| How well do you know the company that hosts your | | | | provides a backup copy of your web pages if your |
| website? Inthis era of dotcom failures, if your | | | | providergoes out of business. |
| host company goes out ofbusiness, you may be in | | | | 2) Buy your own first level domain ( if youhaven't |
| deep trouble. | | | | already. It looks much more professional than a |
| Let's cover the basics first. A website is a | | | | secondlevel domain, and is an inexpensive |
| group of electronic | | | | investment. Go to: to register your name for |
| "files" stored on a special computer (also called a | | | | less. |
| "server"). | | | | 3) If you already own your domain, and had your web |
| This server is hooked up to the Internet to allow | | | | designer orhost register it for you, make sure the |
| visitors accessto web pages 24 hrs a day/7 days a | | | | domain name is actuallyin your name. We had |
| week. | | | | a client recently have to change the domainname they |
| If you own a "first level" domain name, | | | | were using, because their former web |
| (example: the web site and its pages are | | | | developerregistered the domain in their own |
| yourproperty. But if your host goes out of | | | | name! Go to: , type in your domain name, then |
| business, shuts down itsservers, and the web pages | | | | in thenext page click on "whois record". Your |
| are not retrievable, your website isnot just inaccessible, | | | | name should be the firstone listed. The Admin |
| it's gone! And you no longer have accessto the | | | | and technical contacts can be your host orweb |
| email address associated with your site. | | | | designers. |
| If you use a free service to host your web pages and | | | | 4) Know your web host company. Like |
| have a | | | | anything, you get what youpay for with cheap web |
| "second level" domain name, such as the hosting | | | | hosting. Support will be by phone oremail, and |
| company goes out of business, you are completelyout | | | | on generally on THEIR schedule. Be aware of |
| of business. No domain and no pages. | | | | what youare getting. |
| The domain addressyou've been using (and hopefully | | | | Your best bet is to contact for services with a web |
| advertising!) and the site arecompletely gone. | | | | host whoprovides quality service at a reasonable |
| Protecting Yourself: | | | | price. Protect yourselffrom the possibility they |
| 1) You should always retain a copy of all your web | | | | might go out of business. |
| pages andimages used. This serves a dual | | | | MIND'S EYE NEWS TIP IN PLAIN ENGLISH: |
| purpose. It not only provides alevel of safety in | | | | Retain a copy of your website and make sure you |
| the event of a problem with the web server,it also | | | | own your firstlevel domain address. |