Admit it, our graphics are getting cooler. The art department (me) has really stepped it up lately! Let’s get back to the subject at hand. In order for any website to be on the Internet, two things are needed: a domain name, and a web host. A domain name is the web address of a given website. FinishLineComputerServices.com is an example of a domain name. A web host is basically the server that gives the specified domain name access to the Internet. The hosting company allows you to upload and keep the files which make up a website “on the air” so to speak. Many people and organizations (myself included) have a different domain registrar than hosting company due to bargain shopping or services provided or lack there of by either. Domain registrars and hosting companies offer different service plans as well as varying subscription lengths to meet individual needs. Because of all this, it’s easy to lose track of which company you’re currently doing business with, especially if you’re locked in to a longterm subscription. Unfortunately, this opens the door for those looking to make a quick buck by preying on the fears of those who don’t want their website “down” for any period of time.
I know what you’re thinking: how can you forget which company you’re using? Believe me when I tell you that it’s easier than you think! Just today I dealt with a client who swore to me that they didn’t use the domain registrar that I told her they were using. She’s the office manager of one of my business clients so she’s not personally paying for the registrar service. If she were it might make a difference in remembering. Anyway, what happened was they had paid for a five year subscription and she had forgotten that they still used that company. The danger in this is that during a subcription period, offers come in regularly either via “snail mail” or e-mail reminding you to renew your domain registration service from legit sounding companies which aren’t the companies you’re currently doing business with. If you’re not up on who you use, it’s easy to get swindled and pay more money for a lesser service, or in some cases, a service that doesn’t exist at all. Most of these notices look very professional, and even have a fictional account number to confuse you further.
So, how can you tell which companies you’re currently using? Well, if you don’t have a bill available, the easiest way is to head to the world wide web. Visit www.whois.net to find all the information for just about any website on the Internet. Ever wonder how these people get in touch with you? Wonder no more. Simply enter the desired web address into the box and click “Go”. The beauty of this site is that you can clearly see who your domain registrar is, who the hosting provider is, and the domain expiration date. “Registrar” lists who your domain is registered with. The hosting company isn’t quite as clear. You can usually figure it out by looking at the “Name Server” line as typically the host’s name is in that address. For example, Finish Line’s name server is listed as “NS8237.HOSTGATOR.COM”. Not surprisingly, the host is Host Gator. If you’re still not sure, leave off the first part of the address (in our example NS8237.) and enter it into the address bar of your favorite web browser and see whose site it takes you to. That will be your web host. Whois is also the place to go to see if a domain name you’d like to purchase is available.
The “world wide web” is aptly named indeed. There’s a whole tangled web of information, and unfortunately, misinformation at our fingertips. Fortunately though, there are plenty of tools at our disposal to make sure that we’re on the right side of things and don’t fall victim to the miscreants that lurk online. If you’re a webmaster or in charge of the financial end of your organization, please make sure you’re armed with the appropriate data to keep your website humming along for years to come. If at all possible, don’t weave a tangled web!