I received a rather official looking document in the post yesterday and it was asking me to fill out in duplicate details relating to one of my domain names to help keep ‘the World Wide Web Register on the Internet up to date’.

Yeah, sure.  Like they would be sending this out to millions of people to try and keep something like that up to date. All the same, many will fall for it because it looks so legit.

Small print shows you are giving permission to GT@P permission to print the data in the ‘next three annual editions’ of a Web Company Register and that you will pay the bill of 877 euros.  The ‘contract’ comes into force one week after the signed paper has been returned in the post.

I did a search on this so-called register and found several warnings about this scam - it’s been around for years. Seems it’s taken this long to get through the ‘millions’ of domains for one to be sent to me. Amazing, I’ve had that domain since the mid 1990s.

I scanned the document so you can see what it looks like - the envelope is from Economique/Economy in France and there was a return envelope to use - I’ve already thrown it away but believe the address was Spain.

I was listening to a CD given to me by a client recently and it was about marketing and promoting your business and how to get a good web presence. But something the speaker said really made me sit up and take notice. She was explaining that the reason why many great looking websites don’t achieve well on search engines was because ‘web designers are artists’. Well, I’m here to tell you they are NOT!

Many people confuse Graphic Designers with Web Designers and I agree that many Graphic Designers also do websites, but not all Web Designers are graphic designers.

When I have people approach me to do their websites and they start telling me what logo they want and other images, I have to explain that I will need to outsource that work for them, unless they know a graphic designer themselves. I cannot provide that service to them personally. For that same reason, some people send me files created by graphic designers and expect that I will be able to access them or edit them - and frequently they are in a program that the graphic designer used.

I can certainly create websites and even use existing templates that have been sourced and purchased on your behalf, but I’m unable to edit graphics or create them from scratch. And there are many other web designers who operate the same. Consequently many work with teams so that they have graphic designers and others assisting them on some sites.

You’re looking to get a website but you have no idea what to do and what takes place. Here is a simple outline of what will happen when you go down this path.

There are three components to having a website:

1. URL or domain name - the address that tells people where to find your site.
2. Web space - the place where your website is hosted.
3. Web design - how your website looks.

Think of the above like this: Your website is like having a post office address - the URL is the post box number, the web space is the post office where your postbox is situated and your website is the material left in your mailbox for you to view. Only in this case, the whole world can view it too.

Now, some people elect to register their own domains and that can be done here via www.acsdomainservices.com - we don’t have to do that for you, but can if you would prefer.

Web hosting can be done by your ISP, whomever provides your internet connection for you, but many elect to purchase web hosting because of extras available to them.

Web design can be done by you if you have the ability and software to do it, or if a website builder program is available through your hosting. Or you may elect to pay someone to do it for you. Many like to get a blogsite instead and maintain that themselves, seeking occasional guidance from their web host and via blogging forums.

Or you can come to one place that provides all services for you, just as we do here at acswebservices.com.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement re new services very soon!