Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

Hi guys,
If you're offering to make a mobile version of an existing site and need to add a redirect script, what happens if there are issues around getting into the site files? For instance, if it's an old site and the owners have no contact with the web designer, or if they have a designer who's going to charge to add the redirect script, or if they don't know their hosting account details?

In practice, do these issues even come up? I may be overthinking things!

Lynn

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

1) If owners have no contact with web designer, but are the owners of the website, they're probably paying hosting for the website, so they should contact their host to help them gain access to their files.

2) If a developer is to charge for adding the redirect script, well that's perfectly normal. But this should not cost much anyway.

3) If they don't know their hosting details - they need to ask their host, or whoever is invoicing them for keeping the website online.

Yes, these issues do come up, they're often result of business owners' failure to understand that their electronic property is a serious matter just like any other property, and just letting whoever made them a website to run it as well.

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

Thanks Cool, that all makes sense!

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

If you do a WhoIs on the domain name, it should tell you where it's hosted....unless the domain name is set to "private".

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

you should still be able to see the nameservers though - it just hides the owners name and contact info :)

my personal favorite whois tool and one that i have used for years is:

WHOIS Lookup for Domain & IP Address Research | Whois Source

hope that helps

jay

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

Hi...

You knows more of domains of whois information by "www.*whois.*net","www.whois.com" & from many whois informative websites that have all the domain name information.We can easy to get available & unavailable domains & it's whois record on internet.

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

LynnM,

Good questions. I think you bring up an excellent point.

There are a couple ways I would approach a situation like this.

If the site is that out of date(hope this isn't a friend of yours), I probably wouldn't even bother unless the business owners are willing to upgrade their new site (and you are willing to see them through that).

Big picture - long term - this opens up more opportunity for you to continue to work with them and sheparding them through really doing some proactive marketing with the power of their mobile site and upgraded website.

I use wordpress and I'm able to have all of the content coming from one place (versus managing 2 different sites)

If a companies mindset is such that they have not kept their site up and not invested in their image they could be a "slumlord" and not worth the trouble. Redirects are not necessary if you can get them to understand the power of using a content management system like Wordpress and its vast functionality.

If you'd like to see some samples of what I've been doing with mobile sites, please let me know. Email me at mndill23 AT gmail.com

Hope this helps with big picture. You really DONT want to offer them a mobile website - you want to offer solutions to their problems. They sound like there are lots of ways you can help them.

I say this because I had a similar situation. Rather than just offer a mobile site, I offered to revamp their entire website and make it "mobilely optimized" for $1800. I couldn't charge that for just a web app and I'm am confident in knowing I am putting them in a much better position with a CMS that they can at least update later themselves if they choose. This client has also agreed to $97/hr. consults to help them with their email marketing. This client is not the norm, but every business understands they have to invest -they just want to see a return for their money.

Re: Gaining access to existing websites for redirect script?
 

Thanks for that detailed reponse monicad, "mobilely optimized" is an interesting spin you're applying. It is pretty much a "foot in the door" thing I'm going for. Start small and build up is fine for me!