| This is a growing concern amongst many business | | | | your own company name. There are people out |
| owners. Does your web design company own you? | | | | there searching for suckers to take their domain |
| This may be possible if you've allowed them to host | | | | name - don't be the one who gets caught! |
| your web site for you and also register your domain | | | | How to avoid this "Power Stricken" disaster: |
| name for your company. | | | | The best solution is to go out and register your |
| Web design companies have a lot of control over | | | | domain name BEFORE you hire a web design |
| their clients. I refer to this as "False Power". The sad | | | | company. This ultimately gives you the power over |
| reality is that most of their clients don't even know | | | | your domain name. At any given time, you can go |
| they are stuck in this potentially painful predicament. | | | | back and log into your "domain name registrant" in |
| This power is usually exercised when a client of a | | | | order to switch your web site to any hosting |
| web design company finds a better deal on hosting | | | | company you choose. |
| for their web site and they simply want to switch | | | | When searching for an "all around" package for your |
| their hosting provider, or when the "client" wants to | | | | web design project, make sure that your hosting is |
| upgrade their web site for a better rate than their | | | | suitable for your needs. 95% of all web design |
| current web development provider is offering. | | | | projects don't need a large hosting package that |
| Here's what usually happens to so called "traitor | | | | costs between $150-$500 a year. The most you |
| clients": | | | | should pay for your hosting in this case is around |
| - Current web design company sends their client a | | | | $100.00 a year, no more. |
| hefty bill for switching | | | | You only need a large hosting package if: |
| - The web design company cancels their | | | | - Your web site is 1000+ pages in size |
| client’s account | | | | - You’re going to buy traffic in the 1000's |
| - They may point the domain name to another place | | | | every month |
| - They sometimes take down the entire website until | | | | - You need over 25 email accounts setup |
| further notice | | | | Ask questions when shopping for a web design |
| You get the point! Too much power is given to the | | | | company! Here are a few questions you should be |
| web design company. I truly believe that it is your | | | | asking right away before you sign any contract... |
| right to shop for better prices and it is your right to | | | | - Do you provide a contract for all your projects? |
| own your domain name even if you didn't have a | | | | - If you register my domain name, will it state in my |
| hand in registering your domain name. | | | | contract that I own the domain name under all |
| As the owner of the website, you put your trust | | | | circumstances? |
| into your web design company to represent your | | | | - If I am late making payments, is it your company |
| business appropriately and honestly, only to find out | | | | policy to cancel the account? |
| down the road that honesty isn't in their vocabulary. | | | | - Why are your hosting services so high in price? |
| I truly believe there should be a law against web | | | | Why wouldn't I go somewhere else for $100 a year? |
| design companies that can be summarized as such: | | | | - Does it state within your contract that I cannot |
| For any domain name registered by the web design | | | | switch to a different hosting company later on? |
| company on behalf of their client, the domain name | | | | - Going forward, am I going to be able to hire any |
| may not be disputed or need to be disputed, the | | | | web developer for my website updates, if I am able |
| domain name is automatically owned by the client and | | | | to negotiate better prices? |
| is automatically bound by their web development | | | | This is another important note: |
| contract. | | | | Make sure your web design company gives you the |
| With every new venture, there is always going to be | | | | "FTP (File Transfer Protocol)" access to your website. |
| loopholes. From the aforementioned example, what if | | | | The FTP allows you to hire another web design |
| there is no contract? If you are reading this and are | | | | company to go in and update your website at any |
| in the process of searching for a web design | | | | time. Without the FTP information, no one can |
| company, please ENSURE that you have a contract | | | | update your website besides the original web |
| drafted, outlining everything you are entitled to and | | | | development company or hosting company that you |
| that you have sole rights to your domain name. | | | | hired. |
| See what most business owners fail to realize is that | | | | In Conclusion: |
| their domain name is as important as registering their | | | | Be weary of web design companies that don't |
| business name itself. I will repeat that... Your domain | | | | provide contracts for all of their projects. Be careful |
| name is "hot real estate", would you want someone | | | | with your domain name; make sure that in the end, |
| else owning your property? | | | | you own all rights to your domain name, not |
| The same applies for your domain name. Don't get | | | | someone else. |
| caught with your pants down while asking, why don't | | | | I hope this article helps you out! |
| I own my domain name. It is as important as owning | | | | |