Are You in Control of Your Website? A Guide for Business Owners
Why Website Ownership Matters for Your Business
One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is losing control of their own websites simply because they don’t understand how it’s set up. This can lead to frustrating situations where you’re locked out of your own site, unable to make updates, or even forced to start over from scratch.
Let’s break down the three critical parts of your website so you can stay in control and avoid costly headaches.
The 3 Key Parts of Your Website
1️⃣ Website Hosting
Your hosting provider is where your website’s files are stored. Think of it as the home where your website lives. Without access to your hosting, you could experience unnecessary downtime, security risks, or even lose your entire site if payments lapse or credentials are lost.
Common Hosting Providers:
Bluehost
SiteGround
WP Engine
GoDaddy Hosting
Why This Matters: If you don’t know your hosting provider, you won’t be able to recover your site if something goes wrong. Make sure you have your login credentials stored securely.
2️⃣ Domain Provider
Your domain provider is the company where you purchased your domain name (your "www" address). This is separate from your hosting and controls the ownership and renewal of your website’s URL.
Popular Domain Providers:
GoDaddy
Google Domains
Namecheap
Bluehost
Why This Matters: If you forget where your domain is registered, you could risk losing your website address if it expires. Keep track of renewal dates and ensure your domain is under your name, not an agency’s or web developer’s.
3️⃣ Website Platform
Your website platform is the tool used to design and build your site. It determines how your site functions, but it is not the same as your host or domain provider.
Common Website Platforms:
WordPress
Wix
Squarespace
Shopify (for e-commerce sites)
Why This Matters: If you want to make changes, add pages, or update content, you need access to your website platform. Many business owners don’t realize they can be locked out if someone else controls the account.
Why Business Owners Lose Website Control
Many business owners assume that their web designer, marketing agency, or IT team is handling everything. While it’s great to delegate, you should always have access to your own website accounts.
Common Issues Business Owners Face:
❌ A former employee or agency has the login info, and now they’re unreachable.
❌ Your domain expires because you didn’t know where it was registered.
❌ You want to switch hosting providers, but you don’t have the credentials.
❌ You’re paying for services you don’t need because you don’t know what you have.
How to Take Control of Your Website Today
🔹 Find Your Hosting Provider: Use tools like WhoIsHostingThis to check where your site is hosted.
🔹 Locate Your Domain Provider: Search for your domain at Whois Lookup to see where it’s registered.
🔹 Ensure You Have Login Access: Write down all usernames, passwords, and renewal dates for your website’s critical accounts.
🔹 Keep Your Information Secure: Store this information in a password manager to prevent losing access.
Need Help? Let’s Get Your Website Back in Your Hands
If you’re unsure about your website’s setup, you’re not alone—I see this issue all the time. At Fanntastic Media, we help business owners take back control of their online presence, ensuring they’re not left in the dark when it comes to website access.
📩 Need help figuring this out? Drop a comment or DM us today. Let’s make sure YOU own your digital presence, not someone else. 🚀
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