Whose name is your domain in?

Quick question. If your website disappeared tomorrow, do you know whose name the domain is registered in?

A lot of small businesses don't. The domain was bought years ago by a nephew, a freelancer, or the agency that built the first site. The login sits in someone else's inbox. The card on file expired long ago.

Then the renewal reminder goes to an address nobody reads, the domain lapses, and the website and the email go down together. Getting it back can take weeks, if you get it back at all.

Ten minutes this week. Log in to the registrar yourself. Check the owner is the business, the contact email is one you actually read, auto-renew is on and the card is current. Turn on two-factor while you're there.

If you can't log in, that's your answer.

Your domain is your shop sign and your post box. Make sure it's yours.