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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    The internet
    Posts
    32

    Question Show backlink in free hosting. Worth it?

    Hello,
    I am running a free hosting platform and it's currently comepletely whitelabel (no backlinks, custom domain, nameservers of choice, etc.) but have been thinking about displaying a small backlink in the corner of the screen like most free providers do.
    Now my question is: Is it worth it? Do I lose more users by removing the whitelabel feature than getting new ones or the other way?

    I had the idea of not forcing it, but rewarding the user for showing it, but that would mean checking every user who has it, if it's really displaying.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    Thanks in advance
    -Jonas
    Hey there, I run a hosting platform named 3001 Host.
    I provide DirectAdmin powered hosting there at a price so good, I am not allowed to tell you here. So why not check it out?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    20
    Backlinks are good because they boost your SEO rankings, I suggest not to force it at first because you need the users to grow and those free members become paid. If you are going to put backlinks then be upfront honest about it but backlinks do turn people away if they cover 20% of the website. If you go the backlink way then use it at a minimum and try to make it optional at the beginning. People are willing to help if they are told the truth. The problem with some free web hosts is that they say it is 100% ad-free then you get your website redirected to some ad.

  3. #3
    I suppose it can harm your SEO in long run, as you do not have control over the content of hosted sites, and those might not be relevant to your own product offering or your keyword mix, and will mostly confuse google algorithm in establishing your domain authority.

    So for SEO, as per me, it should be no-no.

    For branding, and generating references, it could be thoughtful strategy.So I would suggest to show your link in the corner , but those should be no follow links.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Reading, UK
    Posts
    40
    What is your motivation behind providing free hosting? Obviously, it costs you something to provide it, which is why the other hosts put their links on the sites they host. In terms of SEO, placing a backlink to your site can do both - help or hurt - it depends on the site the backlink is placed on.
    SharkServers - Anonymous Hosting in the Netherlands, UK, Russia & Ukraine
    VPS and Dedicated Servers you can rely on | Managed & Unmanaged DirectAdmin Hosting | Cryptocurrencies welcome.
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    WHT
    Posts
    80
    I'm not going to force my client's to post my web hosting website in their websites under footer section ,

    I can provide two packages instead both are free but one of them with more features and the client should agree to put my link inside the footer.

    But anyway i'm not following the free hosting news since years but this is what we all know from our experiences.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Kyiv, Ukraine
    Posts
    85
    First I can't see a SkyLakeHost's website, which would get SEO benefits from the links - you should fix it asap!

    There are lots of things to keep in mind to make it worth it. Make a research of client's websites for SEO parameters like a total number of backlinks, amount of referring domains, use ahrefs.com free backlink checker tool for that. Remove a low-quality website from the list. Here are a few advanced parameters to check domain quality:

    - The ratio of Referring Domain to Linking Domain (1/2 to 1/3 is OK) by Ahref
    - Check Citation Flow (CF) to Trust Flow (TF) ratio (Less than 2,5 is OK) by Majestic
    - Check % of Dofollow backlinks
    - Check domain's backlinks anchors
    - Check site's backlink's & traffic stats history

    If you'll have any domains passed that criteria, then kindly ask your clients who host those high-quality websites to put a link to your website from the main page. It's better to use the exact URL and brand name variations as a link text. By using keyword reach link text for on your free host, you could get ruin your SEO, use keyword reach link anchor only if it will be less than 5% from overall links count. I think the same link code on all websites is a waste because there are huge risks that the links will be considered spammy. You could also use links to get traffic from websites, in this case, my suggestion is to track each website link performance by adding UTM parameters to the link

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by 3001isnotallowed View Post
    Hello,
    I am running a free hosting platform and it's currently comepletely whitelabel (no backlinks, custom domain, nameservers of choice, etc.) but have been thinking about displaying a small backlink in the corner of the screen like most free providers do.
    Now my question is: Is it worth it? Do I lose more users by removing the whitelabel feature than getting new ones or the other way?

    I had the idea of not forcing it, but rewarding the user for showing it, but that would mean checking every user who has it, if it's really displaying.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    Thanks in advance
    -Jonas
    It is worth it. Backlinks no matter where it comes from are always gonna help you as long as you've a good TOS and you monitor your customers. Think about it somebody hosting child porno on your server wouldn't give you a good backlinks.

    So the question should be is it worth for your business? What are your goals? Are your customers happy with the decision if not why? Maybe split test or do survey to existing customer base. At the end of the its your business and you gotta make the decision. Make sure its the right one.

  8. #8
    Hello
    Backlinks are very important.
    It can be said: backlinks are the brand of your suit.
    The more credible the brand
    Will be more valuable your suit
    Try to create backlinks from a valid and active forum
    And put a link to your site in your avatar and every two or three weeks you do not have content in your forum
    And click on the link to be known as soon as possible.

  9. #9
    Backlinks are worth it; I would be careful though about putting the same backlink on each customer website to avoid any Google penalties. Offering Free Hosting is appealing but have a think about expanding and the capital needed for that.

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