If you are striving to build a brand, you have to own your own domain name. Many of you starting a home business tend to take the false route and go with a free web hosting service.

When I googled that phrase, the 1st site I come across is http://free-webhosts.com

If you are planning to embark on any kind of online business, you may want to look more professional towards your customers. You’d probably not want your customers to think that you are some fly-by-night merchant who could not be trusted to handle their orders appropriately and on time, and lend support when needed.

Now, I know some of you may want to use the site above already, you’d probably end up with a domain like this – http://free-webhosts.com/youronlineshop. You name it.

Do you really like what you are seeing? Personally, I don’t!

Your customers would feel more at ease and shop at http://youronlineshop.com instead.

If you are using a free web hosting service, you will be perceived as someone who is unwilling to invest money in your own business and your customers may not buy from you. I doubt you would buy from someone using such a domain too.

It’s so cheap to own your own domain name and you should be ashamed of yourself if you are using a free web hosting service for your online business. I really mean that!

Another thing, you can expect ads on your website placed by the vendor. In fact, even your rivals’ ads could be showing up. You certainly do not want to be promoting your competitors!

So, if you are thinking about getting a free web hosting service, stop thinking about it and if you already have a dodgy-looking [TAG-TEC]domain name[/TAG-TEC], get rid of it! Seriously, it’s time to get your very own domain.

I personally buy from Godaddy and Namecheap but I prefer the latter for a better user interface.

Take your pick and go get ‘em!