New FWP

[drunkmule]

I'm planing on starting a small FWP. These are the features:

250mb's of Space
Unlimited Bandwidth
Browser uploads(ftp later on)
Pre-installed Formmail
Stats
Fast connections
CGI
SSI

And the main thing that I want to get going is by putting banner ads on the bottom of pages. Then once the user's hits increase put a smaller banner on their site, etc, etc, then after they receive a certain amount of hits, they can pay $5 a month the get the banners removed(along with other features)

What do you think?

[Sphosting.com]

What homepage system would you use to do your hosting with ?

[Technics]

You just made mistake number 1 - Unlimited Bandwidth. And thats before you even start out.

[drunkmule]

Reply to Sphosting.com,

I plan to use a simple free program at first. Then once there is profit made, I will buy a program, or maybe even have one specially made. If you can suggest one that is either free or less than $100, for me to start with, I would appriciate that.

Reply to Technics,

Actually I do not plan to actually give out unlimited bandwidth. I don't beleive that anyone is going to use up anmyore than 2gbs of bandwidth in a month. So I heardly see that as a mistake.

[Mandrake]

Originally posted by drunkmule
Reply to Sphosting.com,

I plan to use a simple free program at first. Then once there is profit made, I will buy a program, or maybe even have one specially made. If you can suggest one that is either free or less than $100, for me to start with, I would appriciate that.

Reply to Technics,

Actually I do not plan to actually give out unlimited bandwidth. I don't beleive that anyone is going to use up anmyore than 2gbs of bandwidth in a month. So I heardly see that as a mistake.


What if they do use more than that?

[-bg]

Originally posted by drunkmule
Reply to Sphosting.com,


Actually I do not plan to actually give out unlimited bandwidth. I don't beleive that anyone is going to use up anmyore than 2gbs of bandwidth in a month. So I heardly see that as a mistake.


If you think no one will use up more than that then you are wrong.

I can prove it. Just let me sign up. :)

[top]

> Actually I do not plan to actually
> give out unlimited bandwidth. I don't
> beleive that anyone is going to use up
> anmyore than 2gbs of bandwidth in a month.
> So I heardly see that as a mistake.

Then please say you offer 2gbs of traffick/month. What's the problem on this?

Also what I would like to see is some kind of an about page informing who you are and what you are after. I would never sign to a host not telling who they are (unless they are big and wellknown of course).

Where's the server located?

[Koolguy]

What If someone decides to host video on your servers. What if they use 500GB of bandwidth per mo?

[Chicken]

Just post a limit... it saves you and your users b.s.

[Technics]

ur going to start a fwp yet your also looking for a host with unlimited space and bandwidth sounds dodgy to me.

[drunkmule]

I was researching some different services out there to see if my idea was already in use. I'm purchasing a dedicated server. I don't what program I'm going to use for it, but I will look into everything. My goal is too provide free web hosting for sites of all topics. There will be different plans so the higher traffic sites get smaller banners and extras. I will also give the option to just buy bannerless hosting. I know that if I don't require users to have banners when they first start, free hosting will not last. I don't plan to get this started anywhere within the next three months. If you guys have anymore q's please reply.

[Edited by drunkmule on 11-10-2000 at 05:18 PM]

[-bg]

*right*

You just can't admit that you were wrong?

[drunkmule]

Wrong about what, I've never heard that anyone who has used over 2gb's of bandwidth. Unless they are hosting a warez site, which will not be allowed. If there is a problem with bandwidth I'll contact them and discuss the problem. If I find that they have abused the rules they I will give them a day or so to delete the illegal files and if they don't I will delete their account. I don't plan to be a geocities over night. I want to stay small. After there is profit, I will start to employ a cgi programmer and an adviser/asst. webmaster part-time. Then if needed I will employ them full time. Right now I'm just desinging the site, and getting funds together.

[-bg]

None of my sites are illegal.

If you said you are going to provide "unlimited" bandwidth, why would you contact me when I would reach 2gigs?

[drunkmule]

Before Technics said "You just made mistake number 1 - Unlimited Bandwidth. And thats before you even start out." So, I picked a number 2gb. I could care less if you go over 2gb. But if your site is slowing the entire server down, I will contact you and work out a solution. What's your website(s), and let me decide if your site will generate over 2gigs. Usually ppl complain that someone is asking for unlimited webspace. That I cannot provide. But I know that I can provide unlimited bandwidth on a dedicated server.

If you are so concerned about bandwidth just buy your own hosting.

[-bg]

Yet again, you have NOT answered my question.

If you cannot provide what you promise, why do you state so?

