Assured Lease Corp. is a full-service Canadian-owned leasing company providing a blend of prompt service, competitive rates, and a wide variety of flexible programs. Assured Lease offers commercial Lease-to-Own financing across Canada for business equipment packages and specialize in serving start-up and small to medium-sized businesses.

We worked with some great people on this project including Keylime Design who redeveloped the company branding, and Cognito Creative who developed all the video for the site.

The Peace Arch Maternity Clinic has been serving families in the community for 10 years, and is staffed with experienced maternity doctors some of whom have been delivering babies for more than 20 years. The upcoming opening of the new Peace Arch Maternity Ward prompted the clinic to launch a new web presence, and we were happy to oblige.

Diamond Blue Solutions is an Australian company that specializes in Staff and Team Development for all size companies.

Diamond Blue Solutions

Alison Anderson of Compass Senior’s Services, is a Certified Relocation & Transition Specialist. The company required a website to inform clients of their services.

Compass Senior's Services

I normally don’t like to rant on my blog, I feel like it is just bad form, but today I am just plain pissed off. I have a new client, nice guy, made a few mistakes at the beginning of his web development journey, but these things happen and he is on his way to fixing those mistakes.

For a while now I have been going on about how important it is to control your domain name. And here is a prime example as to why you need to get on top of that control if you don’t already have it.

My client, the nice guy…made the mistake of letting a “friend” design his web site. So why is this a mistake? Well unless his friend was a professional web developer, then the chances of getting a professional website falls into the realm of “Not Going To Happen”, but the worst thing is now that the client has realized that he needs professional development help, his so called buddy has chosen to take his original site and domain name hostage. So much for working with friends.

I come into the situation at a very bad time for this project. The client comes to me and says that his “designer” has basically left the planet, leaving the client with a semi finished and badly developed website. So I try to pick up the slack. We are going to have to start from scratch. Should not be an issue except his original designer will not get back to us with any information about the domain name etc… It is always a touchy situation when you arrive on the scene of a  web development project gone wrong. Tempers are flaring on both sides. One the client is not happy with the situation, and two the designer is probably feeling rejected, and might not have been paid for the tail end of service. No one likes rejection, and no one likes to not be paid…

Too often designers let their egos get out of control. I have come across the odd designer who, when put in this situation, will get defensive and vengeful. Much like a bad divorce, the jilted party’s first thought is, “How do I screw this guy?”. Unfortunately, if the client has made the first fatal mistake of not taking control of his domain name, that is usually the first blow across the bow for the jilted designer.

In this situation, the original designer has removed the old site from his server, closed access to the FTP, and is now holding the domain name hostage. So now the client has invested several hundred dollars in business cards and branding that is completely useless and his site is completely down.

So why am I pissed off? I am so tired of developers and designers pulling these tricks. I am sorry you and the client have not worked out, these things happen, get over it and move on in a professional manner. This petty little ego trip you are having is not solving anything. Making life difficult out of spite is not going to get you ahead in this little game.

Any way, Rant Complete!

Stay tuned for future developments….

I wish people would ask me this question more often. There are lots of important things to consider when it comes to your web site, reliable hosting, a reliable developer, but the most important thing is your domain name.

Far too often clients come to me lacking control of their domain name. Either they let their original designer buy the domain name for them along with their hosting, or the took advantage of the “Free” domain name included with many hosting plans. Either way, they don’t have any idea where their domain information is or how to access it.

It is easy to see how it can happen, you just don’t want to worry about it. Let your designer take care of it, all part of the service right? When we begin the process of having our website developed, we get into it with the thought that our relationship with our new designer is going to last a lifetime. Sad but true, that just may not be the case. Our industry is filled with less then desirable companies, and those that fly in the night. Or maybe the fit just doesn’t quite fit. It happens, and as website owners we are left holding the bag so to speak.

When and if the time comes that you need a new designer he or she is going to ask you for a few things before they get started. The first is going to be about hosting, Do you have hosting? Where is it? And are you willing to change hosting if the old hosting company does not meet the requirements of your new site?

The next thing they will ask for is your domain name registration information. Ideally you have bought your own name at an independent domain name register such as godaddy, and you would just give over the requested information. But lately it seems more and more of my new clients do not have this information. At some point in the process they allowed their former designer to “Take Care” of it for them, or maybe they developed their site themselves and got their domain name for free with their hosting, either way they are unsure of their domain name information. And in an extreme case, their domain name was not even bought under their name, instead it was bought under the designer’s name. So now they don’t even actually own their own domain name.

So let’s get to the bottom line here…why is it important to control your domain name? Well would you let your interior designer register your Business Name? No? I thought not…why would you let your web designer register your Domain Name?

You register your own Domain Name for all the same reasons you register your own Business Name. Your domain name is one of the most important pieces of your branding, as important as your logo, and your business name. It is something that will remain part of your business identity as long as that business is operating. Web designers may come and go, but your name will remain the same.

Sorting out the Situation

If you already have a website and a current website designer and you know you did not register your own name you need to find out where it is registered and who is the administrative contact associated with your domain name. Just email your designer and get him or her to send you this information to keep in your records. Sometimes designers will register names through their hosting companies, if this is the case, you will probably want to move the domain name to a secure account you have control over such as godaddy. Depending on the register the hosting company uses, this can be as simple as going to godaddy and setting up an account and asking the designer to transfer the domain name to your account. You may have to step through an extra hoop or two to transfer the domain to your control, but they are relatively easy hoops. I highly recommend you do this while you are on good terms with your designer to make the transition less stressful. Most reputable designers will have no problem working with you to make this happen. If your designer is reluctant to help you out here, you might want to rethink your designer.

If you are not on good terms with your current designer, then things might get a bit touchy. But don’t let that deter you! If you run into problems, feel free to give us a shout, we will see what we can do to get things worked out.

New Business New Domain Name

Registering your domain name is very simple. Go to a domain name register such as godaddy.com and follow the steps. A domain name will cost about 10-15 dollars per year, so make sure you check the the shopping cart at the end to be sure you did not order any extras you don’t need.

Now you have control of your domain name…

As always, if you have questions feel free to ask…

Desiree from In The Dog House required an effective new website to replace her old static website. Located in Langley BC, In the Dog House creates well mannered and balanced dogs.

In the Doghouse

Dragonfly Pressure Washing required a new website to promote their new business. Located in Langley BC, Dragonfly uses high pressure and eco friendly cleaners to clean refrigeration vehicles, and residential properties.

Dragonfly Pressure Washing

Terra Equipment LTD. required a new site for their expanding business. Located in Surrey BC, Terra Equipment LTD provides new, used and e manufactured turf equipment to golf courses, parks and schools.

Terra Equipment LTD

Sara Watkins from Quantum Intelligence required a new website for her Bio Feedback Practice.

Quantum Intelligence