Who owns your domain name?

2011-03-22T02:27:00.000-07:00

For our first proper post, we're asking this simple question.

"Who owns your domain name?"

Most of you will probably turn round and immediately say "I do."

But do you?

We don't want to frighten anyone, but your domain is something YOU should have control of.

This morning, we've checked out the websites of several small businesses (B&Bs and guest houses) that we follow on Twitter. And we got quite a nasty shock.

Out of the 10 sites checked, only one actually owns their domain.

So while a B&B might have a lovely website, with a URL that's the same as the business name - eg Very Nice B&B might use www.verynicebandb.co.uk - it's not their domain.

It's surprising but true, that the legal owner of a domain is the one who registers it, and this is very often not the same person or business who uses the domain. And if it ever came to court, the Very Nice B&B hasn't got a leg to stand on, as they are not recorded as the legal owner.

Although it doesn't happen often, if the person or business who registered your domain goes out of business, or becomes insolvent, your domain becomes part of their assets. You might also have a massive fall-out with the person who looks after your domain and website. They're quite within their rights to refuse to transfer it to someone else. You're left dangling over a barrel, perhaps having to pay a massive price to purchase the domain in your own name, or worse, you may lose it altogether.

In the very worst case scenario, it's not unheard of for unscrupulous owners to sell a domain - they're entitled to, as they are after all the legal owner. All of a sudden, there's something else appearing on "your" domain, and you're left high and dry with some very confused customers.

Still think you own your domain?

While it can be a nuisance to remember renew your domain, it's a very simple process and once it's in your name, so long as you do renew it, it's safe. You can also set it up to renew automatically. Do it, it's well worth it!

The Escapes Guides Blog

2011-03-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Escapes Guides blog, which actually has very little to do with our tourism publications and instead, is where you'll find occasional posts aimed at helping the small tourism business owner to get the most out of the internet.

Over the years, we've worked closely with key people from Google, with developers of a leading CMS (content management system) and with many others whose knowledge of all things geeky and techie is second to none.

As long time publishers of several tourist information websites and digital magazines, we know a thing or two when it comes to navigating the minefield that is the world-wide-web.

We've become SEO experts. We've had to, to ensure our websites rank well amongst the numerous large "information" sites out there. You know the ones we mean. They're the ones you click on, only to find a message that says something along the lines of "sorry, but we don't have any information on X at the moment, be the first to add your comments and if you're the owner, log in here." They're the ones that are anything but information sites, because they actually contain no useful information whatsoever.

Google is in the process of taking steps to deal with these guys, but that's another story.

It probably won't come as too big a surprise then when we tell you that members of the team behind Escapes Travel Guides also build, host and maintain websites, as well as offering ad-hoc copywriting and press-release writing/distribution services for the small business.

If we can help you with any of these things, don't hesitate to contact us.