GUARD YOUR DOMAIN NAME, HOSTING, AND WEBSITE
Across the United States and internationally, companies sell and re-sell domain names or ‘website addresses. They are known as ‘Domain Registrar.’ Some domain registrars include; GoDaddy, Host My Site, Host Gator, iPower, Host Dime, Network Solutions, Register, Yahoo! hosting, Tucows, and thousands more.
THIRD-PARTY DOMAIN CONTROL
I have a few website clients whose domain names and web hosting are managed by a 3rd party, such as their web designer, public relations person, or IT support person. However, you should always maintain first-hand control of these digital assets.
LOSING ACCESS TO YOUR DOMAIN NAME
It’s not enough even if you have the login or passwords to your domain registration account(s). You must be sure that YOU are the administrative person on your domain-name account.
Furthermore, you want the billing or invoice is in your name. Otherwise, you risk losing control and ownership of your domain name.
Moreover, no amount of money or legal power will help you take control of your domain name. Therefore, you need to plan. Because life is messy and unpredictable, ‘what happens if your web developer gets hit by a freight train?’
On a more serious note, here are a few REAL WORLD case studies for a few of my clients who have experienced loss or disruption of their website and website domain names in different ways.
DOMAIN CASE STUDIES
A national non-profit client’s site could not launch for three months. A former employee had registered their domain name left the organization. Furthermore, he left no forwarding address or contact information.
A large construction company website was offline for two weeks. An employee with their IT vendor made updates to their domain registration accounts. The employee went on vacation, and no one with the IT vendor could locate the login credentials to help correct the problem.
A major technology company acquired a new technology business along with their website. The website had been live for many years had a good Google ranking, thus adding to the value of the purchase.
However, no one could find or contact the person who had registered the domain name, resulting in expiring the domain name.
CONTROL YOUR DOMAIN NAME
Never put the power and control of your domain name in the hands of a 3rd party. Life is messy. For example, consider the following.
Companies go out of business.
Employees leave for the company.
Accounting departments miss payments.
Emails change.
Unexpected life event.
In other words, any of the reasons above may result in your website going offline or, worse yet, result in you losing your domain name altogether. Please also read SELECTING GOOD DOMAIN NAMES.
BE SURE THAT YOU ARE THE ‘MASTER OF YOUR DOMAIN.’
Your digital assets, such as your domain name and website, will become the most important marketing assets you will ever own. Treat them like your birth certificate and social security number. Besides, it’s good business practice!
Also see: TRANSFERRING YAHOO DOMAIN
ABOUT VISIONEFX
VISIONEFX provides services to small business owners throughout the United States.
Please read what our customers have to say about VISIONEFX on Google Reviews.
Call: (757) 619-6456 or email info@visionefx.net.
Also, see
TRANSFERRING YAHOO DOMAIN
AVOID LOSING YOUR WEBSITE
RESOLVE DNS CACHE ON COMPUTER
DOES A LONGER DOMAIN REGISTRATION INCREASE RANKING?
