Have you ever felt like you don’t know how to make a change on your own website? Or that you’re being held hostage by your web company, because you don’t know how to operate your website without them?
At BuzzFactory, we’ve heard so many horror stories from new clients who’ve been burned by digital partners in the past. (We even heard of one web agency that simply disappeared overnight, leaving clients with no way to update or change their sites!)
Sadly, these kinds of situations are not uncommon.
And if you feel confusion or fear around your web presence, you are not alone. The language of the web can be hard to translate at times. Making matters more complicated, many terms are often misused. To be honest, “webmasters” have long had an incentive to keep their world mysterious: Surely, some of the IT gurus of the world ensured their job security by making things more complicated!
At the end of the day, most business owners and employees don’t have the time or desire to untangle complex web issues. Still, you deserve to feel confident and in control of your web marketing. After all, you paid for it!
Your company should always have the following logins and passwords on file, so you can have access to your website at any time – or ask a vendor to make necessary changes. If you find you don’t have them handy, we’ve included an easy email template to send to your web partner, so you can get your information back and regain control of your web presence.
1. Domain (AKA Domain Name Registry, Domain Name, or Registrar)
These phrases are often used interchangeably and refer to your web address (or url), i.e. www.YourCompany.com. GoDaddy.com, Domain.com & Web.com are all examples of popular domain name registries. Having control of your company’s URL is key! You also should be listed as the Admin or Tech contact on your site’s domain registration info.
2. Webhosting / CPanel
Your website depends on a domain name and a host, but they are not always the same thing. If you think of your domain name as your street address, then think of your webhosting as the foundation of your house, or where your website is stored. Common webhosting services include GoDaddy, Wordpress, or HostGator. You also might hear about the CPanel, which is a web-based control panel for your hosting. You cannot make changes to your website unless you have access to your website hosting, so having the login and password to your webhosting company or CPanel is extremely important.
3. FTP
FTP stands for file transfer protocol, and it is one way that files and folders can be uploaded to the internet. In the past, websites were often built this way. Today, not many websites are built using an FTP server; but if yours was, having the login information will reduce costs when you want to make a change. It’s worth asking for this login as well.
4. CMS and/or Website Builder
People use these two terms interchangeably, but they are two different solutions. CMSes (content management systems) typically are used to manage written content like blog posts, where website builders are generally used to create more graphic websites. Wordpress is a common CMS, while WIX & Squarespace are the most common website builders today. You need the login name and password to your CMS or website builder to make quick content changes.
5. Social Media
You should have the logins to your social media accounts, and/or be listed as an Admin with full permissions.
Are you ready to be the master of your own web presence?
Here’s an easy email you can copy, paste, and send to your web company. Once you get it back, make sure you check it to make sure it works! With this information on file, you will always have control of the assets you paid for, and you’ll be able to make quick changes to benefit your business.
Hello,
I am updating our login and passwords for our web assets. Can you please provide me with the following credentials:
Domain Name:
Login Url:
Username:
Password:
Web Hosting:
Login URL:
Username:
Password:
FTP (if relevant):
Login URL:
Username:
Password:
CMS (if relevant):
Login URL:
Username:
Password:
Website Builder (if relevant):
Login URL:
Username:
Password:
Social Media (if relevant)
Username:
Password:
Thank you!
