‘We have built it, and it belongs to us.” This is a very common principle that is come across when a business tries to change its marketing company, or collect digital properties they believed belonged to their brand. Although this kind of behavior may not be considered professional by some, it is most certainly and often proposed in contracts in such a way that it is perfectly legal.
It is important to understand these lines clearly while reviewing your contract. Being too trusting of seemingly professional agencies while not asking the right questions can cause you to end up in the same situation. If you are already in this situation, and perhaps feel like you’re ready for a fight to get your hostage website back, we encourage you to continue reading.
Important Things To Consider For Keeping Your Website Investment Safe
Not all developers will try to hold your site hostage, however, it is important to give the proper attention to some facts to avoid that situation altogether. When you go to work with a different developer or marketing team, you can first establish a foundation of how they operate and what their expectations are for the exchange of services.
Who Owns And Controls Your Domain Name?
Although it is very convenient, using your website developer to purchase your domain name on your behalf could cause many problems if the partnership breaks down without an ownership hierarchy previously set up. (Online Capital Group prioritizes our client’s rights to their digital assets, providing services as benefits that both better manage and assist a company’s growth.) This is because whoever buys it owns it, according to some straightforward domain ownership laws. It is especially risky to work with an independent contractor or developer for these reasons. You will suddenly be out of luck if they abruptly “go dark.”
Transferring the domain registrar is necessary to regain control of your domain name. The registrar is the individual or entity your hosting platform identifies as the domain name’s owner. It is feasible to file a claim to return ownership to your organization if your developer is unable or unwilling to transfer these credentials. If your brand is registered with a trademark, this process could take time and cost money. Don’t lose your patience, for OCGnow has helped many businesses overcome unfortunate obstacles and get back on track with getting their brand the results it needs to succeed!
What If I Can’t Get My Hostage Website Back?
In extremely rare circumstances where there isn’t enough convincing evidence that you are the owner of your own website, you might have to recreate your online presence completely. This entails buying a brand new domain, starting again with your website development, and refining a new SEO strategy.
Important: Always remember that starting over with a clean canvas and a well branded URL is far more effective than sticking to a patchwork web asset with a conflicting presence!
The process might be less complicated when working with a professional and experienced digital marketing agency, however, you will benefit from solid guidance from the very start. Online Capital Group can offer the partnership you need to bring your brand back to the forefront of the competition. Don’t remain in a trap, choose services that will make a difference.
Give us a call at (904) 600-3600 today and ask for how you can get started turning things around and start scoring some sales!
