Nowadays, it is possible to find all kinds of free services on the internet, including free website creation services, but in this specific case, there are also many disadvantages to using free websites for your project.
Many of the free website solutions on the market offer a simple and quick way to create a presentation page. The options are vast, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Some examples of online services for creating free websites: Wix, Weebly, Webnode, Site123.
However, free website creation services come with major disadvantages, and these can become increasingly apparent over time.
7 disadvantages of using free websites
1. We do not have control over the domain
If the idea is to create a completely free website, many platforms offer the option of using a free subdomain for the site we are building.
Using these subdomains means we will never be in control, and we will be dependent on the platform forever.
If one day we need to use a faster hosting service, we can only use the options provided by the platform, if such options even exist.
Our project or business becomes 100% dependent on the goodwill and solutions provided by the platform we choose.
2. We do not have control over the server
Many of these platforms use a type of shared web hosting, which means it is only a matter of time before our project grows and needs to be moved to a faster hosting solution.
If the goal is to grow, this is obviously a very poor solution to start the project, due to the risk of becoming dependent on the platform.
Most likely, we will not be provided with a copy of the site to migrate it to another server, and the situation will be worse if we decide to use a free subdomain.
3. We cannot build the site our way
Platforms used to create free websites rely heavily on predefined templates and designs, usually with a dozen or more options to choose from.
Many of the options and special effects are typically disabled for users who do not pay a monthly fee, which limits the type of site we can build.
We will never have the same kind of freedom to modify and adapt a free website as we can with a paid solution built from scratch.
4. It is harder to do SEO optimisation
When using this type of free website creation platform, we depend on it having considered page SEO, as we often do not have the freedom to optimise them as we wish.
This happens because the templates these platforms provide for free users are often few and among the simplest available.
For someone who wants to work on the SEO of their site's pages, it is much easier to do this type of optimisation with a site built in WordPress, for example, where we have total control over how the pages are built.
5. Paid plans can be expensive
Typically, these types of platforms need to make money, and since they provide a free service, the paid service must cover the costs of both.
A development package proposed by a marketing agency like Be-Wide Online Solutions is often more cost-effective than starting with a free solution and later having to pay exorbitant amounts for each extra feature.
6. There may already be many other identical sites
One of the major issues with these free platforms is how limited they are in terms of design, meaning the user is often restricted to very few templates.
This means there could be many other identical sites, and as a result, the company or brand image may not be easily recognised by customers.
7. Not all types of content are allowed
The biggest disadvantage of this type of platform is its limitations regarding the content that can be hosted on the site.
Each platform differs from one another, but something they all have in common is the prohibition of using adult content, or even anything that suggests adult content.
This is just one example, but there is no way to have 100% control over what we can or cannot put on our site without risking losing the site at any moment.
Free sites vs paid sites
Each case is different, and perhaps in your case a free site platform is the solution, but in the vast majority of cases, free sites come with major disadvantages and very rarely deliver results.
If it is results you are looking for, forget these free platforms and seek out a professional marketing agency (like Be-Wide Online Solutions) to help you expand your business.
What seems cheap now will usually end up costing much more later, so if you are serious about your business, invest in its success right now!