[drunkmule]

I am trying to make everyone happy. One guy says that I've made a mistake by providing unlimited bandwidth, then you are giving me crap about it. I bet you are the same person. Well if you really want to know Unlimited bandwidth means that you will not be contacted about the status of your site unless there is a problem with server that is effecting the entire community, including member pages. Problems like this should not occur on a dedicated server. Are you happy? Unlimited for my service means to the extent of our resources. I will not resopond to any of your replys because obviously you are just wasting my time. If anyone else has any questions please reply.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by drunkmule
Usually ppl complain that someone is asking for unlimited webspace. That I cannot provide. But I know that I can provide unlimited bandwidth on a dedicated server.

You cannot provide unlimited bandwidth just because you have a dedicated server. You need to look into this more before you start posting what you offer.

I question if you've even looked at how much 50 gigs of bandwidth will cost you? I don't think you fully understand how it all works, and how bandwidth can relate to server performance. You've never seen a site that usues over 2 gigs/month? I'm not talking about warez sites, and yes, the average will be under 2 gigs (even around 500 MB), but averages are one thing. You better have a plan for the site that uses 30 gigs and isn't breaking the rules.

You need solid servers to run a FWP, forget about the cheapie $100-$200 specials out there, they won't cut it. You'll be down more than up if you go this route. Also check out how much the line is going to cost you.

I say this because I don't think you've fully thought this out, nor researched things. I want to see you prosper so you can come back here and help others, and to help you avoid making costly mistakes.

If you are saving and planning to spend over $1,000/mo for this project then I am wrong and you have done your homework. If you've practiced by installing linux on your spare pc at home, then you are doing fine. If you are planning on hosting only a few people then again, you don't want to run a full scale FWP, but rather more of a small charity service with banners. That is fine also.

There is a difference.

[Gcites]

I used to offer everything now i cut down!

[drunkmule]

I was actually looking at the servers that you're talking about. I found some great prices for servers, around 500 to 1000. I've been researching this idea for about 5 months now, after having trouble with past hosts. I do not plan to be geocites over night. I want to provide something that no other free web host provider cannot. Once you sign up with my service, and your site is off the ground and running the user will get a full banner at the bottom of their site. If your site recieves say, 5000 hits one month you will recieve a smaller banner or you can place a full banner anywhere on your pages. This will go on unitl the user is gatting around 300,000 or more hits, and is placing a 88x31 banner anywhere on their site. After that I will give them the option of paying a certain amount to get rid of the banners. I also plan to reward the higher trafficed sites with a link of the week on the first page of community site. Anyother questions, comments or ideas?

[coolguy23]

yo if u can take your fwp off the ground then i think it will be the best...maybe not better then spaceports...well good luck and i really hope u can take it off the ground

[drunkmule]

Thats exactlly what I want to create. A free web host where you get smaller banners and more features from the amount of hits. I don't want to screw any users. I want them to come back and be happy. If I can make $50 of profit I'll be happy. I also want very quick connections. So I'm thinkning of saving up for a longer period of time to make sure I have back-up money for newer servers, programs, etc.

[Gcites]

Goodluck i spent around 1500usd to 2000usd in the first month :p and im in australian thats about 4000aus dollars =(

[butterfly syndrome]

i don't find the idea so bad. drunkmule, you should probably look into a dedicated server offer with lots of bandwidth. one gb equals about 40.000 full written normal paper pages, so with images, sounds and (especially!) cgi, two gbs are really not so much for an advanced user. small personal sites aren't going to take up much bandwidth though, so that makes up a little for the big, much visited sites.

what i would suggest though is that you start with ftp access right from the start. an ftp server isn't very difficult to set up, actually not much more difficult than configuring a cgi script for browser-only uploads. despite that, cgi without ftp access is a -----.

[ama]

Gcities, capitalise the S in Sydney in your "about us" page when you have time. Unless there is a reason why you have not done so...

Remember, down under is on top!

[Gcites]

WOW! a fellow aussie hey mate!

[jvv]

I think you should really think about what it's gonna cost you *before* you're gonna make profit out of it.
I saw NC_TOM post on one of the threads that he already put 13k usd into netcabins, and another thread claims that spaceports costs 80k every month and only makes 40k...

That's really something you should consider. Do you really have this kind of money, and if so, wouldn't it be better to invest in starting a payhosting company ?

[Technics]

I'll assure you im not ~bg.

It should be made illgeal to say you offer unlimited space and bandwidth. i just ordered an unlimited hardrive should be installed and formatted by the year 4500.

[drunkmule]

AHAHA good sleep. I'm already ahead of you. I've been saving since late June, with some bonuses I got and a few checks from AllAdvantage.com. They still pay me. The program that I'm looking at closely to do the host doesn't have ftp uploads just browser. I have no cgi knowledge beyond changing variables and perl paths. I would either have to find another program or find a ftp upload script.

