| Starting out in any type of online marketing or | | | | registrar, stating her disappointment in the service. A |
| Internet business can be confusing and overwhelming. | | | | rather nasty letter was received in reply, telling her |
| There are so many different aspects of a start-up: | | | | that she could either "like it or lump it" and that there |
| domain name registration and purchase, Web site | | | | was not anything they could do, as a contract was in |
| host purchasing, and of course, the "building" of the | | | | place that could not be "broken" by any means. The |
| Web site itself. This leaves many consumers looking | | | | language of the e-mail correspondence was rude and |
| for an easier way to purchase everything in one | | | | uncalled for, and a phone number was not provided |
| place, both to save money and to save time. | | | | anywhere for more personal contact, neither was |
| This has led to the rise of "total packages" by many | | | | the name of the support person that wrote the |
| hosting and Internet development companies, where | | | | e-mail. |
| everything is included: domain-name registration, | | | | The site remained down consistently, as well, over |
| software for design of a site or an online method of | | | | the next few weeks, forcing Katheryn to sign up for |
| building a site, professional design of the site, and of | | | | a different hosting plan with a different host, and |
| course, the hosting. This is quite popular as it whittles | | | | also re-register the domain with another registrar. |
| down the process of getting a site up and running | | | | Luckily for Katheryn, the registration of the site was |
| for many new to the Internet and online marketing. | | | | in her name, and a new name did not need to be |
| However, with the convenience of Web-hosting | | | | purchased. At the time of import, however, the |
| packages of this sort, there also can be | | | | previous "problem" host refused to initiate a transfer, |
| inconveniences. No road is paved "with gold" and this | | | | claiming that the contract remained intact, and |
| type of registration, hosting and design package deal | | | | therefore the site could not be transferred. The new |
| is no exception. There can be problems that surface | | | | hosting company had to "maneuver" the site onto it's |
| later on when purchasing a Web design and hosting | | | | own servers without the cooperation of the previous |
| package that also includes registration. These | | | | company, costing the client more time and money |
| problems usually present themselves in the following | | | | than was necessary. |
| forms: | | | | For months afterward, Katheryn was billed |
| 1. Once a Web site becomes popular, the hosting | | | | repeatedly by the previous hosting company for |
| charges may rise exorbitantly, as the "special" that | | | | monthly hosting, even though a site no longer existed |
| was presented initially can become inapplicable once a | | | | on their servers, and they were in essence hosting |
| certain amount of traffic or the size of the site | | | | "air" at this point. Copies of all correspondence had to |
| changes. This is more of a problem for larger | | | | be sent to the billing service to "dismiss" this |
| business sites than for smaller business sites or | | | | recurrent billing, which was the only option left to |
| "personal" or "theme" sites. | | | | Katheryn at this point. |
| 2. Some "specials" only exist for a limited amount of | | | | I'm sure there are many people like Katheryn who at |
| time, and the charges can rise steadily after that | | | | one time or the other have gone through such |
| period. | | | | ordeal. |
| 3. A Web site owner may have different needs as | | | | Some possible methods of avoiding the "trap" of |
| time goes on, and the "package" no longer suits the | | | | packages such as this: |
| needs of the owner. This can include the inability to | | | | 1. Read all paperwork and contracts thoroughly. The |
| change the pages on one's own, or the inability to | | | | fine print is indeed, very "fine" sometimes, for a |
| effectively track traffic, as some come with traffic | | | | reason, and reading everything thoroughly will save |
| statistics packages. | | | | frustration and misunderstandings later. |
| 4. Downtime (when a site is down and can't be | | | | Above all, make sure that the registration will be |
| viewed) can be significant enough to warrant a | | | | done in "your name", as the loss of a popular name, |
| change of hosts or domain name registrars. | | | | with a large amount of traffic, is a HUGE loss. Or |
| 5. A Web site, registration, and web hosting package | | | | better still, register your domain name yourself. With |
| company may go out of business, leaving a client | | | | so many online domain registrars, it's very simple to |
| with no way to contact them, and three services to | | | | register a domain name online. The only thing you |
| quickly replace. This also leaves a site open to loss of | | | | need to do once you have bought a hosting package |
| the registered domain name, as well as loss of | | | | is change the "name servers" through the control |
| revenues while the site is "down". | | | | panel provided by your domain registrar. |
| 6. A contract may exist which states that the | | | | If at all you are not satisfied with your hosting |
| "special" prices are only offered contingent on | | | | company and would like to shift to a different |
| remaining with a certain company for a specified | | | | company, simply change the name servers to point |
| amount of time (which may be years). | | | | to the new company. That's it! |
| 7. The actual "name" of your site may not even be | | | | 2. Make sure there is a contact phone number and |
| registered to "you" the perceived "owner", but to | | | | physical address for correspondence with the |
| the hosting and registrar company that initiated the | | | | companies if the need should arise. As in the case of |
| purchase through the package deal. This how the | | | | Example #1, the lack of a phone number and physical |
| Web site hosting, design and registrar packages | | | | address was detrimental to effective correspondence |
| "save" money many times for consumers, as they | | | | and resolution. |
| "buy in bulk", registering hundreds of sites per month. | | | | 3. Take the time to research different plans and |
| All the above seem simple enough to rectify. Simply | | | | different companies. If at all possible, ask to speak to |
| "switch" the Web site, hosting, and domain name | | | | some of their other clients to ensure that they are |
| registrar to that of other companies. | | | | indeed sensitive to the needs of their own |
| This is the point, however, in which "trouble" can rear | | | | customers and are flexible enough to adapt to |
| its ugly head. Some hosting and domain name | | | | changes in a site over time. |
| registrars seem reluctant to "hand over" a site to any | | | | 4. Take the time to correctly ascertain your own |
| other company, as it does mean the loss of a | | | | needs and the needs of any site you'll be building. |
| customer and therefore, revenue, for themselves. | | | | The package needs to "fit your needs" explicitly. |
| The current hosting company and registrar may | | | | 5. If at all possible, use different providers for each |
| likewise delay a transfer, or refuse to provide | | | | stage of a Web site: hosting, domain-name registrar, |
| sufficient information to a new host or registrar to | | | | site building. It does take longer to get a site up and |
| effectively conclude a transfer. It becomes even | | | | running with this method, but the overall control that |
| more tangled, if the name of a site has been | | | | you will have over the site is well worth the extra |
| registered to them. | | | | effort, usually. If one provider proves to be a |
| This is where it is possible for a "nightmare" of | | | | disappointment, it is easier to replace one service, |
| subterfuge regarding a site to begin. Sometimes, | | | | rather than try to replace everything at once. |
| after numerous contacts, with no reply, a Web site | | | | As you can easily see, sometimes "time saving" |
| owner will realize that the switching of the site has | | | | strategies are not really that, and can lead to |
| become a real battle. | | | | heartbreak and headaches. As with everything else, |
| Here's an actual real life example of a friend of mine, | | | | "slow but steady" wins the race, and it does pay to |
| Katheryn: | | | | take the time to initiate each stage of a Web site |
| After much downtime had occurred, Katheryn wrote | | | | individually. |
| to the initial hosting company, and domain name | | | | |