Reason 3 – Controlling and Protecting Your Business Sites

“The story we’re about to tell you is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.” 
(from the TV show “Dragnet”)

I wish I were kidding about that. What I’m going to tell you IS true; I’m just glad it doesn’t happen very often.

I got a call last week from a client; I worked on her website last fall. She is an author whose book wasn’t yet available at that time, but she was doing a number of things to prepare for the book launch. My client had a social media site created by one of her team members. After we handled a few updates to the site I had worked on previously, she shared with me the debacle that accompanied the release of her book.

After weeks of work on the social media site, the site was launched. A few weeks later, my client and her team member had a misunderstanding. This woman did not take the situation well, and in retaliation, shut down the site for 8 days right at the time the book arrived in stores. My client did not have the username and password to the site because it was hosted with other sites owned by other people, and controlled by the team member. She had no way of replacing the site in time for her book launch.

A third party intervened in the situation and got the site back up, but by then the damage was done. Fortunately my client has a loyal following, and she didn’t lose much revenue, but it was emotionally devastating. After all her diligence and hard work, losing control of her site when she needed it most was a situation she resolved to never allow again.

In the “I Can Fix My Website” product, one of the first things we talk about is the importance of having the domain registered in your name, with your contact information, and for you to have control of the domain account’s username and password. The same is true of the hosting account; it needs to be YOUR credit card and contact information on file so that you can change it if (God forbid) your web designer turns on you. (Some of my students have told me that I become somewhat animated when discussing this, but it is for good reason.)

In the Action Guide that accompanies the product, I have space for you to write down your usernames and passwords for all of your domain registrations and web hosting accounts. You can also note whether your domains are privately registered (where your personal details are omitted so that you’re less of a target for spammers) and which email address you used with the registration. I have had to help reclaim domain registrations for some clients because the domain renewal email went to an account that no longer existed.

I understand the importance of keeping good records for your domain registrations so that you don’t lose them! With these simple precautions (and some other advice I have for you), there’s no reason
why you can’t take control of your sites and protect your valuable online business assets.

I want to see YOU confidently switching to the Code view in your web editor and saying “Bring it on! I know how to use HTML…!” I look forward to working with you on these and other important items during our coaching sessions together in the “I Can Fix My Website” program.

Tomorrow: Reason 2 – Saving Time on Quick and Easy Updates to Your Sites

Toolie®

P.S. Remember to sign up for Thursday’s webinar (click the red button at right).