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SECTION 1	- Changing from one web designer to another.
SECTION 2	- Dealing with a Registrar.    (The company where your domain name was registered)
SECTION 3	- Making changes to your information with your Registrar. (When you registered your domain, your contact information is listed in what's known as the "Whois Database." Anyone searching will be able to determine whether a domain name is available. If you own the name, your contact information will come up informing them that it's been registered and to whom, if you click on the link where it says "taken").
SECTION 4	- Moving your domain name from one Registrar to another.
SECTION 5	- Moving your domain and hosting to another Internet Service Provider (a.k.a. "ISP").

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SECTION 1 - Changing from one web designer to another
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If for any reason you find that you're unhappy with your current web designer, here are some suggestions. I recommend you consider the following before alerting your current designer that you're thinking about hiring someone else:

1. It's important that you have a current backup of all the files that make up your entire website.
2. Make sure the professional web designer you're considering is aware of your current situation.
3. Be sure to provide the new designer, access information to your hosting account so that a backup of your site can be created. If you don't have the access information for your account, ask the new designer to help you make a backup copy of what is currently on the internet.
4. If you're considering a new designer that doesn't possess the knowledge to help you, then you need to look elsewhere. Again, before saying anything to your current designer, keep in mind that if you don't have access or control over your account, and they do, then you're at their mercy.
5. If you don't have access information be sure to read SECTION 3.
6. It's not uncommon that some page layout people make every attempt to control your domain and your copyright privileges. It's my personal opinion and business ethic that if you're paying for the development, creation and layout then you own full rights to all content on the site... period!! Many designers often have their clients sign contracts stating that the designer owns the rights to the web site. I recommend avoiding that situation.
7. If you have had someone register your domain name for you or you're purchasing space from a reseller, you could be in serious trouble. Many have found themselves in legal battles over the rights to their domain name and web site content. Some have found themselves without access, no backup, and no way to make changes to their domain name. This is often because they are not listed as the administrative contact over the account.

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SECTION 2 - Dealing with a Registrar. (The company where your domain name was registered)
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1. I personally have found Register.com to be more "user friendly". The support used to be better then it has been recently. They offer an online domain management program, which is the reason why I endorse their services. I personally can't say enough good things about register.com and on the flip side of that, I can't think of anything good to say about Network Solutions.
2. Dealing with any Registrar can be a very time consuming proposition. Be sure when registering your domain name that you dot your eyes and cross your T's. (All information should be current and update and be sure that all fields are filled in correctly)
3. In many cases, most changes made on Register.com are a simple matter of logging into your domain account manager. Once you've made your changes an e-mail is sent to you to confirm that you approve the changes and want them to take effect.
4. The e-mail they send you will contain a link and request, asking you to return to their site and click the YES button to confirm the changes. The web page address they provide can sometimes be a "hotlink" depending on your e-mail program. If it's not a hotlink here, is what needs to be done.
5. Drag your mouse over the entire link that they provide (which will highlight it). Hold down the CTRL key and hit "C" then open your browser. Click in the location window so you get a blinking vertical pipe ( Shift \ ). Hold down the CTRL key and hit "V" which will paste the link into your browser and hit enter.
6. If part of the link is a hotlink but some of it wrapped to another line here is what you can do. Paste in the first line and repeat the process to copy and paste the second line. If you have to deal with copying two different lines, make sure that when you paste in the link there are NO spaces and that nothing has been left out. Another method would be to have two windows open side by side. Type the link that was provided by Register.com into the browser's location box and hit enter. Two windows side by side (e-mail window and browser window) is one method of reading the link in one window and typing it in the other. Another way would be to simply write it down and type it into the location box, just as it appears in the e-mail you received, and hit "ENTER".

