Before you opt for a "Free" website - Read This

Can you adjust and/or add to the meta tags?

Properly implemented meta tags are crucial to ranking well in the search engines. If the site builder program you are using doesn’t discuss them, run away. Even if they do mention it, or at least give access to the HTML code, unless you have experience with meta tags and how to properly implement them, you are going to be missing a big part.

Is the copy provided by the company placed on the site in an image format or as code?

Often times we see do-it-yourself-websites that save the copy you enter as an image on the page rather than as regular copy. Why they do this is a mystery but it represents one of the worst things you can fall for. With the exception of its Alt tag, an image is essentially ignored by the search engines, making your copy invisible.

Is the content; copy, images, feeds, etc, able to be placed on your own, separate server? I.e. Can you arrange for your own hosting?

If the site they let you build is incorporated into their site then all the SEO benefit goes to help them, not you. If the URL looks like www.yoursitename.theirsite.com or www.theirsite.com/yoursite/ then the site is essentially worthless to you. The search engines see it as their site and you will also be unable to ever move it away from the provider.

How much of the copy can you change or add to?

Are you limited in how much room you have to add your copy? Does the program restrict how you can edit it? No website worth the time it takes to build it is going to limit you like that. Don’t settle for less than what you need, or may need.

Can you add additional pages?

Most companies providing low cost or no cost website building programs will let you add pages. Be sure to check the cost and the ease of organizing them into the website menu. All too often there are limitations that are working against your success.

What policies are in place to guard against duplicate content?

Duplicate content can be found within a site or on different sites. It can be an easy mistake to make and can ultimately have disastrous consequences on your search rankings, even to the extent of being removed from the search engine index. Ask the provider how they help avoid this problem. No answer is a bad answer.

Are the pages static or dynamic?

Although the search engines have been getting better about the problem, dynamic content is still an issue and one best avoided. Look for a program that builds static pages, not dynamic ones. If you look in the URL string and see a ?.php, that is a dead certain sign of a dynamic site design. Note: This is a spidering problem that can keep pages, even whole sites, from being indexed.

Are the sites set up as an add-on domain, a sub-domain, or a separate site?

This is a furthering of the topic in #3 above. Anything but a separate, stand alone site, and you are not getting credit for your site. If it is a sub domain or a directory off an existing domain then that domain gets the credit for the content. Another problem you will likely encounter is that of being unable to move “your” website to your own server. You see, you don’t own the site, they do…..

Does the site use a shared IP or a dedicated one?

This may be a bit hard to ascertain, even their Customer Service may not know. If you can find out though, a dedicated IP is usually better than a shared IP. Unless you are sharing a dedicated IP…. Essentially, dedicated means that any sites on that IP are all watched over by one entity. The problem comes when there are sites of dubious origins and purposes sharing your IP. If they get blacklisted that can affect all the sites on that IP, even the clean, honest ones.

How are the leads handled? Are they delivered directly to you or do they get copied to a database or cc'd to corporate? I.e. Who owns the leads?

Sometimes companies will provide websites to their franchisees or affiliates. Leads coming through those websites may or may not belong to you. Be sure to read the fine print.