In today’s digital age, your business’s online presence is as crucial as any physical storefront. Yet, we often encounter companies who lack access to some of their most vital digital assets – and, worse, they may not even know who holds that access. Whether it’s a trusted agency, a former employee, or even a third-party provider, not having direct ownership or control over these assets can leave a business vulnerable and potentially cut off from their online presence. Spi-des-ign are breaking down the top digital assets every business should own or, at the very least, know who manages them.
Why It Matters: Your domain name is your business’s unique address on the internet. Without it, customers can’t find you, and your email may not work. Owning your domain name means you can renew it, change registrars if needed, and avoid potential hijacking or accidental lapses.
What to Do: Ensure that your business is listed as the primary registrant and admin contact on the domain registration. Even if an agency like Spi-des-ign manages it for you, your business should be able to access the registrar account to update billing and renewal information.
Quick Tip: Always use a company email as the contact rather than an individual’s email to avoid access issues if a team member leaves.
Why It Matters: Your hosting is where your website lives and your emails operate, both of which are critical for communication and customer interaction. While a web agency like Spi-des-ign or your IT provider often manages hosting on your behalf, it’s crucial for you, as the business owner, to know where your website and emails are hosted, by which company, and have access to key login details.
What to Do: Even if an agency or IT company oversees your hosting, make sure you have:
Quick Tip: Ensure regular website backups are taken and store them securely. For email hosting, enable multifactor authentication and document recovery options to prevent unauthorised access.
Why It Matters: Social media channels are a direct link to your customers and an integral part of your brand identity. Without access, you could lose control over what gets posted and miss critical messages from customers.
What to Do: Keep login details for all social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and any others relevant to your business. Ideally, assign at least one business owner or high-level manager as an admin, even if an agency like Spi-des-ign handles day-to-day management.
Quick Tip: Use a password manager to securely store your login information, and review who has access to each account on a regular basis to prevent unauthorised control.
Why It Matters: Google services like Analytics and Ads provide insights into your website traffic and allow you to run campaigns. A Google Business Profile helps customers find your business on Google Maps and search results. Losing access to these tools means losing valuable data and visibility.
What to Do: Set up these accounts under a business-owned email, and always list at least two admins to ensure continuity. If you use a marketing agency for management, ensure you still retain ownership.
Quick Tip: Regularly review your Google Account settings to confirm access levels, particularly when changing providers or when staff changes occur.
Why It Matters: Your logos, graphics, and other branding elements should be readily accessible for marketing, advertising, and printing. Without these files, maintaining brand consistency can be challenging.
What to Do: Keep a central repository, like Google Drive or Dropbox, where all branding assets are stored and accessible to authorised team members or agencies.
Quick Tip: Label files clearly with dates and versions, and include a style guide/brand guidelines to ensure consistent usage across platforms.
Conclusion
Keeping control of your digital assets gives you peace of mind and ensures that, should you change agencies, staff, or hosting providers, you’ll maintain full access. At Spi-des-ign, we always prioritise transparency with our clients, helping them understand what assets are critical and ensuring they know who holds access. Take time to audit these essential digital assets regularly, and you’ll protect your business’s digital presence for years to come.
If this all sounds a bit too technical, or if you simply don’t have the time to manage these details, we’re here to help!
Our friendly team at Spi-des-ign has years of experience helping small businesses like yours get the most out of their online presence.
Give us a call at 01359 518060 to book a meeting, and let’s work together to make sure your website supports your business every step of the way.
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