Does Someone Else Own YOUR Web Address?
The other week I met with a new client over lunch. During the client intake process we reviewed some information about the client's web site. As part of the intake process I check up on web site ownership. When I did a registration look up on the client’s web site I noticed that the client didn’t own their domain name / web address. The client originally contracted with a local advertising agency when they first setup their web site. When I checked the domain registration for my client’s web site, it was registered with the sales rep for the advertising agency. My client had no idea someone else owned their web address. This happens all the time. You need to ask yourself, right now, “is my business web site registered in my name?”
For those that don’t know . . . when registering a domain name (web address) you’re required to input a registrant or owner for the domain being registered. I’m not an attorney . . . and this isn’t legal advice . . . but, if someone else is the domain registrant for your web site – they own your web address. Over the last few years I’ve had to tell several business owners that they didn’t own their own web address. In most instances the situation was easily remedied and the registration was corrected. The whole situation can become a real pain if you need to change hosting providers or web development companies. It becomes worse if you've spent thousands of dollars on advertising that includes a web address that you think you own, but really don't . . . You can avoid the stress . . .
Quickly Check Domain Your Domain Ownership
The easiest way to determine if you own your domain is by doing a Whois look up. A Whois lookup gives you ownership information about a given web address. If you’re looking up your own web site, pay attention to the ‘registrant.’ If it’s your web site, you should be listed as the registrant. Go to the following link to do a Whois lookup . . . http://whois.domaintools.com/. Just input your domain name to get the registration information.
If Your Domain Isn’t Register to You
If you do a Whois lookup and notice that your domain isn’t registered in your name . . . don’t panic. The personal who initially setup your site probably automatically registered your domain using their information. This happens all the time and there is no fraudulent intent. If the person or business who setup your web site is the registrant, kindly ask them to transfer the registration into your name. It takes 2 minutes to update the information. There are several businesses owners I know who took control of their domain without incident.
Avoid Domain Ownership Disputes for Less Than $10 Year
Be proactive about securing your online identity. If you have an event or are considering holding an event, make sure you register a domain name. Less than ten dollars a year (the typical cost to register a domain name annually) is a small price to avoid a bunch of stress and frustration.
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Want to get more great info? Check out the articles below:
- Event Promotions and Shortening Your Domain Name
- Your Domain Name and Television Advertising
- Your Domain Name and Radio Advertising
- Watch Out People Are Googling You!
- Leveraging People Googling You to Your Advantage
- Protecting Your Online Identity - What You Can Do
- Why Well Planned Events Fail
- How to Get Them To Your Event
- Turn Your Event Into an Experience
- The Event Promotion System
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I know of one instance where a dispute between a business owner and a developer caused a website to go offline for weeks. There was nothing the business owner could do in the short-term because neither his name nor his company's name was listed on the domain registration. You would like to think your vendors are more professional than this, but why find out the hard way?
Posted by: Matt Grieshaber | 06/11/2009 at 15:32