Why Would Your Website Disappear and What Can You Do If It Does?

Several years ago I asked a graphic designer to create a website to support my books. He did a stellar job.

My website doesn't look like a template and it doesn't have any clip art.
Instead, it shows my book covers, brief descriptions of the books, and has special tabs, including my blog.

I just gave two workshops at a national conference in Boston. At the conclusion of my workshops people asked me if I had a website, and I gave them the address.
On impulse, I decided to check my website and, to my astonishment, found it was gone. Gone! The message: This website has been suspended.

Why did my website disappear? As soon as I got home, I called the server.

After being transferred from one department to another, I was finally connected with a man who said he could restore my website, "only it will take 24 hours." Unfortunately, I didn't write down his name.
The next morning I looked on the Internet and found it was up and running, only it was a dated version.

Talk about frustration! My website had been hacked recently and my technician had removed the attacks and updated the site, a process that gook hours.

I called the technician and he understood the problem immediately.

"Your domain name and server are with two different companies," he explained. "But I have good notes and, since I just worked on your website, I'm sure I can restore it." Within an hour, the updated version of my website was on the Internet.

According to the technician there could be several reasons for my disappearing website, starting with excessive traffic. Apparently websites are designed for minimal, moderate, and high traffic.
I have a minimal traffic version and the technician thought my website may have been "overloaded.
" Another reason was "pointing," an odd term for a non-technical person like me.

Somehow my domain name was pointed to the wrong company, and thus it was not available to the server.
Between the original design, updates, adding a blog, adding more tabs, paying for technical support, and removing attacks, I've spent lots of money on my website.
Yet I know an author needs Internet publicity in order to sell books.

Having my website disappear has taught me lessons that may help you. If you call your server, make sure you write down the name of the person you talk with.
Ask for the repair ticket number and write that down, too.

Keep a file of papers related to your website: names, email addresses, and receipts. Your server may be bought by another company or companies. Add these names to your file of papers.
Check your website regularly to ensure it is up and running and working properly.
I am fortunate to have a talented and reliable technician. This isn't always the case.
Before you hire a technician you may want to check reviews on the Internet. Ask your friends who they use. A good website is good publicity for you and what you do.

Copyright 2013 by Harriet Hodgson