I’ve been hosting my websites through DreamHost since December 1999. The last several months have been very rocky as the “little hosting company” with its humble beginnings as the New Dream Network has expanded exponentially.
They’ve just performed a major upgrade on their infrastructure, and now all my websites seem to be running well. For a while I was looking for a new hosting provider, but now it looks like I can start recommending them again.
Most people these days who want to publish on the internet are looking mainly for blogging. If you think you’re going to keep up blogging for more than a few months, and if your website is something you’re going to take somewhat seriously, you need your own webspace. BlogSpot isn’t going to cut it. In fact, a little while ago I offered free DreamHost web server space for five personal finance bloggers who wanted to get serious. Even though DreamHost makes it very simple to set up blogging platforms, the experiment had mixed results. I won’t be able to offer free hosting again for a while, the earliest being next year.
However, I can offer $20 off for people who want to get their own hosting through DreamHost. Simply use this link and the promotion code FLEXO20. The basic plan, which is sufficient for blogging, is cheap at $7.95 a month. They have a 97-day money back guarantee, and the $20 off is a decent bonus.
Note: That’s a referral link in which I’ll also receive money for sending you in DreamHost’s direction if you choose to sign up.
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11:54 am (reply)
I think bloggers would do well to follow at least some journalism ethics, such as avoiding conflicts of interest or any appearance of conflict.
Don’t you think people should know that you get $77 per referral (Dreamhost’s $97 – your $20 discount)? I don’t think it would make them any less likely to use the referral, but then you’re not hiding anything. Same thing with Sharebuilder.
Obviously, you have advertising to support the cost of the site, plus pay you for your work and writing – that’s not a problem at all. I just think you’d do well to keep that side separated from the writing.
12:55 pm (reply)
Fair enough, I added that information to the post above. I wouldn’t recommend any company or organization of which I’m not a satisfied customer.
Affiliate links are pretty common on the personal finance blogosphere, and by no means am I a big offender. There’s a disclaimer on every page on this website that describes my advertising and affiliate policy.
If you want a better promotion code, use FLEXO97, in which you get $97 off and I get $0.
If you like my site and appreciate what I write, use the code FLEXO50 which is a $48.50 discount and I receive $48.50.
Or use the FLEXO20 code above.
1:57 pm (reply)
My comment was not a personal attack – you’re definitely not a big offender. However, I do think it’s a big problem on the personal finance blogosphere.
Let’s face it: almost all PF bloggers are in it for the money. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I think money can be made without losing credibility. Clearly stating conflicts (as you’ve now done) is, in my mind, the best way to do that.
I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about making money – this is one heck of a site, and it’s helped me out a great deal.
2:39 pm (reply)
I applaud Flexo for “coming clean” on the referral codes. I agree that he’s definitely not one of the bigger offenders and doesn’t seem to be the type that would promote something he didn’t believe in. Moreover, he actually offered free space on his server for budding PF bloggers.
I just started a personal finance blog and had trouble deciding on a host because it seemed like all of the reviews or endorsements of Dreamhost were positive but included the promotion code in the post. It made it difficult to tell how much their review was influenced by the referral fee.
I ended up going with Dreamhost anyway. What tipped the scale was Nick’s review (without a referral code) on his blog Punny Money at http://www.punny.org/money/bloggin-on-up-part-2-hello-new-host/
If I had known about Flexo’s code at the time, I would have used it since Nick doesn’t have one.
4:33 pm (reply)
Can I use the -FLEXO1000 code in which we get free hosting, the contents of your checking account, and 50% of what you have stashed in your 401K?
4:46 pm (reply)
Be my guest, Doobie. Let me know if that code works for you. :>
12:36 am (reply)
Hey Flexo I like that $20 promo code.. I just got an account :)