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SECTION 3 - Making changes to your contact information with your Registrar. (When you registered your domain, your contact information is listed in what's known as the "Register.com." Anyone searching will be able to determine whether a domain name is available. If you own the name, your contact information will come up informing them that it's been registered and to whom, if you click on the link where it says "taken").
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1. The very first thing that I always recommend is to make sure that you've configured an e-mail account using your domain name. If you've been using Hotmail, Excite, AOL, etc. as your e-mail it's a good idea to make the switch now to using your domain name. Make sure that the e-mail address you use in your organization (name, administrative, billing, technical information) is one that you're sure you'll be using.
2. Many have said it's a good idea to use a Hotmail account in some effort to help reduce the unwanted SPAM e-mail. What is not considered is that many people get tired of all the junk mail and when they register a domain name they close their hotmail account. You want to be sure that whatever e-mail is used when registering your domain name it's kept open for as long as you intend on doing business on the internet.
3. It's nearly impossible to get requested changes honored by most Registrars. Most will ask you to jump through some hoops for them like faxing them on your letter with your current requests. Some require that you take your ID down to a notary and send them a copy before they will honor your request.
4. Register.com gives you the ability to make all your changes online with a username and password. It's very important to make a note of which credit card that you used when you purchased a domain name. Register.com will allow you to make changes over the phone if you can verify the last 4 digits of the credit card used to setup the account.

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SECTION 4 - Moving from one Registrar to another.
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1. Anyone can move from one Registrar to another but like everything else there are things you should know.
2. You must first make sure that the e-mail address listed for you is a working address. If you put in a request to move (Registrar, Hosting or make changes) but your e-mail listed on your domain(s) contact information is incorrect then you won't be able to "confirm" and the change will never take place!
3. With a working contact e-mail address you should be able to log into another registrar and request that your account be moved over to them. There may be a fee involved for example, Register.com charges $35.00 which covers your first years registration with them. If you've just purchased a domain name in many cases you have to be with your current registrar for a minimum period of time.
4. When considering a Registrar or ISP, I recommend you consider support and quality of services before price. Is it really worth saving a few dollars to signup with anyone who doesn't offer the kind of help and support you deserve as a consumer? There are always trade-off's to consider but you should always be free to choose and be willing to make a move if you're not happy with the services of your Registrar or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
5. With Register.com once you signup for your first account you're given an opportunity to provide a "username" and "password" for the account. From that day forward you'll be able create as many accounts as you like and have them all placed under your original account. Remember to PRINT your first account information. Write on that paper the last four numbers of the Credit Card used, Username and Password! Put this in a safe place and make sure it's some place where you'll be able to get to it easily. Every time you make changes or add accounts, you'll need this information.
6. If you're signing up for a new domain name. Enter the domain you want and you'll be asked if you're a current account holder. Enter your username and password and follow the steps to completion. Be sure when entering your Credit Card information that you use the correct billing name and address where the credit card bill is sent. Make sure that you also put yourself in as the Organization and Administrative contact. The Registrar's assume that whoever is listed as the Administrative Contact has control over the account and is the owner of the domain name. BE SURE IT'S YOUR NAME THAT IS LISTED!

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SECTION 5 - Moving your domain & hosting to another Internet Service Provider (ISP).
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1. This process can be a very trying experience for even the most seasoned web designers, depending on the Registrar.
2. If your Registrar has an online domain manager you or your designer will be able to log in and change the DNS entry to point to the new provider.
3. If your Registrar is Network Solutions most providers can request a DNS change for you. This is of course is assuming that you're the administrative contact and using an active e-mail address listed with Network Solutions. When your new provider submits a request to change your DNS entry over to them, Network Solutions will send you an e-mail asking you to confirm the change. If you hit reply and follow their instructions as to how to confirm the e-mail and send it back, then the request will be honored. If you do not follow Network Solutions instructions to the letter, they will assume that it's an unauthorized attempt by someone to move your account and they will not honor the request and the process will STOP!
4. Many have asked why does this process seem so difficult. The Registrar's would have us believe that it's for security reasons. I like to think it's because they make money on selling you the domain names but don't make anything for making changes for you. I believe that there is a problem with the current system and changes are needed, but who is to say when or if we'll ever see any.

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