The HandsomeWeb Blog

SOS Webpages has passed the 2,000 mark for downloads in August.  The easy to learn content management system is used on several websites in the US and the Netherlands.  It is the software I wrote to power “The HandsomeWeb”.

Launched a site for Kirby Sheet Metal last week.  They do Sheet Metal Fabrication and Installation in Fort Worth. The site has a photo gallery of some of their products and installations. There is a management backend to change some of the content.

SOS Webpages registered 1700 downloads as of June 23.  Sourceforge migrated to new servers at a new location so they are a month behind publishing statistics.

Someone asked about all the ins and outs of buying a domain name.  Here are some of my answers to their questions.

Registrar, Registry, Registrant?

Registrant is the person who ‘owns’ the domain name.  Example: Chris Wood is the registrant of the the domain name, “HANDSOMEWEB.COM.”  Registrar is the company that registers the domain name.  The registrar sells a domain name registrations to the public.  If you want to register a domain name go to a place like  Handsome Web Services.  A registry is where all the domain registration information for a top level domain (like .com or .org or .cn) is managed.  Registrars purchase domains to sell to you from the registries.  Verisign maintains the registry for .com and .net, but you can’t register a name at Verisign, only a registrar can get a name from Verisign.  Some registries do sell domains.

Are all registrars the same, and does it matter where I buy it?

No, registrars are not all the same, but most are.  There have been instances where registrars went bankrupt, but other regsitrars were anxious to take over the domains.  It is difficult to start up a domain registrar business in your basement (although this is easy for a hosting business).

Do I have to use my real contact information?

Yes, or you may have trouble.  You must verify your contact information with your registrar annually, so you don’t want to miss their notice.  But, you don’t have to use your personal email address.  I use ‘noreply @ handsomeweb . com’ as my email address and filter that email into a specific folder.  And yes the email address in your domain registration will be SPAMMED.

Should I buy ‘Private Registrations?’

Privacy with your registrations (like is sold at HandsomeWebServices.com) is a service provided so you don’t have to attach your own email address in the public registry.  Convenient if you are registering only a few domain names.  Be sure you keep up with the information you get when buying privacy.

Should I let someone else register my domain name for me?

NO, not even me. I do for several clients, but I recommend you always manage your on domain and take the time to understand how to change and transfer it.  If someone registers your domain name, you will have big problems getting control of it (It may be impossible.) if you ever have a dispute with that person or if that person is hit by a bus and moves on.

There are a lot of companies that sell websites and register your domain name for you and provide hosting for you.  Some make it nearly impossible to quit their service because they control your domain name.  And when they do tell you how to transfer your domain name, they close your website.  So, your website is down for several days.

Where do you recommend I buy domain name registrations?

Handsome Web Services, of course.

Well, we are an Arlington Texas Web Design Company again.  Web design is taxable in the state of Texas, so this is a little bad news for our Texas clients.  Expect to see that 8% tax (part of which is helping to build this).

We look to be collecting a good bit with three site launches before September.

If you are paying close attention, that is an ‘Optimizing’ link.  Also note that blog.handsomeweb.com is a different site than www.handsomeweb.com in official Internet protocols.  Google is probably able to tell if they were in the same machine or IP space, but I have them in different datacenters, so it counts and an incoming external link.  This is good.  Now go find Catholic churches in the Bronx.