Since the IT revolution of the early naughties we are taking our business more and more online.  Every element of your online presence comes with login details.

If you have a business and own a website associated with that business do you have the following information easily accessible? If not, simply ask your ISP (internet service provider) or web developer and make sure you get a copy TODAY...

Domain Name Auth Code

This is the ownership code for your domain name.

Manage Domain Login

The details to be able to login and manage your domain name and change the name servers to point to a new server if you want to change your hosting provider

FTP/Control Panel Login Details

Web address
Username
Password
FTP - stands for file transfer protocol and is the name of various pieces of software that can connect your computer with your website server. Filezilla is a free FTP OCD have been using for years.
Control Panel – the control panel of your website is exactly that, the place you go in and control your web presence. Where you can set up databases, and manage your email accounts associated with that domain. This is also where you can back your website up. 
Do you know if your website is being regularly backed up?  Your ISP will have one but it will be out of date, take time and probably cost a lot to get it reinstated.

Email Passwords

You need all your various email account passwords on file so if you do ever want to change suppliers it can be done seamlessly

Website Dashboard or Backend Login Details

If you have a CMS (content management system) installed to manage the content of your website you need to have the name of the application_ e.g. Joomla, Interspire Website Publisher etc, the web address and the username and password.

Shopping Carts

Login details to manage any associated Payment Gateway and SSL Certificate.

Licence Keys

You also need any licence keys for any bought modules, plug-ins, extensions or software associated with your website.

Online Accounts

And do you have all of your online account login details recorded for your various website memberships -e.g. Google, Facebook, Yahoo etc.

You need to have ALL of the above information on file for easy management and control of your website presence.  If you don’t have it the companies that do basically have control and that is like giving a supplier the keys to your business. You wouldn’t give them to your courier so don’t give them to your ISP or Web Developer.

Tip: Set up a notepad “txt” file including all of the above sensitive information in the one place, don’t just keep it in your email! Make sure you also have a hard copy just in case.

And finally a lot of the above comes with an expiry date so also try and find out when that is.  E.g. a “.com.au” domain name registration is usually for a 2 year term. I bet you don’t know when yours runs out do you :-)