I'm in the process of doing the "thinking of a url" etc. for my portfolio site, and was wondering - once the domain name is thought of, "blahblahwebdesign.co.uk" or whatever, do you lot stick whois privacy on it or not?

I don't particularly want my address and details publicly available, but on the other hand, I've heard that getting privacy can lower the credibility of your business.

What do you usually go for?

Whois is only for non business sites. If you are running a business you need to show your connect details.

Whois is only for non business sites. If you are running a business you need to show your connect details.

 

it's not. Why?

I'm in the process of doing the "thinking of a url" etc. for my portfolio site, and was wondering - once the domain name is thought of, "blahblahwebdesign.co.uk" or whatever, do you lot stick whois privacy on it or not?

I don't particularly want my address and details publicly available, but on the other hand, I've heard that getting privacy can lower the credibility of your business.

What do you usually go for?

 

Privacy all the way. How/why can it lower your credibility?

Thanks for the replies,

 

The thing about "lowered cred" - I was just reading some articles about the privacy thing which said if working for a prospective client, then the lack of actual contact details on whois could lead to them to think I was a scammer, or might raise suspicion.

 

But what I'm gathering from the replies here is that if you're a registered business (ltd) then you're obliged to have the whois details, but for a sole trader (like most of us are I'm guessing) the privacy thing would be perfectly ok.

 

Ok thanks guys, looks like the privacy thing is cool, so I'm gonna go ahead with that, just thought I'd bounce it off a few people first. Cheers people

If I remember correct the rules are different for a .co.uk site though.

 

http://www.nominet.org.uk/other/whois/optout/

I was just reading some articles about the privacy thing which said if  working for a prospective client, then the lack of actual contact  details on whois could lead to them to think I was a scammer

 

I'm pretty sure a large number of clients wouldn't even know what Whois is (does that make sense)

Agreed, small clients won't care. Big clients would be more interested in your CV, your references, your credit check if they really want to go to town.

 

I was just reading some articles about the privacy thing which said if  working for a prospective client, then the lack of actual contact  details on whois could lead to them to think I was a scammer

 

I'm pretty sure a large number of clients wouldn't even know what Whois is (does that make sense)

I've never gone with privacy simply because I don't like paying for it. I would use it if i was registering a site I wouldn't want to be associated with publicly, though.

Never felt the need to use it on any domains i have although would probalys use it for personal sites if it didn't cost.

 

But people can find out all your info one way or another so it makes no diffrence to me.

 

Lewi

If you are any sort of business in the UK, even a sole trader, you MUST display your real name (sole traders only) and full address & email on your website, invoices etc... Which is also why you can't opt out of whois if you are trading, and yes, even as a sole trader.

 

EDIT: More indepth info here http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1073788946&type=RESOURCES

Edited May 16, 201115 yr by Blofeld