And Technics, I know i'm probally your worst enemy for trying to start a free hosting company, but just let it go.

Like I said I don't plan to live off the profit that the company makes. I want to do this for the good of the net. If I make $10 in my first month, I'll be very happy. If I don't I'll just wait til next month, If I see no profit is made. I'll change some things around. But I don't plan to invest thousands of dollars into it yet. I want to start out small and stay small for quite sometime. If there are large amount of clients than, I will hire someone part-time to do do some cgi-scripting, and to make sure people are using the service correctly.

[Technics]

Your not my worst enemy at all i'm trying to prevent you from going belly up. Think realistically.

Start offering a small amount of space as custom grows increase it. Say you will give unrestricted bandwidth upto 2gb after that they have the account suspended until they can adjust the bandwidth. Anyone using more than 2gb on a freehost really should be using a paid host.

A good level of space for a fwp is about 30 to 50mb. If they require more maybe you can strike a deal with them.

[drunkmule]

I was thinking about something like that. But I think that the amount of hits you generate the more space you'll recieve. But I would have to have some create a cgi file to do that, and that I just can't afford.

[Technics]

Using cgi for your browser upload system is a bad idea use php and mysql. Won't use as much system resources.

If you want a script that can do that in cgi use allmanage. If you want it email me ill send you the zip file since the website has closed.

[drunkmule]

yeah I was looking for their site but couldn't find it. Is it really free? What other features does it have? Please send it to me.

[Technics]

You can set all accounts to a set amount or give one account 500mb and another 300mb easy updates via the admin section. ADvanced editor and basic editor etc etc etc.

Anyways nice talking gotta go down the PUB have a socail life somewhere lol.

[drunkmule]

please send it! Thank You very much.

[GordonH]

I don't want to pour cold water on someone elses enthusiasm but the whole idea of a free web host supported by banner ads is now very shaky indeed.

With banner ads only worth about $2 per thousand it would be really difficult to do this at a profit. There needs to be another method of generating income from the members.

I have been thinking about this myself. I run a cobranded FWP (Myqth.com) that brings in about $100 per month from relevant affilliate links with over 5000 users. The service is not too good and I would much prefer to run my own system.

I really would like to run a proper FWP but I just can't make the income and expenditure columns balance. When you take into account server(s) bandwidth and other costs you would need an astronomical number of page views to generate enough income from ads to cover the costs.

There has to be another way of making it pay, but what?

Gordon

[drunkmule]

I've realized that too. Thats why I'ma also giving the option to pay 5 or 10 dollars to get rid of all banners, or just buy the web hosting with extra features such as mailing lists, pop3 mail, etc. I've thought of many things.

[Technics]

Try pull in some big investors. Who will pay to have shares in your business and display there banners on your members pages .... Bit far fatched but i dont think any other fwp has done it.

[drunkmule]

Good Idea, But I can see some problems in that. If two investors sign-up they might want their ads to be shown more than the other. Creating some conflict between affiliates which can then cause both investors to leave, or worse. Also, when are you going to send the allmanage script, cause that can save me a lot of time and money.

[Technics]

whats your email i just zipped it up?.

[drunkmule]

izzy@planetizz.net

[ama]

Gcities, it's good to see someone in Sydney running a free web server. btw will you be rotating Aussie and international ads in your new ad banner which will be placed on member pages? It would be good to see some Aussie ads for a change.

[jvv]

It seems like the Free stuff business is somewhat entering an 'internet mall' stage where all things are combined.

If we see yahoo taking over geocities and offering free webspace, webmail, 'search engine' (you know what I mean), shopping mall, ...

NBC is doing pretty much the same with it's http://www.nbci.com

Microsoft is doing pretty much te same... it's just a matter of time before they buy up some FWP.


What they all seem to have in common:


Free webspace
Free webbased email
News
Link directory
Shopping Mall (with affiliates)
Software


I think the shopping mall concept is very interesting, also for the smaller FWP's as it gives the ability to make some extra revenue. You already have the online community... it's like bringing the mall to people's homes. You have to face it, once people sign up for your service, they don't really have any more reason to keep visiting it... If you offer information, a shopping mall with bargains, etc. You'll have alot more return traffic.

Just my 2.5 cents :)

[Chicken]

Originally posted by drunkmule
Like I said I don't plan to live off the profit that the company makes. I want to do this for the good of the net. If I make $10 in my first month, I'll be very happy. If I don't I'll just wait til next month, If I see no profit is made. I'll change some things around. But I don't plan to invest thousands of dollars into it yet.

Even if you do the completely lame, 'buy an unlimited space account from a paid web provider', and then give some of it away, you won't see $10 profit your first month.

If you decide to get a dedicated server, plan on months of being in the red. You may never earn a profit, let alone your first month. Businesses like this are risky at best.