Get your domain name back in 8 Steps

This Article follows on  up one of our previous articles about Domain Name Registration and why you should register your own domain name.

Sadly, again this month we have had a new client come to us, requesting we create a website for them but we have struggled to get the domain names transferred and the registrar’s tags altered so that we could use the client’s original domain name.

So if another web design company has your name and they are refusing to give it back and you need to get it back then this is article will tell you what to do.

About Nominet

Nominet is the Internet registry for .uk domain names – this covers any email or web address that ends in .uk (or .co.uk, etc).

Nominet

Thanks Nominet

Nominet was established in 1996 as a private, not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. It was formed as a replacement for the original Voluntary Domain Management Group; then known as the ‘Naming Committee’.

This replacement was a necessary step as in the 1990’s the commercial selling and demand for TLD (Top Level Domains) grew and it became obvious that the small Voluntary Management group could not cope with the increase in volume.

Give me my name Back ! …..  please

Please be aware, this is for .co.uk names only and for this simple process to work you need to have originally registered and paid for the name yourself. If your web design company registered the name then it can get tricky, but the most important thing is have evidence you paid for the name to be registered.

Step 1*.  Find the original Invoice (and any renewal one) to prove that the domain is yours.
Step 2. Go to http://www.nominet.org.uk and click on the ‘login’ button in the top right corner.
Step 3. Click on the in text link ‘access your account’ in the first sentence.
Step 4. Clink on the in text link ‘re-establish your identity’
Step 5. Agree to the terms and click next
Step 6. You have a few details to fill in now, just follow the wizard.
Step 7. Make a Payment if necessary
Step 8. Nominet, now have it all in hand and they will contact you, ask for your proof (we faxed ours over) and job is done!

We also asked them to change the tags back to the original Clients account, I think they charged us £10 one off fee for this.

So £12.00 to re-establish your identity and £10 to change the tags £22.00 cost to the client and they have their name back – totally cutting out the rouge web designer.

*Of course ‘Step 1 is ask the person who has the name to return it to you. Try phoning them and emailing them first. Once this has failed and some dofus thinks they can hold your feet to the fire then follow our instructions.

Lawson Associates Website Goes Live

Surveillance and Security Training company, Lawson Associates are delighted today to announce the launch of their new website. The new lighter, fresh design marks a break away from the traditional, darker colours that are often favoured by the security industry in general.
Angela Lawson approached Rake Mark and quickly set them to task on coming up with a web design that was clear, and engaging but was a dramatic change from the usual dark design. With the guidance of a few images Rake Mark soon came up with multiple concepts, layouts and colors for Lawson Associates to consider.
After a relatively short consultation period Angela Lawson, of Lawson Associates decided on a vibrant color block and crisp white background. This modern combination keeps the design clean and enhances the overall look, keeping navigation clear and ensures a great user experience. The splash of vibrant color keeps the website memorable and makes it stand out from the crowd.
“Rake Mark listened to what I wanted to achieve, and steered me in the right direction with regard to composition and layout, by giving me several designs to chose from. The end result was a professional looking website which was easy to navigate” says Angela.
The new website was designed by Rake Mark Web Design, Staffordshire and contains download-able information on the services and courses that Lawson Associates provides along with a course calender so that you can be provided with constantly updated course dates and times.
Sarah Brassington of Rake Mark Solutions said “It was a pleasure, to be able to break free from the mould a bit to be honest, Angela was really clear on feedback, which made the initial design process really productive. Really pleased that Lawson Associates chose us to help them”

About Lawson Associates

Lawson Associates are a Surveillance and Security Training Company with offices based in London and Devon. they undertake training and operational contracts for both official organisations and the private sector throughout the UK and Internationally.
The company employs highly skilled instructors and advisers who are specialists in their given field.
You can find them at http://www.LawsonAssociates.co.uk or you can follow them on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/anjeelawson

Pope Gets Social on Twitter

The Pope sent his first tweet on the social media website, Twitter, yesterday evening via the Vatican News twitter account @news_va_en which has around 40,000 followers.

The historical tweet is reported to have been tapped out on an iPad and had a link to a new Vatican news service website. It said,
"Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI"

Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are all now being used by the Vatican to spread its Christian message.

Pope Gets Social on Twitter

Pope Tweeting
Pope Tweeting

The Pope sent his first tweet on the social media website, Twitter, yesterday evening via the Vatican News twitter account @news_va_en which has around 40,000 followers.
The historical tweet is reported to have been tapped out on an iPad and had a link to a new Vatican news service website. It said, “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI”
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are all now being used by the Vatican to spread its Christian message.

