I want to get hosted!
Now, you've done all the basic stuff on free hosted webpages, as in Geocities or Homestead. But then you noticed the friggin' annoying ads and pop-ups they have there, and you decided to look for a better host, without annoying things popping out of nowhere. The question is now: How? Or rather: Where?
Well, before you actually start your hunt for a host, be prepared for a loong road. Unless your skills are beyond the needed requirements, it'll be hard to find a nice host that doesn't mind to share a limited amount of space with you, and perhaps with a few more others that's wanting the same. Anyhow, if you're still wanting a host, I can give you a few tips.
× The Rules
I know that it's hard to believe, but the rules are probably one of the most important things that you need to give attention to. Being as creative amateuristic webdesigners, they usually put hidden "passwords" within the rules, to be sure that you're actually reading them. And then in the end, they mostly always ask you to keep in touch with them, so they're sure there's no one there that's not doing their job on their own website. And of course, they mostly don't like strangers using their personal web space. Most of these bought their domain for personal uses, and they're giving some out for free. They at least want a little bit back for that. Therefor, reading the rules is also a polite thing to do. So there you have it.
× Prove Yourself
Before you start contacting these potential hosts, be sure that you have something that can prove your abilities. Most of the time, they don't want to host people who doesn't have any skills at all in making websites. After all, once they give a part of their webspace out, they're paying for that person too. It'd be a waste if it's just a neglecting case. I use to show my old websites and layouts that were hosted for free on commercial hosting sites, and that should do it already. Not to mention that you'll show them right away what your reason is that you want an add-free host. If they think you're good enough, it'd be already quite positive that you'll get hosted. But of course, there's more than that.
× Keep Looking
This is what I've been warning you. In fact, it's probably the most important thing that you need to do while your hunting your host down: keep looking for other hosts. Even though you haven't got replied yet from other hosts where you've applied a request already, keep searching until you got one person that says that you're good enough.
Too much work? Well.. let me tell you about my experiences. Before I got to Kara, I had at least 10 more other "applications" on several domains. And like, only 4 of them had gave me a replied back. One even told me that she didn't knew why I would want to get hosted, seeing that I had everything I needed with the free host I had. I didn't thought about it back then, but now I think the person was just saying that I wasn't good enough to get hosted. Oh well, at least I wasn't doing an audition as an actress. Of course, it isn't as hard as what you have to do in real life, but it's pretty nasty too. I remember that I actually got sick because I was on the computer for so damn long, or maybe I was too frustrated for doing it so long. Oh well. By this, I have had no intention for discouraging you to stop looking. It's much more fun with a personal add-free host, trust me.
× Shortly said,
Just never give up and try to stay yourself. Of course, it wouldn't be smart to, well, -odd example-, curse a lot while it was obvious that the host didn't wanted to share with someone like that. After you've got hosted, the most important thing is to keep your website updated. And of course, keep in touch with the host. Other than that, there's nothing much really that you need to do. And of course, you could always get yourself a domain. I've been wanting to do that for a while now, but it's just that I couldn't pay one myself when I wanted one by then. Now I just don't have any reasons yet to leave. So, yeah. Good luck I guess, and I hope that this was at least a slight bit useful. If you have any questions, you can always go ahead and ask. You can find me with the contact info I have on that page. ^_^