Do You Have Control Over Your Online Success?

Do you have the security code to your company’s alarm system? How about the master key to your company’s front office door? Of course you do, and as the business owner you should have control of what you pay for.

When it comes to technology and a company website, I am amazed at how many companies do not know who controls their success. Your website can have a few technical accounts associated to its success; here are some of the items you should have access to at all times.

Your Domain Name
The web address of your company’s website is known as your domain. Your domain name may have been purchased through your hosting company or through a registrar like Register.com or Network Solutions. My personal belief is that names should be held with a registrar for better control over your name.

But, if you purchased your domain through your web developer, ask them to create a separate account and provide you access to this account. Be sure your information is listed as the owner and ask the developer or design firm to stay on as the technical contact. This will provide you with full access to your account while also giving the firm you’re working with control over what they need – the technical items.

It’s also a good idea to set your domain name for auto-renew. You can do this in your account settings to ensure you do not lose your domain name due to missed email notifications.

Your Web Host
Every website has to be hosted, and most small businesses use something known as shared hosting. A shared account means that your website sits on the same server as other websites. However, not all hosting companies are created equal, so it is important that you know what exactly you are paying for. The first thing is to make sure you have access to your files even if you never plan to change them. In other words, you want to make sure you have the keys to your website.

Access.
Every web designer and developer has their favorite web host, or they may be your personal host, so be sure to ask up front if you’ll be able to have full access to your files.

File Space.
How much space does your account allow for? Additionally, if you exceed that space allocation, what is the additional space fee?

Bandwidth.
Bandwidth is another item small businesses forget to ask about, and this plays a big part in your site’s success. How much bandwidth is allowed on your account? If your account is reaching your maximum bandwidth, will you be notified or will the site just shut down? I can’t tell you how many websites get an opportunity for great press and then their websites go down because they exceed their bandwidth. Be sure to clearly understand what the fees are exceeding bandwidth, and if you need to manage this yourself.

Marketing, Webmaster & Analytic Accounts
Many web designers and developers today use tools like Google Webmaster and Analytics to add value to websites and market websites. You will want to have access to these accounts as well. You should make this known up front so that they can set things up correctly, but if you’re just discovering this now, be sure to discuss this with your team so they can transfer the accounts to one you set up.

Marketing programs like Google Adwords or other services like directory listings or social tools should all be accessible by you or a member of your business. If you have a bill for any online services, be sure to sit down with the firm or firms you are working with and be clear about what you are paying for and what the expectations are from you and them.

Spend some time over the next month organizing these items. You never know when you may need to take control of your technology or hand it off to a new employee.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 4:07 pm and is filed under Blog, Web Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.