02|10|2009 7:26 pm EDT
Microsoft is Giving Away a Free Domain, Hosting and Much More
Microsoft Office Life Small Business has all sorts of freebies for people looking to start an online business. CNET News recently pointed out that Microsoft is giving away a free domain name, free web hosting, and free email accounts…but there’s more!
Some of the other great offers available at the site include:
- 100 free professional designed business cards at Paper Direct
- A fully produced radio advertisement for free at Bid4Spots
- $140 worth of online ads at AdReady.com
- 2 months of trial invoicing at SimplifyThis
- 50 free professional stock photos for your website at PunchStock
- $50 credit with a professional web designer at Elance
- A 90-day premium coupon at ValPak.com
- $10 off at FedEx Office Print
- A free custom logo for your business and website at LogoYes
- 50 free customer leads for your website at WebVisible
- $150 off documents on-demand at Mimeo.com
- $45 in postage for at Stamps.com
- 50 free personalized calendars at Thayer
All you need to do in order to be eligible for these great offers is sign up at Microsoft Office Live Small Business – and even if you don’t want to look into any of the additional offers, you’ll at least get a domain name and hosting for free for the first year (and only $14.95/year thereafter)!
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5 Comments
Adam Strong
February 11, 2009 @ 1:28 am EDT
Wonder what the angle is here and how many others will follow suit.
Check this : http://technofriends.in/2009/02/11/microsoft-offering-free-domain-name-and-hosting-for-one-year-but-is-it-worth-it/
This guy also makes a lot of good points about why this isn’t a great idea . . . but most of his points would be lost on a novice small business owner, who’ll get roped in by “free” . . .
Chris Nielsen
February 11, 2009 @ 3:28 pm EDT
We got a free year of hosting from 1 and 1 a couple of years ago. We had some reseller accounts, but thought we would put a site on there and benefit from some of the links that would be coming from a different IP address.
In general the hosting was ok, but the control panel was dog-slow, and some of the apps were sub-standard, like the web stats. We moved the domain after 3-4 months.
It may be a great deal for beginners, but my only caution would be starting a business web site with a domain that is offered free. There may be conditions about that which could lock you in or end up costing you. At the very least it may take a lot of time and many emails to get the free domain moved someone where else, and for a $10 yearly fee that may not be worth it.
Those interested in this should check out Google Sites under the Google Apps site. They have limitations, but the Google sites are pretty nice for beginners. I made a pretty nice little affiliate site in about 60 minutes.
Patrick McDermott
February 11, 2009 @ 6:11 pm EDT
Before anyone takes up this offer it should be made clear
who actually owns the domain name chosen.
John Fredericks
February 18, 2009 @ 1:46 pm EDT
I wouldn’t trust my domain with Microsoft ever. .. Patrick does MS own the domain ?
Patrick McDermott
February 18, 2009 @ 10:17 pm EDT
“does MS own the domain ?”
John,
Sorry but I do not know.
I never took up the offer.
I just wanted to warn anyone who does that they should make sure
the “free” domain will actually belong to them and not MS.
It would be a shame to spend time and $ building something only to find out that you don’t own the land (domain) the house (site) is built on.
Microsoft may in fact give you ownership of the domain.
I’m just saying be sure that’s the case…or else you can’t
transfer out, sell, etc.