For most people, starting an online business involves finding a website developer, and then going along with whatever the developer says.
While this may seem easy and convenient, it also has many dangers. The main one is that you can easily lose control of your website and your entire online business. You can also become locked into an arrangement where any change to your website will be time consuming and expensive.
I want to take you back a couple of steps, and share some basic stuff about websites and online businesses that most people don’t know.
Not knowing this can cost you dearly – in time, money, lost sleep, and lost hair. If you are running a business, you are the one who must be in control. Not your web developer.
Your website is made up of a few separate items that are connected together. Like a jigsaw puzzle with several pieces. Or a chain with several links.
Each of these parts is a totally separate item, chosen from scores of possible options. The choices made in selecting these options will determine how well your website functions.
And in some cases, your web developer may make bad choices. Some of which could severely damage your business. To maintain control, you need to know about the choices that are being made.
The important parts of your internet business are:
- Domain Registrar – who issues your domain name. You MUST obtain the login details to your domain name control panel, or you will not have control of your internet business.
- Domain Name: If your are in business, you need your own domain name. It is your unique address on the internet. Each country issues their own domain names, with the USA’s .com domains being the most popular. Prices for domain names vary greatly, so it pays to shop around.
After you purchase your domain name, it needs to be connected to your - - Web Host. Your web host sells you space on a computer that is permanently connected to the internet. There are tens of thousands of web hosts, and they vary greatly in price, reliability, and level of support that they provide. The files that make up your website are put onto the disk space provided by the web host, where they bocome visible on the internet.
- Email: Your web host also provides the email services for your domain name. They generally provide SPAM filtering services as well, but the effectiveness of these can vary greatly.
- Website Files: These make up your website. You can make your website yourself from HTML files, have it created by a web developer, or use a database application like Wordpress. There are many different options. Make sure that your site is created appropriately for the type and size of your business, and for the way you want it to operate.
Chances are you DON’T need a site that costs several thousand dollars. Despite what a fancy website designer may tell you.
This website runs on the popular Wordpress platform, with a free template. It took 2 hours to set up, and can handle everything that is needed by just about all small businesses.
Regardless of how you decide to develop your site, is vital that you are in possession of :
- The access details to your domain registration control panel
- The access details to the control panel of your web hosting company.
There is no valid reason why your web developer should refuse to give you this information, which is the “core” of your online business.
There are many issues associated with starting an online business, and this blog post only scratches the surface.
For a complete discussion of everything you need to know before you start your online business, please read my “Website Owners Guide”.
You’ll discover many ways to protect your business, and possibly save thousands of dollars.
Find out more about The Website Owners Guide