Using the AIDA Four Step Web Copy Writing Process

A grumpy looking girl not enjoying her copy writing

Writing Your Web Copy Can be Fun, Honest

When I was writing my first web tips article on copy writing it started to get a bit long, so I decided to take my own advice and split it into two articles, so this is a bit like ‘Writing Compelling Web Copy – Part Deux’ (or part three if you count the five quick tips from Friday)

This is really the foundation stone of writing copy so not really a web tip, but if your new to copy writing then this really is my take on the starting point.

The generally accepted four step process to writing good copy can be expressed using AIDA, or in its long form, Attention, Interest, Desire and Action.

Attention:
You only get one chance to make a first impression and your headline is where you can do this. Use attention grabbing headlines, pose tough questions or make bold promises, but grab the readers attention.

Interest:
Now you have their attention, build interest their interest in what you are selling. Focus on benefits rather than features. If your not sure what I mean, then remember that your reader will ask, ‘why should I care?’ or ‘how does that help me?’. Answer that question then they are more likely to respond.

Desire:
Build a genuine need or desire for the product by painting a picture of how this can help. Use real life examples to really bring the product to life and help the reader visualise themselves feeling great using your products or services.

Action:
You’ve done it, whatever it is your selling, their buying, but you need to tell them to buy, however ‘Call this number now’ doesn’t always do it. Try to use compelling language that makes it easy for the reader to say yes and difficult to say no.

Writing a compelling call to action is an article in itself, but do not overlook the need to ask them for the business.

Remember AIDA when weaving compelling words to help your customers visualise themselves using your products and services to solve their problems.

Most web designers in Staffordshire and across the UK will make an additional charge and no one knows your business like you, so roll up your sleeve and get writing you copy for your new website.

Web Design Tip: 5 More Copy Writing Tips

Use a Word processor

Tip 1: Use a Wordprocessor

Its Friday and I don’t have any Friday fun, so what is a staffordshire web designer to do. Well I have compiled some real quick copy writing tips.

If you read my copy writing article from earlier in the week then these five tips will help you to build up your knowledge and add even more power to your writing.

Tip 1: Use a word processor
If you don’t have a copy of Microsoft Word then download Open Office or use Google Docs. But whatever you do, use a word processor. It checks your spelling and grammar and makes it easy for you to edit and change your words without having to re-write all your copy.

Tip 2: For heavens sake write something
Don’t put it off, get started. If you wait for the perfect phrase to come it could be a long wait. Start writing and it will all begin to flow. The editing process will take care of everything else. If you are following the previous tip then its in a word processor and easily changed later anyway.

Tip 3: Proof read it
Catching all the spelling mistakes and grammar errors in your word processor doesn’t mean that it all makes sense. Always read through your work. If you can, wait an hour or overnight between finishing your article and proofing it.

Tip 4: Share it and get feedback
Once you have proofed, get someone else to read it over. Once you are both happy that their are no errors then move on to how persuasive the copy is. Would your friend buy the product? What would make them buy it?

Tip 5: Edit Aggressively
You’ve probably written twice as much as you needed to, so trim it down. If you can get your point across in twenty words then use twenty words. If you can trim that to eighteen and still have the same impact, then do it. Use as many words as you need to and no more.

There’s Still More

Another Web Design Tips article will be coming soon, next week sometime, so make sure you share this article, leave comments and check in next week.

Thanks
Phil

Rake Mark Solutions, Web Design Staffordshire

Domain Name Changes Approved by ICANN

Domain Name Changes Approved by ICANN
Domain Name Changes Approved by ICANN

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has approved plans to allow Internet address names to end with almost any word and be in any language, an increase to the number of domain endings from the current 22.

In recent years there have been rare additions to the domain name list, with the .xxx ending being released in March this year.

ICANN’s chairman, Peter Dengate Thrush, told CNN today that, “Today’s decision will usher in a new internet age,”

However the new web domain suffixes are expected to be taken up initially by corporations and cities with the high costs being prohibitive, with application costs being $185,000.

Regardless of the cost, Peter Dengate Thrush remains upbeat claiming, “We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration.”

How many companies are willing to pay for their domain suffix is yet to be seen, we may yet have .google, .coke, or .pepsi domain names yet.

