Technology and web
Web designers, developers, IT support firms, hosting providers and domain registrars. The most common problem in this area is a business that cannot get access to its own website.
Own your domain and accounts
Register your domain name in your own name or your company's, with an email address you control. Keep your own login to the registrar, the hosting account and the website's admin area, even if someone else manages them. If a supplier registers the domain in their name, getting it back can be slow and costly.
Choosing a web designer or developer
- Look at sites they built that are still live, and ask the owners how the project went.
- Ask for a written scope: number of pages, features, who writes the content, how many rounds of changes are included.
- Ask who owns the design and code at the end, and if you will receive a copy.
- Ask how the site will meet accessibility standards. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the common reference, and some countries require them for certain organisations.
- Agree payment in stages linked to delivery.
Ongoing costs
Add up the yearly costs: domain renewal, hosting, software licences, plugins, security updates and support. A cheap build can be expensive to keep running.
Hosting
Ask where backups are kept, how often they are taken and how quickly a site can be restored. Check that the host provides HTTPS certificates and keeps server software up to date.
IT support
For an IT support contract, agree response times in writing, what is included, and how your data and passwords are handled. Make sure you can get every password and admin account back if you change provider.
Security basics
Use a different password for every account, turn on two-factor sign-in, keep software updated and keep at least one backup that is stored separately from the main system.