In the age of digital media and online presence, your website has become your virtual shopfront, representing your business to potential customers / clients. It’s vital to have full control over your website, and this means having administrator access. Far too often, business owners assume they’ll be fine with just a basic level of access, or even worse, leaving it entirely in the hands of a third party.
Now whilst you may think that it will be automatically given to you, often it is not. However most honourable website designers or developers will do this. But a key question to always ask when engaging someone is “Will I have full administrator access to my website, domain and host?” Unfortunately, there are website designers or developers who think it’s better to force their customers to return to them whenever ANYTHING needs doing. They do this by holding the login details and restricting the access levels to their customers. When they do this, it means that you as the client does not have full control or ownership of your website. In all honesty, anyone who forces you back to them so they can keep making money off you isn’t really practicing good business.
In this article, we’re diving deep into why it’s crucial to have administrator access to your site and not just leaving it to someone else. Read on to discover how gaining full control can benefit your business and offer you security and peace of mind.
Maintain ultimate control of your website
With administrator access to your website, you have the ability to make any necessary changes directly, without having to rely on someone else to do it or waiting for them to become available. This means you are in control of your content, layout, and design at all times. Whether you want to update your product offerings, change promotional materials or make tweaks to optimise your site’s performance, having full access allows you to stay in the driver’s seat and steer your website in the right direction for your business.
If you don’t feel confident doing this, this is where you can utilise a web designer or developer to assist you with making the changes. Always remember to ask what is the turnaround time of requests and if on a monthly maintenance plan, what is included in that plan.
Protect your business from potential risks
Handing over the administrator access to someone else means they ultimately hold power over your website, and subsequently your business. If that person or company were to disappear or become unresponsive, you’d be left with limited to no access to your own digital property. Being locked out of your website can have devastating consequences, especially for small businesses relying on their online presence to generate sales and engage with customers. By retaining administrator access, you can avoid these risks and ensure you’re always in control of your online domain.
If you’ve paid in full and been delivered a completed product as agreed, then contractual obligations from both sides have been met, so effectively it should be handed over to you.
Human error and accountability
Just as with any aspect of your business, mistakes happen. If someone else manages your website, there’s always the possibility of human error – both minor and major. With administrator access in your hands, you can hold yourself accountable for any issues that may arise, and quickly address and fix them when they become apparent. In contrast, if you do not have direct access, you’re at the mercy of someone else’s schedule and may not have the ability to promptly resolve issues that could harm your business reputation or customer relationships.
Customisation and adaptability
A successful website needs to adapt and change with the ever-evolving online landscape. With the constant emergence of new trends, functionality, and search engine algorithm updates, having access to your website allows you to make changes promptly and adapt to stay ahead of the curve. By being able to experiment with different approaches, layouts, and features, you can tailor your website to meet the specific needs and preferences of your target audience.
Note if you are planning on making major changes to your site, it is recommended that (1) a backup is undertaken first and foremost and then (2) you undertake these in a staging site so that your main site is not impacted until you are ready.
Save time and resources
Delegating tasks and outsourcing work is a common practice among business owners. However, there are instances when it’s more efficient and cost-effective to handle things in-house. Having administrator access to your website means you can handle smaller website maintenance tasks yourself, without having to wait for someone else to do it for you. This reduces possible downtime and can save costs on maintenance fees over time.
However, as indicated above, if this is something that you do not have the time to complete or the confidence / ability to make the changes, outsource to someone who can do this for you.
In summing up, having administrator access to your website is crucial for maintaining control over your site, safeguarding against potential risks, and ensuring adaptability and efficiency. As a small business owner, your website is an essential part of your brand and business success. Don’t put your livelihood at risk by leaving your website’s control in someone else’s hands. Take charge of your online domain by having full administrative access and unlock the full potential of your website to better serve your business and its digital needs.
Do you need support with a website build, tweaks to an existing site or a site refresh? Get in touch today to find out how I can assist you.
Jo
PS: When you work with me, you will receive full administrator access to your website, domain and hosting (in fact it’s often easier if you organise this yourself and give me the level of access needed!).
