subject: Free Domains: Advantages And Drawbacks [print this page] Free Domains: Advantages And Drawbacks Free Domains: Advantages And Drawbacks
The very first step when you decide to set up your own website is choosing the domain name. We define domain name as the name that refers to your website; for example, www.abc.com or www.xyz.com. You must register your own domain name to use it for your website. A properly chosen domain name gives credibility and a professional look to your website.
Free Domain Name Registration
Registering your own domain name is not at all expensive, as it may appear to you if you are new to this area. In fact, on the Internet you can find many companies that specialize in free domain name registration and web page hosting.
Many people use these companies for free domain registration. For beginners who want to create their webpage to get their business or their company visible, the option of free domain name provides a good start. If you own a business that is small or if you are low on cash, getting a free domain name registration is a lucrative option.
If you are going for a full-fledged website launch for your business and you expect your site to generate business for you, it is not a good idea to go for free domain names. Mostly, people use them for personal websites or sites they want to host for creating awareness about the product, that is, basically information-based websites. For serious businesses, though, those who need to create a name for the company and make it visible to potential customers, free domain names is not the proper way to start your website, as it has some drawbacks.
Drawbacks Of Free Domains
The most apparent drawback is the trust that your potential customers and present customers have with your company. If they get to know that you are too cash strapped to pay for your domain name and are using a free service, their trust on your credibility will go down.
When you go for free domains, most of the companies require you to include a web host name into the domain name. If this is done, your website won't look like your own, as it will have an additional name attached to it. The chances of people remembering your domain name will suffer due to this confusion in the domain name.
Another drawback is that you have a limited choice for your domain name. If you go for a paid domain, you have more choices in terms of name, and you can search whether that name is available or not.
For a small company, a start up company or a new business, a good way to host a webpage is to avail the free domain name service. But a conclusive research regarding the performance and reputation of the free domain name registering company has to be done. However, as the business grows and the company gets off the ground, transferring the free domain name to a paid registrar makes more business sense.
