Are you planning to buy a domain for your online business? Are you thinking about buying it from a web developer? Did you know there have been cases where the web developer has tried to hold a site hostage when the client tries to leave them?

Don’t fall into the trap…

As digital has become the new normal, everyone from individuals to organizations is looking forward to making their digital presence felt. As more and more people are accessing the internet, not having an online presence can leave your business behind.

If you do not have a web presence, you do not exist anymore. Digital presence has become an indispensable part of an organization.

While you can easily buy domains from websites like GoDaddy, if you choose to buy them from your web developer, make sure you follow the following advice.

  • Domain Should Belong To Your Company Legally

    In haste to establish a strong web presence, brands often commit petty mistakes which can cost them in the future. They often end up taking the wrong decision of opting for a digital service provider with a questionable intent.

    NEVER, we repeat, NEVER let the web developers buy a domain name for your business. However, if they are buying a domain for you, make sure they register the domain in your business name. Remember, the domain should legally belong to you or your business.

  • Read The Contract Carefully

    Before signing any legal document, make sure to read between the lines and sign the agreement only after you have a complete understanding. A majority of the time, businesses looking for buying domain have little or no knowledge about the technical part of it. If your web developers are responsible for hosting and domain, make sure you recognize that they will take care of everything before signing the agreement.

    Sometimes web developers can make unjust demands of money. Therefore, it is important to check under whose name is the domain registered. Is it you or your web developer? If it is legally registered under your name, you may be able to retrieve it, but if it is registered under your web developer’s name, they have the option to hold your website hostage.

  • Keep a Backup

    Sometimes, developers allow their clients to have access to the site details and also give them hosting rights but offer restricted entry to the site files and the hosting account.

    However, it is important to have a full back up of your website in a place detached from the web developer’s server. If you know how to create a backup, you can do it yourself or you can even ask the developer to do it for you.

  • The Bottom Line

    It is always advised to purchase the domain on your own. However, if the web developer is making a purchase on your behalf, make sure you rely on a written contract. Get an NDA signed and have a clear understanding of the details you will get when you choose to stop working with them.

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