website! Besides, I like knowing that if I have a problem, someone somewhere is going to respond to a help ticket or a phone call pretty darn quick!

Oh, and one more thing ... there is no reason to ever pay more than $8.95 per year (or less) for a DOMAIN NAME. Want one? Go get it at www.godaddy.com... you can park it there for free and later go in and change the DNS to point to whatever webhost you finally select. You can easily buy as many domain names as you want under one account name, and they're a breeze to manage.

If you go there, just be sure you select one year to get started, and decide if you want them to auto-renew the name a year from now... the rest of the stuff they try to push off on you (several pages of stuff) ... skip it. Oh, and don't loose that account access information! Buying a Domain Name is like buying a house on the internet, a legal little item that you should know how to access! Print it to a hard copy ... don't trust the info to just your hard drive!

And if you change your email address, be sure to update that information in your Domain Name records (and also notify your hosting account) so that you're notified if anyone tries to tamper, and get notices of upcoming expiration dates. You'll be crying big time to learn you didn't renew because they couldn't find you and someone else has bought your domain name!

24BY7Data - 20MB, no ads or popups and has FTP access, 1 POP Email account, unlimited transfer and Tech Support 24/7

E173.com - only 1MB -- good for a couple homepage type pages at best, or small business brochure
Web Host Me - 20 MB, lots of goodies, but includes ads on your pages, and pricey to switch to a non ad site
Portland Communications - UK based, has 15MB free sites and no ads or popups, supports your own domain name, POP account available after you request one
Web Samba - looks like 30MB, ad free, with FTP but I couldn't find if you can have your own domain name here, looks like a sub setup to their webspace type url. ie: http://www.websamba.com/yourname/
Brinkster - 30 MB- no email account
Free Yellow - 50 MB, has FTP, but banner ads on your pages, can use your own domain name if you have one ... looks like support is pretty much for those paying for hosting. Does have Page Builder available for those needing a way to create their sites.
FateBack - 60 mb, ftp, pop email, unlimited bandwidth, no ads, can use own domain name

To upload your website files using ftp ... you'll need a program like WS_ftp. There's a free version available at Cnet.com.

Top

Web-Source - free syndicated columns - nice Horoscope feed here, and they encourage you to submit your own syndicated column!

A note about Syndication: It's how you get exposure all over the net folks ... free links back to you on every website that picks up your column! So if you're an "expert" on something, consider it the focus for your website. Setup and maintain a GOOD newsletter, and syndicate the material, and/or develop an e-book!

Take the time to study other syndicated content feeds, and develop your own approach, or find a niche that needs filling, and fill it! And don't think you're not an expert ... everyone is ...at something! Sit down and write a list of things that you do, a hobby, your profession, a way to cook pasta sauce like no one else can ... and build a site around it.

Let's say you have a recipe for a pasta sauce that was handed down through generation to generation. You can sell the recipe in an ebook of other recipes, or offer it as a download if they sign up for your newsletter. Now, build up some affiliate links to Italian seasonings, or special cookware... anything they'd use to make that recipe. Decorate the site with a nice Italian theme. Add some affiliate links (use text links for best return) for superb Italian ingredients, wines, cheeses, fancy candles for a romantic dinner, a fancy collander, or cooking oil. Now, each month (or week if you've got the energy) present an astounding meal to prepare using that sauce! (never printing out the sauce recipe mind you!) Be sure to have a way for folk to sign up for a newsletter. Getting the idea now? Your website should have a focus, some theme to it ... and if you want a little pocket change for your troubles, this is one way to do it.

Speaking of selling things online ... the only free way to collect money on the web, that I know of, is through PayPal. It's ideal for small sites with only a couple of items that need linked for purchase by the internet consumer. It is easy to use PayPal to accept credit cards online by creating payment buttons. All you need is an email address to get started, and in just minutes you can be selling online!


UK Pagan - syndicated newsfeed for UK Pagans

Free Sticky - Don't loose this link! It's the motherlode for anything you'll ever want for a website! I'm serious! For pagan goodies, check out the Horoscope link, and the entertainment link, and the news feeds, and miscellaneous ... oh heck, just pack a lunch and go look!

Ask Allie - Two nice syndicated feeds here from Gypsy Advice.com that get automatically updated. The Ask Allie column is a full page feed, the other "Magickal Item of the Week" is a nice filler sized feed.

Spiritualitea
A variety of content choices from automatically updated articles on magic and spirituality through to a spell chooser etc. You can also get a free chat room from them.

Speaking of chatrooms ... and all those other little things we all take for granted on most websites these days, ie: counters, guestbooks, guestmaps, chatrooms, greeting card service, message boards, little mini polls, photo albums, Free Links, refer a friend forms, sign up for newsletter forms, email forms, autoresponders and so on ... if you're just starting out, and haven't a clue how to handle cgi bins, databases and what have you... just go to Bravenet and sign up.

All these goodies are FREE and can easily be customized to match your site's appearance. True, you're going to have to deal with some Bravenet advertising, but until you can afford their no ad versions, or figure out how to install scripts, it's an easy way to have a lot of specialty items at your fingertips. And their tutorial and Tips and Tricks section is literally one of the easiest to understand tutorial areas I have ever come across.

Another site offering free forums, chat rooms, mail servers, and other web content platforms is Hot Plugins. Again, you'll deal with ads unless you pay for ad free content. We're using the Astrology plugin for this site, and did find the setup to be pretty painless, and they do allow you to do some customization to make the pages look like part of your website, but it is limited in comparison to the customization available at Bravenet.

If you'd prefer a different style of message board, (like the one Healing Healers uses), then go get a free Proboards for your website.

Well, that's about it ... now go conjure up something!

Blessings,

Bec aka Cltcgdss
webmaster / owner of
DragonMoonDesigns.com
Fantasy-Graphics.com
Creative-Women.com
and webmaster for The Healing Healers Website