PRECAUTIONS OF WEB DESIGN FROM INDIA
When hiring a website designer in India, or any other overseas nation whose culture and business system are alien to you, it is important to take some precautions before signing an agreement.
One of the most important questions to ask is: Who will own the website after it is completed? Many clients focus on design, price and delivery time but forget to discuss ownership. This can create serious problems later if the client wants to change hosting providers, hire another web designer or take complete control of the website. So, before starting a project, make sure you understand exactly what you will own and what access you will receive.
CONTROL YOUR DOMAIN NAME
Your domain name is one of your most important digital assets. Ideally, it should be registered in your name or your company’s name, using an account that you control. You must have access to the registrar account where that domain is managed.
A website designer may help you register or configure the domain, but you should not be completely dependent on the designer for access to it. Ask which registrar is my domain registered with? Whose name and email address are associated with the account? Will I receive the login details? Can I transfer the domain if necessary? Maintaining control of your domain helps protect your business identity.
ACCESSIBLE HOSTING ACCOUNT
Similar principles apply to web hosting. Your website designer may recommend a hosting company and may need technical access to install and configure your website. However, you should know where your website is hosted and how to access the hosting account.
If the entire website exists only inside the designer’s personal hosting account, moving it later could become unnecessarily complicated. Make sure you receive website administrator access. If your website is built with WordPress, you should normally receive an administrator account with full control over the website.
This allows you to create and edit pages, add users, install plugins, update themes, change website settings, give access to another developer. You should not be permanently dependent on the original designer for ordinary administrative access. The same principle applies to other website platforms. You should understand what level of access you will have after the project is completed.
CLARIFY OWNERSHIP
Clarify Ownership of Website Files & Content – Before hiring a web design company in India, ask what happens to the website files when the project is complete. You should clarify ownership of website code, custom design files, images supplied by you, written content created for the website, databases, custom functionality. Some third-party software, premium themes, plugins and stock images may be licensed rather than permanently transferred. This does not necessarily create a problem, but it should be explained clearly.
Discuss Post-Launch Support Before Hiring – Some clients assume that website maintenance is automatically included forever. Usually, it is not. So, before hiring a website designer, ask what happens after launch. Is there a free support period? What types of problems are covered? How quickly will you normally receive a response? Is ongoing maintenance available separately?
Can You Change Your Website Designer Later? – A good test is to ask this question before signing an agreement – If I decide to hire another website designer in the future, can I easily move my website? You should ideally be able to take your domain, website files, database and relevant login credentials to another professional. This is particularly important when hiring an overseas web designer because you may never meet the provider in person.
Put Ownership Terms in the Agreement – When you hire a website designer in India, the safest approach is to include website ownership and access arrangements in the written contract. The agreement can specify what will be handed over after final payment, including domain access, hosting access, website administrator login, website files, database, relevant third-party accounts. The purpose is not to create unnecessary legal complexity. It is simply to ensure that both the client and website designer understand their responsibilities.
Ownership should be discussed before the project begins rather than after a problem occurs. A professional designer should have no difficulty explaining how domains, hosting, website access and project files will be handled. Clear ownership creates trust and gives you the freedom to manage your website and change service providers whenever necessary.
WHAT IF INDIAN WEB DESIGNER STOPS RESPONDING
Have you ever wondered, if a web designer from abroad whom you have hired stops responding midway when the project is incomplete or later when you need to make modifications? What would you do in such a case?
Yes, this possibility, or at least its apprehensions do exist, though usually does not happen. That’s because a skilled professional won’t dupe people and lose his credibility in the business world.
But to be on the safer side, domains & hosting registered in your name with email id are enough to protect the url from being appropriated by the designer. Another safety net is, never make full advance payment – release funds in accordance with every milestone reached.
In the rare case of your web designer not responding either midway or after the project is over, you can simply hire another professional and get the project transferred to him, if domain & hosting are in your control.
CAN ANOTHER WEBSITE DESIGNER TAKE OVER?
Yes, if you have control of your domain, hosting, website files and administrator accounts, another professional can take over the project. The new designer may need time to understand the existing code or design, but the situation is far easier when you possess the necessary assets and access credentials.