Do You Really Own Your Website? Key Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask
In today's digital age, your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. But "having" a website and truly "owning" it are two different things.
Many business owners are surprised to discover they don't have full control over their most crucial digital asset.
This lack of control can lead to significant problems if you ever need to make changes, transfer your site, or even just understand if your marketing efforts are working.
So, do you really own your website? Let's explore some key questions every business owner should be able to answer.
1. Do You Know How to Log In to Your Domain?
Your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com) is your website's address on the internet.
While you register a domain, it's important to understand that you don't own it outright indefinitely; it's more like a lease that requires regular renewal.
If you don't know where your domain is registered (the registrar) or how to access your account, you risk losing your domain if it expires.
Worse, if someone else, like a former agency or employee, controls these credentials, you could be locked out.
Actionable Step: Use a "WHOIS lookup" tool (easily found online) to identify your domain registrar. Ensure you have the login credentials and that the contact information associated with the domain is accurate and accessible to you.
My website domain is registered with GoDaddy. Wherever your domain is registered, the next step is to log in to that site and find out if you have access and control of your website domain.
2. Do You Have permission to Make Changes to Your Website?
True website ownership means having the administrative access to make necessary changes.
This includes updating content, managing user permissions, and modifying website settings.
It's not uncommon for business owners to find out, often at a critical moment, that their web developer or marketing agency holds all the administrative keys.
This can leave you dependent on them for even minor changes and potentially block you from accessing your own data or making urgent updates.
Actionable Step: Confirm that you have full administrative access to your website’s content management system (CMS), like WordPress, HubSpot, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, etc.
You should be able to add, edit, or remove content freely.
3. Do You Know Where Your Website Is Hosted?
Website hosting is the service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible to visitors online.
Like your domain, you typically rent server space from a hosting provider rather than owning the server itself.
Not knowing who hosts your website or lacking access to your hosting account can become a major hurdle if you need to migrate your site, troubleshoot performance issues, or manage backups.
Actionable Step: Identify your hosting provider. This information might be in your records, or you can use an online hosting checker tool. Ensure you have the login credentials for your hosting control panel.
4. When Was the Last Time Content Was Updated?
Fresh, relevant content is vital for search engine optimization (SEO) and keeping your audience engaged.
If you're unsure when your website content was last updated, it could indicate that you lack practical control or a clear content strategy.
Stale content can negatively impact your search engine rankings and reduce your credibility with potential customers.
Answering common customer questions on your site regularly, for example, can significantly improve your visibility in search results.
Actionable Step: Check your website for the last modified dates on key pages. If you use a CMS, it often logs content changes.
Reviewing your sitemap.xml file can also provide clues about when pages were last crawled or updated.
NERD ALERT! Sitemaps can look like a bunch of gibberish.
If you are using HubSpot, you can easily see the latest updates.
Why Full Website Ownership Matters
Losing control over these core aspects of your website can be more than just an inconvenience; it can be detrimental to your business.
- Security: Without direct control, your website is vulnerable if a vendor relationship sours or if there's a security breach they fail to manage.
- Flexibility: True ownership allows you to make timely updates, switch service providers, or redesign your site without unnecessary delays or gatekeeping.
- Data & Analytics Insight: Access allows you to integrate tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console (both free resources) to understand how visitors find your site, what content they engage with, and ultimately, whether your marketing is attracting actual customers, not just clicks.
- Legal Protection: Clear domain ownership, content, design, and associated data helps protect your brand and intellectual property.
Take Control of Your Digital Assets
Your website, domain, and associated profiles like your Google Business Profile are valuable digital assets, as important as any other business investment and It's crucial to manage them actively.
Quick Ownership Checklist:
- Can you log in to your domain registrar to renew or transfer your domain?
- Do you have full administrative access to your website’s CMS?
- Do you know who your web hosting provider is and have access to your hosting account?
- Can you update your website content, and do you know when it was last modified?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, or if this raises more questions than answers, it's time to take action. Understanding and securing these elements of your online presence is fundamental to your business's success.
Feeling unsure about where you stand with your website ownership or how to get the answers you need?
Phil Wiseman of Analytics That Profit specializes in helping businesses navigate these very issues. He can help you understand your current situation and ensure your digital marketing efforts are actually driving customers, not just vanity metrics.
Schedule a 15-minute virtual call with Phil Wiseman today to get your questions answered and gain clarity on your website's true ownership and performance.
Analytics That Profit is dedicated to helping businesses like yours take control of their digital assets!