Lawson Associates Select Staffordshire Web Design Company

awson Associates, an established Surveillance and Security Training Company, want to break free from the dark, heavy looking website Design of some of their competitors. Rake Mark Website Design in Staffordshire has been selected to rise to the challenge of putting a new fresh face on the security industry.
Rake Mark, a Staffordshire Website Design Company, are very pleased to announce that they have been selected to create a fresh new website for Lawson Associates.
Lawson Associates specialise in Surveillance and Security Training. From their offices in London and Devon their qualified training team travel the length and breadth of the UK as well as overseas to serve their international clients.
The website will be used to publish training schedules, course details and information for those looking to peruse a future in the security industry.Phase one of the project is due to be released early next week.

About Rake Mark Solutions

Rake Mark provides Website Design in Staffordshire. Rake Mark has been commissioned for projects involving a diverse range of clients from smaller local businesses to Premier League Football Clubs.
To see how Rake Mark can help you with your website design go to www.rakemark.com or call 01785 256 222
— ENDS —
Media Contact Email : sarah.brassington@rakemark.com

Issued By : Sarah Brassington
Phone : 01785 256 222
Address : St Alban’s House, St Alban’s Road PostcodeST16 3DP
City/Town : Stafford
County : Staffordshire
Country : United Kingdom
Categories : Security, Services Tags : Surveillance, Security, Training
Last Updated : Jun 22, 2011

Web Design Tip: Writing Compelling Web Copy

Web Design Tips, Article One, the first in a series of articles packed full of web design tips aimed at all people who own or maintain a website.

Copy means the text that you put on the page and writing compelling copy is a vital part of designing and building your website. With poor copy, with reams of over flowery text, no one will do business with you, they’ll all be asleep (or navigating to another site, more likely).

So here is an introduction to Writing Compelling Web Copy.

Budget Enough Time to Write Your Web Copy

We have all been caught out with the amount of time required that copy writing takes, especially when a deadline is looming. An hour per web page is the minimum that you should allow, often a first draft can take this long.

If writing your copy is stalling your web project then you may want to either cut the number of web pages or hire a copy writer (which can cost less that you think).

Tip 1: Don’t underestimate how long it might take you to write the copy for your website. Allow at least one hour per web page.

Write More About Benefits, Less About Features

You don’t buy shampoo, you buy beautiful manageable hair. When you buy a car you don’t just get a means of going from A to B, you buy an identity that this car represents and that you aspire to. Guy’s don’t buy drill’s just because they need a hole in a wall.

Beautiful hair is the benefit of shampoo. Your kids getting the best possible start to the day is the benefit of nutritionally balanced breakfast cereal. And I’m sure you can work out several benefits that a high output, hammer action power drill gives the man that wields it.

Tip 2: Customer’s buy on benefits, not features, so list the features but explain the benefits in detail.

Get the Tone Right

Although your business may deal with a wide range of different customers from varied backgrounds all with individual needs, each piece of copy writing will be aimed at a specific segment of that audience. Its important to write specifically for that intended audience.

Web pages tend to be more general than when your writing copy for an advert but even so, it is important that the tone and language that you use is appropriate for the intended reader. It is best to avoid specific terminology unless your writing is aimed at technical experts.

Doctors, for example, may expect a certain amount of technical language, assumed knowledge and abbreviations. This will apply to other groups as well, but this is the exception, not the rule.

Tip 3: Use the language and tone that your intended audience is expecting. Avoid technical jargon unless you are sure they want it.

And There’s More…

When I started this blog post I wanted to give a good depth of information so that it could be read and acted upon. It’s quickly become apparent that a full copy writing tutorial can’t be put into 500 – 600 words, which is my self imposed blog post limit.

So having read over 500 words, I hope the three tips you have will help you power your web copy, but there’s plenty more web and copy writing tips to come.

And please feel free to leave comments below.

Web Design Tips: Series Introduction

Last week I wrote an article highlighting 5 killer errors that website owners can make and in response to some of the comments asking for more detailed information, I have decided to write a series of positive web improvement articles.

The series is not aimed only at the technical experts who create the websites themselves, but is for anyone who is involved in a business website. So regardless of your technical expertise, if you own or maintain a business website, write the company blog, or work to try to bring in more visitors then these tips articles are for you.

Each article will cover a single topic and will contain simple to follow web design tips and information that you can use right now to increase the effectiveness and profitability of your website.

Please read article 1 with tips on getting the words on to the page, titled Writing Compelling Web Copy