This article underscores the importance of a question every website owner should be asking: Who owns my domain name? The registration of a domain name, often an overlooked aspect of web design, is a fundamental step in establishing an online presence. It's crucial to comprehend the implications of domain name ownership and how to shield your online identity from potential risks.
When selecting a web design firm for your project, it's crucial to ask the right questions. One of the most important queries is about domain name ownership. The registration of a domain name is a key step in the web design process, often underestimated. A reliable web design firm will guide you through all aspects of the website design process, highlighting the importance of each step. However, many web design companies neglect to mention a key detail - the entity that registers your domain name becomes the owner of that domain name.
So, what are the implications for business owners? It's a wake-up call for all website owners to independently register their domain names. As a seasoned professional in the website design industry, I've seen some questionable practices, including web designers holding domain names hostage. I consistently advise my clients and all small business owners to register their domain names under their own names. It's vital for the website owner to have control over their domain name. By owning your domain name, you can decide who hosts your website and who has the right to maintain it. Any reputable web design firm would want their clients to have control over their business information.
Many business owners mistakenly think they have control over their websites and can switch hosting or web designers at their discretion. However, I felt the need to write this warning article after receiving numerous calls from people whose web designers were holding their websites hostage. These were all similar situations where a web designer helped a client set up a site from scratch, and everything seemed fine until the website owner wanted to transfer hosting or change web designers, only to find out they couldn't. Discovering that your domain name is being held hostage for more money or out of spite can be a shocking revelation.
Here's a real-life example that emphasizes the importance of owning your domain name. A real-estate agent, let's call her Maggie, had been working with a web designer for several years. This web designer then obtained her real estate license and became a competing real estate agent. Once the "web designer" became a real estate agent, she no longer wanted to update and maintain Maggie's website. Maggie also noticed that her website started falling from Google search results. Maggie approached my web design company for help with updates and to regain her Google Search engine positioning.
Maggie was unhappy with her current web designer and wanted to move her hosting to a new company. Like many business owners, Maggie believed she had full control over her website. Unfortunately, there are individuals who scam, extort, and retaliate, and Maggie fell victim to the latter. We were unable to make any progress with the former designer and had to advise Maggie to seek legal counsel. This is often the only recourse, but it can be a lengthy and expensive process. Some people holding a domain name hostage will release it immediately when faced with a lawyer's letter, but others are willing to prolong the process.
To avoid any domain name issues that could disrupt your website from the outset, register your domain name through a reputable registrar like GoDaddy. I personally recommend GoDaddy due to their excellent customer service and efficient processing. It only takes a few minutes to set up. Fighting for a domain name that you've spent years building a business with will undoubtedly cost you much more.
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