Before launching a website, the site name and address (URL) gets registered and a company to house the site (host) is chosen. Perhaps you didn't do it yourself. It's usual for the website developer to do it for you. If you're still working with the same developer for updating and maintaining your website, you may not notice when it's time to renew your registration or host account. For most organizations, it will never be a problem, But two recent horror stories explain what can happen if you miss your renewals.

• A small charitable organization had a big shock one day when they learned that their web address turned into a hard core pornography site. It seems that the URL was not renewed and someone else bought it. With research we were able to determine that someone in a former Soviet republic purchased the URL and was using it for their business. The notices for renewal went to the web developer, not the charity. Unfortunately, the web developer had moved out of the country. Renewal notices were not forwarded to the charitable organization.
• The website for this retailer disappeared one day. The hosting company dropped the website when the account was not renewed. Additionally, the URL had not been renewed either. After re-establishing the hosting and registration accounts using the store owner as the contact the only remaining problem was the website. Unfortunately, the website needed to be redeveloped as no one had the original files. It seems that the original developer thought the contact information was changed with both the hosting company and the registration service prior to his moving out of town.

A simple mistake can cause a big problem. If you are using an outside developer, designer or webmaster, consider having the hosting and registration listed in your name and on your credit card. That way the responsibility for renewal lies with you.

Another thing you can do is sign up for more than one year at a time. Most hosting companies will be pleased to have you do so, and will extend a discount. The registration people will let you pre-pay for up to 10 years and they too offer rate discounts.

It's your website. Make sure the bills are paid. It can save you trouble later, and spare you embarrassment.