Web Design Domain Name

The most important part of your website

I know the internet can be quite confusing, and there are so many things to remember, but of all the things, this is one you need to know and understand.

The most important part of your website is:

Your domain name.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the unique address that you use to get access files on a web server. eg. nickimckay.com

Think of it like you address to your house or your phone number, it’s unique to you – but doesn’t actually do anything other than point you in the right direction.

Keep it safe

The past few weeks I’ve been having some serious ‘Mercury in Retrograde’ issues with the website hosting company switching things around.

When contacting clients to update their details, I’ve found they don’t know where their domain is registered, can’t find their login details, it’s linked to old email addresses that no longer exist orĀ is still registered to old service provider.

Eeek!

Make sure you keep these details in a super safe place, I recommend outside of your email inbox. I keep mine with all my legal things for my business.

What details should you have

There are 3 things that you really need to know. Who the domain is registered through (ie. the company you purchased it from), Your username or email that you registered it with. The password.

Generally you will get an email from your registrar on purchase, this is what is best to keep as it will have all of these details and generally a link so you can login quickly and update details. A receipt number is not going to help us login and update details.

Get it in your name

I have had heaps of new clients come to me with domain names registered to their old web designer. This is a big NO NO. You lose total control over your name, which makes things extremely messy if you’re leaving your old designer for certain less than desirable reasons.

It is possible to transfer your domain without contacting the old designer, but it is a process that involves business name registration certificates and fax machine (ouch) and can take a little while.

Keep your details up to date

Please make sure that you register your domain to an email address that you will have access to forever. I suggest using a personal gmail account that way no matter what, you will always be able to reset passwords to get access to your domain.

The last thing you want is to lose your domain name because the renewal is being sent to an old email address!

 

If you don’t know where your domain name registration details are RIGHT NOW go and find it and put it somewhere safe!

 

1 thought on “The most important part of your website”

  1. Nicki is absolutely correct, the keys to your domain are yours and yours alone ! The number of times I have come across – our web designer has them, is ridiculous. You wouldn’t give your house keys to your bus driver because he drives you to work. So own your domain keys people’

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