Who will own your domain name? Your hosting account? Your site design? And your site content?
And who will control access to all of the above?
Make sure you get the answers to these questions before hiring any web designer or signing up for any site design service.
You want to be certain that you own and control access and content associated with your web presence. It’s a vital part of your web identity and your marketing.
Make sure to ask any web designer whose name and contact information will go on domain registration and hosting accounts. Find out whether text, pictures or videos that are put on your site actually belong to YOU or whether the company retains copyright. Find out what happens to the site and content if you discontinue their service.
If you don’t – the consequences can be downright frightening!
My Policy Regarding Website Access, Content and Ownership
If you pay for it, you own it. Typically I retain control (such as usernames/passwords) until the site is paid for but then I give those to you. On domain registration I typically list myself as the “Technical Contact” – so that my name is on the account SOMEWHERE if I call the registrar on your behalf – but you or your company is listed as the Registrant (the legal owner.)
If there is anything that you don’t own/control for some reason, I’ll make sure you know that in advance.
You have my word on that.
