Being a top web designer comes with its blessings and also a rigorous weight of responsibility. Once you get popular in a particular field, then everyone wants to consult you, ask you questions, ask you to review their project, etc.
This is one of the challenges I am faced with on a daily basis.
…I get several calls, WhatsApp messages, emails requesting that I review a new website design, check if the SSL won’t expire soon and several other questions.
Of all the questions I receive on a daily basis, one seems to be repeated over and over again, and that is “What details should I collect from my web designer after he completes the project.”
For these persons, they probably were the smart kids back in school… because Celebrating having a website up and running today may end in disappointment and pains of starting all over again if you don’t have the key information you need.
Celebrating having a website up and running today may end in disappointment and pains of starting all over again if you don’t have the key information you need.
I wrote a similar article last week, but that one was focused on giving you basic things you should do before setting up your website. If you followed that advice, you may as well not need to read this article, except for additional knowledge.
There are three main reasons you need this information;
One…
The access details belong to your business. You don’t buy a house or a car and not take the keys from the seller
Two…
When you need to hire a different web designer in the future, they would require this information to work.
Three…
Don’t trust the web designer to keep it, what if he dies (God forbid), you would be permanently locked out.
So let’s delve into our subject…
#1 Domain Name Client Area Details:
Every domain name that exists must be registered with an approved domain name registrar. These guys usually provide you with a client area from where you can manage the ownership of the domain.
A username or email and password would be required for you to access this Client area.
IMPORTANCE: You need this access to pay renewal fees when you need to transfer the domain to a new registrar, whenever you want to move your website to a new server (hosting).
This access proves you own the domain name, leaving such a weapon in the wrong hand can lead to massive regrets.
#2 Hosting Panel Login Details:
You cannot have a website running online without having a server, except for websites using a Virtual Private Cloud Server or a Dedicated server, your website has a Hosting Panel attached to it.
The hosting panel allows you to manage the files, codes, and configurations that make your website display when someone enters your domain in the URL bar.
If your website is on a Virtual Private Server or Dedicated Server (for very large websites), then you would need to collect the #3 information (Which by the way still applies to every other hosting type).
#3 Hosting Client Area Details:
Whether your account uses a Hosting Panel or is on a Virtual Private Server, you need the user account details used to purchase the Hosting.
With this access, you can pay hosting fees, change hosting panel login credentials, manage Cloud Storage, delete your hosting account, add 10 more website designs to the same server, etc.
Ensure you collect this information for safe keeping.
#4 Access to the Controlling Email:
As you may already know, most of the details above include an email address. This email is called controlling email. It is required to reset the password, submit tickets and complaints to hosting and domain providers.
If your developer already used his personal email account, I would advise you request him to send an email to the company to change the controlling email address to your personal email or an email account you create specially for it.
Summing it Up
If you are not tech savvy, it is normal for some of the terminology here to confuse you. However just get the information for safe keeping.
If necessary I would advice you change all the passwords of the accounts. If you have to work with another developer in the future, you wouldn’t have any need to panic.
I hope you found this article useful, please share it with your social media.