The Importance of Domain Ownership
We are always amazed how many small business owners do not have direct access to their company’s domain. In many instances, they have let their website partner register it for them (okay) and then not been given access to it (not okay). In rare occasions, their website partner has demanded a not inconsiderable admin fee to handover the domain to the business owner. Something that should have already happened! If you still need convincing …
Full Control Over Your Online Presence
Owning your domain name means you have complete control over your website. Without ownership, you may face:
- Access Issues: If someone else registers your domain, they can control or block access to your website.
- Dependency on Third Parties: Relying on a web developer or agency to manage your domain leaves you vulnerable if they become unavailable.
Brand Protection
Your domain name is tied to your business’s identity. Losing control of it can:
- Allow competitors or bad actors to acquire it and damage your reputation.
- Lead to customer confusion or lost opportunities.
Flexibility
Owning your domain gives you the ability to:
- Switch hosting providers without restrictions.
- Set up professional email addresses that match your domain (e.g., he***@yo********.com ).
What Happens If You Don’t Own Your Domain?
Case Study: A Small Business Loses Control
A business owner allowed their web developer to register their domain. When the developer shut down their services, the owner lost access to the domain and had to rebrand with a new one – costing them time, money, and customers. Of course, they could have taken a legal route but their developer was based abroad making it very difficult to pursue.
Risks of Non-Ownership
- Renewal Issues: If someone else controls your domain, they may fail to renew it, leading to downtime or loss of the domain entirely.
- Legal Disputes: Disagreements over ownership can delay operations and damage your reputation.
Quick guide on how to secure your domain
New Domain
If you are just about to secure a domain name then follow these steps.
- Register Your Domain with a Trusted Provider. Use reputable registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Consider a registrar with strong security features like two-factor authentication.
- Maintain Full Access. Ensure your domain is registered under your name or your company’s name. Keep login credentials secure and up to date. You can usually provide third parties (such as website development shops) with the access they need without giving them your credentials.
- Set Up Auto-Renewal. Avoid accidental expiration by enabling auto-renewal for your domain registration.
- Enable Domain Locking. This prevents unauthorised transfers or changes to your domain. Most registrars offer this feature for free.
- Use Domain Privacy Protection. Protect your personal information from being exposed in public WHOIS records.
Existing domain
If your domain name has been registered by your web developer and you’re unsure where it’s registered or whether it’s in your name, follow these steps to regain control and ensure ownership:
Check WHOIS Information. Use a WHOIS lookup tool (e.g., whois.net or your domain registrar’s lookup tool). To do this, enter your domain name in order to view:
- The registrant name (who owns the domain).
- The registrar (where the domain is registered).
- Contact information and expiration date.
- Look for your name, your business name, or the developer’s details.
Contact Your Web Developer. Politely ask for the domain registration details. You should request login credentials for the registrar account or ask them to transfer ownership to you. If it’s registered under their name, ask them to update the registrant information to reflect your name and email.
Search Your Emails. Check for confirmation emails from the registrar sent at the time of domain registration. These typically contain: registrar name, login information, renewal notices.
Reset Login Information. If you discover the registrar but don’t have the login, then visit the registrar’s website and attempt a password reset using your email. If your email isn’t associated with the account, you’ll need the developer’s assistance.
Contact the Registrar. If the domain is in your name but you don’t have access, you can provide proof of identity and/or business ownership to the registrar and request help in regaining access or transferring ownership.
Legal Steps. If the domain is registered under the developer’s name and they refuse to transfer it, you could consider legal action. To do this:
- Gather proof that the domain should belong to you (e.g., invoices, emails discussing registration).
- Consult a solicitor familiar with intellectual property or contract law for guidance.
- In extreme cases, you may need to escalate the dispute through ICANN or legal channels.
Hopefully, the threat of legal action will be enough to persuade the developer to hand back the domain name.
Protect Your Domain in the Future. Always ensure that your domain is registered in your name or business name; that you have access to the registrar account and renewal settings; and that the domain’s contact email is an address you control.
Taking action quickly is important to avoid potential issues like losing the domain due to expiration or disputes. If you’d like, I can guide you in drafting a message to your developer or help with WHOIS lookup instructions.
How Digiphore Helps You Manage Your Domain
At Digiphore, we ensure you maintain full control over your domain while simplifying the management process:
- Ownership Guidance: We help you register your domain under your name and set up proper access.
- Renewal Monitoring: We monitor your domain’s expiration date to ensure it’s always active.
- Security Features: We implement domain locking and privacy protection to safeguard your ownership.
Conclusion
Owning and managing your domain name is essential for safeguarding your online identity, protecting your brand, and maintaining full control over your website. Don’t leave such an important asset in someone else’s hands. By taking proactive steps and working with experts like Digiphore, you can ensure your domain remains secure and under your control – allowing you to focus on growing your business with confidence.
