Is it good idea to start image host or not?

I want to start the image hosting website. Is it still a good idea to start an image host or this is too much saturated? Can it be started with the shared web host (ie. later if everything goes fine, it can be moved to dedicated server), or is it not a good idea?
Please let me know your suggestions, i shall be very thankful.
Thanks.

 

This niche is too saturated. There are so many image hosts with too many features that a new host without any new feature is not going to survive long. I don't think any good webhost will allow you to use the servers for image hosting as image hosting sites tend to hog a lot of bandwidth.

IMO its better you look for another niche.

 

Except you have a forum (especially adult forum) or your close friend owns a forum.
You can encourage the forum members to use your image host.
This will bring lot of traffic to your image host.

But i am not sure how to earn with an adult image host.

 

I agree. There are way too many image hosting websites. Try to find a niche where you won't have to compete with too many sites.

 

In business a thing you might learn that competition means its probably a good sign there money to be made, I'm in niche that has fierce competition. Proxies. THere is like a zillion of them. I'm also thinking of getting into image hosting. The competition does not scare me.

 

I did mention that if you can stand out of the crowd then you can enter any niche, Even I've some proxy websites and I'll make more proxy websites. I even managed to do well in arcade site niche.

Any niche is fine if you have a unique idea that can attract visitors to your website.

 

I started my 1st image site about 3 months back and it was slow to start but is gradually building momentum and i would agree with find a niche area and what i have been doing is as i am a member of many metal detecting forums and websites i have been promoting my site for people to add there goodies that they find onto our site and i have to say it is starting to look a good move.
At the moment i am working on a Adult image host and that is a differant ball game as the expense of the host is way more than a normal host and you have to fathom out if the cost of the host is more than covered by revenue.

 

I don't know if it work either but you can try anyway. I am using free domain name, free script....I just make one image hosting site...http://www.fotoko.co.cc

 

There are many sites providing free image hosting, I don't want to discourage you but I don't think this could be right niche to start with.

 

A non-censored image host or a Adult image host would be harder to monetize. As if you showing a nude picture or maby something that is disturbing that someone uploaded. You could not put Any adsense on the site or many other advertisements, you would have to have a carefull system in place to catorogize the images so you could display Ads on the "safe" images and if someone uploads a nude/distrubing picture you would show no ads on that page.

 

@Dollar some very good information mate,thanks very much !!

 

There are many hosts that dominate the market, it would not be a good idea unless you had loads of capital to invest.

 

There still room for image hosting kind of site.
You can tap the untapped market.
For the hosting,many shared host doesn't allow image hosting site coz it used up too much resources.
Its best to start with a low end dedicated server

 

If you creative, you will get rid of your competitors..

The key is well planned and be creative

 

There are lots of image hosts out there. You would face a tough competition. You need to stand out of crowd to successfully run an image host. If you are creative then the competition wont make any difference for you. All the best.